Good News About Real Estate and Life!

Small Things

2012-02-08T09:33:00.001-05:00

"A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules." — Anthony Trollop

2.16.2011 Monday News YOU CAN USE!

2012-02-06T11:28:00.001-05:00

Faith is a kind of winged intellect. The great workmen of history have been men who believed like giants. Charles Henry Parkhurst

Here's a thought - what if you went out and prepared and then performed and believed like the Giants and the Patriots players and coaches did yesterday?

Investor Alert!!! Buy some rental housing - Home Ownership drops to 66% - what an OPPORTUNITY! - CLICK HERE

DEBT RELIEF EXPIRING! Something for your prospective sellers who may be short - HURRY

BEST PERFORMING MARKETS - Case Shiller Report

What does Warren Buffet say? Buy YOUR RETIRMENT HOME in Sunbelt Areas Now!

Turn Foreclosures into Rentals: One way to help fix the housing mess

Canadians - big week for real estate statistics - pay attention to housing starts reports for your area: Starts and Here Strong Market in December

1.30.2012 Monday News You Can USE!

2012-01-30T10:49:00.001-05:00

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.
Steve Jobs

We get to help people buy and sell one of most IMPORTANT assets of their life... with less stress and saving or making them money! That's Great Work.
Your Coaching Matters

HERE'S THE NEWS

Top Ten Declining Markets: Declining - The good news? You may not be on it! :) Share with your clients so THEY know they aren't on it too... or if they ARE, what a great time to BUY it is!

Pessimistic Spin on mostly positive news: Recovery Our take - look for evidence of shadow inventory in your area. If it's not there, don't let it worry you. The OPPORTUNITIES in this market will make a LOT of your clients millionaires! Help them take advantage of it!

You might want to follow this for your clients: $25 Billion Settlement

Least Expensive Cities in the USA: Live for Less in these areas

Seasonal Dip or a sign of a new trend in Canada? November Stats

Here's a blog I found from a Canadian Realtor lots of great information but no call to action, no "use me to buy and sell", just a lot of work with probably little return. KAMLOOPS Want us to critique your blog? Email me: Mike.Stott@mac.com
Mike Stott
678-232-0927
Mike.Stott@mac.com

1.23.12 Monday News you can USE

2012-01-23T11:40:00.001-05:00

" Your greatest asset is yourself. Treat it like a billion dollar investment."
by Kaoru Shinmon

Wow - video on the growth of technology. (Thanks Kate) How can you use this to your advantage in real estate? Let us know.

Housing Market affecting the Presidential Elections: Florida Primary Has anyone heard a word about extending the mortgage debt relief act?

Steal This House? Are your marketing your listings with the PEAK price compared to today? Is it time for you or your clients to buy an investment? Steals

Is it time for some of your clients to Trade Up? LUXURY HOMES

New homes are being built! What do the builders know that the general public doesn't? THEY KNOW THE MARKET IS IMPROVING! Start Ups

Does this change the landscape for flat fee brokerages in Toronto? Court Ruling

Interesting Ad: How do you help buyers decide to sign the contract now?

10 Instant Emotional Fitness Tools

2012-01-21T16:32:00.001-05:00

UNKNOWN AUTHOR - my aplogies on that... Happy to add your name/link if it's you!

When things get out of control and you momentarily lose your emotional balance, there are any number of little things you can do to regain it. Here are ten tools to help get you started.

1. Wash your hands and face and brush your teeth. It cools and cleans the parts of your body that you use most frequently, which is relaxing, and gives you that "fresh start" feeling.

2. Put on clean socks and some shoes that you haven't worn in a few days. Shoes take a day or two to release any moisture they have absorbed, and this is a very easy way to put a little pep back into your step.

3. Give yourself a good shave (face or legs). This is another instant refresher. Especially if you have sensitive skin or the weather is dry. Plus, when we know we are looking our best, we naturally feel better.

4. Look at any trophy, diploma, or certificate of achievement that you have earned. And if it isn't framed and on the wall, frame it now. These are reminders of your accomplishments, and taking in your success is important to maintaining your self-esteem.

5. Remember your last (or greatest) success and think about it for sixty seconds. Taking in your success as often as possible will help you reach another and another. Quite simply, it reminds you that if you've done it before, you can do it again.

6. Know you are the person your loved ones think you are. And yes, that goes for your dog too. Knowing that you are unconditionally loved can't help but make you feel good about yourself. It's so easy to beat yourself up, I recommend pulling yourself up instead.

7. Wash your car, inside and out. Hey, when our wheels are shiny, we feel better. If you don't think this applies to you, just remember how you felt the last time you got a ride in someone's very funky car. Race you to the car wash.

8. Organize your closet and get rid of anything that no longer fits. Old clothes may come back into style, but you really don't want them on hangers for the next twenty years. Throwing out the old makes room for the new. For some, the feeling they get from putting on a new "power suit" fills them with pride.

9. Cook a lovely meal. Even if you are by yourself, preparing a tasty dinner, setting the table, and treating yourself to a wonderful culinary experience will lift your spirits. Sharing it with someone you love and/or respect will make it even more nurturing.

10. Look around you, remember that you started with nothing, and know that everything you see, you created. We can all lose our feelings of self-worth, especially when something goes wrong in our world. The truth is that if you have done it before, you can do it again-no matter what.

None of these tasks has to be uncomfortable or take you much time. Finding ways to give yourself a little boost when you're not feeling like you're at the top of your game is a trick that truly happy people use on a regular basis.

1.16.12 Monday News You can USE

2012-01-17T20:50:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year - update your economic predications with this third party validators:
http://www.housingpredictor.com

Prices predicted to fall in 2012 but we're Moving in the right direction

CANADIANS LOOK HERE! Cool map showing Canadian Real Estate Trends: CREA Map and another set of charts HERE

Buy Now! This guy seriously predicted the crash and is now saying Buy: by author John Talbot

Fed is planning a large bulk REO to Rental program: Helps stop price declines and another article on same thing Here

You might want to prospect Teachers, Policemen, Firemen, etc: Special Plan

Another reason to use an FHA mortgage: They're assumable

Golf Communities Across the country - Hit Hard - (Dennis, Marilee and Monte, look here!)

Freddie Mac Mortgage - and unemployed - check this out: Forebearance

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.
- Elbert Hubbard

Do you you said you were going to do!
- The Coaches @ Your Coaching Matters

You asked what GOES in a monthly email Newsletter to your Database....

2012-01-11T11:02:00.001-05:00

HERE'S A SAMPLE....

Smallville Area Real Estate Statistical Data for January 2012
124 new homes were listed for sale the last 30 days at an average price of $285,000
1234 homes total are on the market as of January 1, 2012 at an average price of $265,000
49 homes sold in the last 30 days at an average price of $240,000
SUMMARY:
This is 4 more sold homes in 1 month since February 2007 - looking good, but still statistically insignificant, so don't get TOO excited yet.
The Average price is even with last month, which was the lowest average price since 1999.

What's New and Exciting in RE News
Interest rates rose .25% the last month overall - still good, but creeping up. If you plan to buy, might want to do it sooner rather than later
The HARP program is a total flop. Not working at all... Ask if you want more details.
California Pizza Kitchen will open spring of this year at ABC Mall - yippee!
The Groundhog Day Festival on Feb 2 will be held at 1234 Main St - begins at 7am. For details call 123-233-3456

John's Crystal Ball - wooooo - let me get my giant class ball out....
You saw my predictions first of the year... and we'll follow those in this portion of the news. So far, I'm right on target about the # of sales increasing.
My Crystal ball this month says watch for an even HIGHER number of pendings coming up. Pent up Demand is causing an increase in activity. Now.... will the buyers actually pull the trigger??

Monthly Reality TV - CASE STUDY
Names and details are changed to protect the innocent, but these are TRUE stories....
Mr. Jones listed his home with me in spring of 2011. He listed at 8% over my recommended price. in summer we reduced the price of the home by 5% but the market had continued to fall and my recommendation at that time was to go down 9% off his original price. In my opinion, he was still overpriced by at least 4% to get a buyer to offer. By fall my recommendation, based on the comparable homes selling all year was to drove another 7%. This time, Mr. Jones followed this advice. We sold the home at just 1% below that last price and he was able to move by Christmas. Moral of the story... had Mr. Jones taken my recommended list price in the spring, he likely would have sold for 5% more than he ultimately did, as he was chasing the market down, and not chasing hard or fast enough. I will ALWAYS give you the best advice to sell at the highest possible price for THAT MOMENT IN TIME. If you take my advice, you are likely to sell FAST and for MORE MONEY. Let me know if you want an honest opinion on what your home is worth TODAY.

As always, I am so grateful for your referrals as well as your past and future business. I take the buying and selling of homes seriously and you can count on my to protect your interests when I represent you. Please let me know this month how I can serve YOU or someone you know. I'm here for you...

Your Realtor, John

Email: 2p3u850238450

Phone: 3409tw845

PS - What would YOU like to see in this monthly educational edition??

1.9.2012 Monday News you can USE

2012-01-10T22:17:00.001-05:00

Interesting Statistical Play - "4 to 6 years to clean up the foreclosures?"

Renter Nation! Rents going up!Are your investor clients in buy mode? Buy Here

Modification Scams - send to your clients - especially those who are upside down!

Neat Study on Where people are moving to. Surprise - where the jobs are! DC is #1

AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE: Fiverr.com Lots of interesting marketing ideas here for $5!!!

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
Thomas Jefferson

A new client asked me to define more clearly what a CONTACT IS...

2012-01-10T09:29:00.001-05:00

I replied to her but thought you might all want to see the reply....

A Contact is:
Two way communication between you and another human in which they understand you are looking to have them list with you, buy from you, or refer you business. This includes new contacts and lead follow up.
Simplified Examples of Contacts:
"Hi Barista at Starbucks! Are you having a fabulous day? GOOD! Hey, I'm Jane Doe and I'm a real estate agent! I'm looking for people that might need my services.... who do you know that wants to buy or sell a home or investment? No one? That's OK, thanks for thinking about it... here's a couple of my cards for your wallet in case you think of someone that might need me. I do a really great job and it's a FANTASTIC time to buy or sell!"

"Hi Past Client/COI! It's Jane Doe! How's everything? GREAT! What will 2012 bring for your real estate life? What can I do to HELP YOU or someone you know? Thanks, I'll contact them right away. Let me give you some GREAT new information about real estate...ABCINFO... I sure appreciate your past and future business AND your referrals! Do you have enough of my business cards in your wallet?

"Hi Miss FSBO - I'm Jane Doe with XYZ real estate, if you don't sell the home yourself, are you likely to list in the next month, or will it be more like 2 or 3?"

"Hi Expired listing - I'm Jane Doe with XYZ, are you still interested in selling your home? Great, may I come over now or is 2pm better?"

"Hi Stranger, I'm Jane Doe and you are....? What do YOU do for a living? That sounds exciting! Oh! What do I do? I have the BEST job in the world! I'm a real estate agent... Who do you know that may want to buy or sell in 2012?"

"Hi Facebook Chat Friend... I'm here working tonight, what are you up to? Great! By the way who do know that might want to buy or sell this year?"

Hi Active LIsting, Pending or Vendor, here's an update on your XYZ... by the way... when you're in the midst of selling or buying, it always seems EVERYONE talks to you about real estate, right? I know... Hey, will you do me a favor and call, email or text me when that happens so I can work with those people you are talking to naturally? Let's make sure you have 10 or 12 of my cards in your wallet to share with them, OK? I REALLY appreciate it! "

Simplified Examples of NON contacts:
"Hi Joe, how ya doing?"
"Hi Jane, just calling to check on you guys"
"Hi Mr. Owner I have listed... here's an update on your showings"
"Hi Ms. Buyer I have under contract, here's an update on the pending process"

1.2.12 Monday News you can USE! Now go USE IT!

2012-01-02T09:38:00.001-05:00

It's time to get back to helping people buy and sell real estate!

Hope you all enjoyed your Holidays, Your Coaching Matters expect 2012 to be a terrific year for all of you! Here's the news:

The Government is encouraging Chines investment; how can you benefit? Chinese Investment

Innovative Case Study of Mortgage Fraud suit: Hawaii Fraud

Case-Shiller October Report: Atlanta Down 11.7% 10/10 to 10/11 Complete results HERE

Trulia's Crystal Ball for 2012: Opportunity Here

Foreclosures take Years: Free Ride (Interesting Video included with some stats)

Brookefield not looking to merge Prudential with Royal LePage: News

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."
---Mary Pickford

Happy Holidays | Carlson School of Management

2011-12-27T09:12:00.000-05:00

"The coolside of yuletide"
Happy Holidays | Carlson School of Management

12.26.2011 GOOD NEWS!

2011-12-26T17:20:00.001-05:00

'Tis again the holiday season, a time when this page looks back at the receding year in search of reasons for good cheer.

By Alejandro Gonzalez, USA TODAY

Enlarge

By Alejandro Gonzalez, USA TODAY

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Admittedly, 2011 presents challenges. Families continue to struggle through an ever-so-slow recovery from the 2008 economic collapse, and a decade of shrinking incomes and rising costs have left much of the middle class skeptical of the American dream. Worse, a fractured and partisan Congress shows more interest in fighting than in fixing the problem, earning an 11% approval rating from the public, which seems charitable.

But despite all this, there is genuine good news out there. And it is not just the Christmas punch that compels us to say so.

Let's start with some truths that we still find to be abundantly self-evident. America remains an extraordinary place. While Washington might have descended into political tribalism, the nation has a bounty of people who are inventive, resilient, kind, hardworking, practical, self-reliant, tolerant and ambitious. They create some of the world's coolest stuff, small things such as the latest iPads and smart phones, and big things such as the new 787 Dreamliner.

USATODAY OPINION

About Editorials/Debate

Opinions expressed in USA TODAY's editorials are decided by its Editorial Board, a demographically and ideologically diverse group that is separate from USA TODAY's news staff.

Most editorials are accompanied by an opposing view — a unique USA TODAY feature that allows readers to reach conclusions based on both sides of an argument rather than just the Editorial Board's point of view.

America also produces a steady stream of inspirational stories. Among this year's is Mark Herzlich, the thriving football player for the New York Giants whose career, if not his life, was thought to have been lost to a rare form of bone cancer. Or how about J.R. Martinez? The Iraq War veteran who sustained burns on 40% of his body is now an actor, motivational speaker and the most recent winner of Dancing with theStars. Such stories are all the more poignant in challenging times.

This year has also seen a fair share of good news — most notably the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of Navy SEALs— even if it has sometimes been obscured. So if you're in the mood for an uplifting holiday, take cheer:

•The world is getting more peaceful. Though it might not seem so, with the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan grabbing so many headlines, the past decade has seen a remarkable drop in the number of war casualties around the world. According to data compiled by the Peace Research Institute Oslo, 55,000 people a year have been dying in war since the dawn of the new millennium. That's a little more than half of the rate during the 1990s, a third of the rate during the Cold War and one hundredth the rate during World War II.

•The troops are coming home. Whatever one might think of the decision to invade Iraq in 2003, it's nice to see U.S. servicemembers coming home. At the war's peak, about 160,000 were posted in Iraq. Though it might be hard to have a rosy outlook on Iraq's future, given this week's political turmoil and bombings in Baghdad, a U.S. presence couldn't go on indefinitely. This year, thousands of troops will celebrate the holidays with their families after fulfilling their missions admirably and honorably. They deserve it.

•The economy is perking up. Some 1.4 million jobs have been created this year, and the unemployment rate has dropped from 9.4% at the end of last year to 8.6% in November, according to the Labor Department. Last month, the jobless rate declined in 43 states. Far too many Americans remain out of work, and the nation is still about 6 million jobs below the peak employment level before the 2008 financial meltdown. But the recent gains are nothing to sneer at, given all the obstacles that were hurled at the economy this year. Just a few months ago, many economists were predicting a double-dip recession. No wonder they call it the dismal science.

•America is importing less oil. Net oil imports have dropped from more than 12 million barrels per day in 2005 to 8.8 million today, according the the Energy Department. The trend is driven mainly by more efficient cars and the newfound ability to extract oil from tight rock formations here at home. This makes the United States less dependent on imports from unstable or unfriendly nations. More of the nation's oil imports are coming from our friends in Canada and Mexico. Who would have thought this would happen? For years, rising oil imports were thought of as a constant, like death and taxes.

•Traffic fatalities are falling. The latest number from the Department of Transportation is that 32,788 people died last year in traffic accidents — still too many, but part of a multiyear downward trend. Measured against miles traveled (1.1 deaths per 100 million miles), it is the lowest level ever recorded. No one knows exactly which factors are most important in the drop. But safer cars, with airbags and rollover protections, combined with improved driver awareness about the dangers of driving while intoxicated or without buckling up, are main factors. Just don't text this news while you're behind the wheel.

•Crime is still dropping.Violent crime fell 6.4% during the first six months of this year, according to the latest FBI report, defying hard economic times and continuing a trend dating to the 1990s. Criminologists aren't sure how to explain this downward trend. Most theories involve some combination of demographic changes, higher incarceration rates and better police work. In the end, the reasons are less important than the fact that crime continues to fall. These FBI reports have begun to sound like a broken record — while also being music to our ears.

The new year will, of course, bring challenges, scandals and setbacks. But it will also bring more good news, large and small. In 2012, people we don't even know yet will do amazing things. Science will advance; enterprise will flourish.

Americans can dwell on a never-ending string of woe-is-us stories, or look at the underlying trends that show progress. The United States can be down. But that will be so out.

12.19.11 Monday News you can USE - Each line is a link...

2011-12-18T20:37:00.001-05:00

When does tearing a vacancy down make sense? 60 Minutes

Many of you have asked me (for years) for an option to 800 info line....

We have never seen the inside of a pricing model before: Goldman Sachs Factors

When times are hard- FSBO’s use Realtors more often (read the comments too): Stats

Home Buyers to help with unemployment benefits: Did you know this?

Canadian Brookfield buys Prudential

Long article but fascinating scam run in Las Vegas: Scam

More in two weeks - enjoy your holidays! We are off Dec. 23 to Jan 2nd. Don't miss Monday's final installment of FINISH STRONG 10amEST / 7amPAC - email Donna.Stott@mac.com for dial in # and code if you've misplaced... last group call of the year! THANK ILONA!

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.
Oren Arnold

SKILLS CALL NOTES TODAY

2011-12-15T14:32:00.001-05:00

In 1998 The Stott Team generated $172,000 - we were one of the FIRST real estate companies that had a website! Check it out, it's still up and working and it's stott.com
Imagine how far back it was to get THAT 5 letter website... yep... a LONG time ago. We were ahead of our time....

In 2001 we generated $13,000 from internet leads ... and we'd done nothing different...
That was exactly the problem... we'd done nothing different!

The fact is that the INTERNET changed and we didn't...

What was ONCE cool in real estate?
Fax Machines
Cell Phone Bricks (and $3/minute)
Email ability
IDX searches on your website
Sending a DVD about your listing to someone

In ONE MINUTE on the internet
Google has 695,000 quires
6,600 photos are uploaded to Flikr
70 new domains will be registered
Facebook has more users than people in all but 2 countries in the world
168 MILLION emails are sent
13,000 iPhone apps are uploaded
20,000 new posts on Tumblr
1200 new ads are Created on Craiglist
100 new accounts on Linked-In
370,000 voice calls are done on Skype
13,000 hours of music streaming by Pandora
Hot Buyer or Seller finds YOU on the net... somewhere... Are you there for them to find? Are you pushing your internet content to go viral (Facebook, Craigslist, etc)?

Couple of things we looked at on the call:

Tim's Squeeze Page - click here

Tim's YouTube video for the property - click here

VIDEO sells... and it's really EASY. Don't make it hard. Don't make it perfect. Make mistakes... people LOVE them. Check this one out... with over 3,400 views

Easy to do from your desk:
http://www.eyejot.com/
Mike's silly 19 second eyejot video - I got an odd message when I went to it, but when I hit continue or dismiss all, it still took me to the video... It also plays right in the email when he sent to me... try it.

Homework:
SEND ME A VIDEO

In 60 seconds on the Internet...

2011-12-13T13:49:00.001-05:00

via technolog.msnbc.msn.com

Think Facebook is a fad? Think you don't need to know how to market online? Both marketing yourself as well as your Listings?
Think again...

12.5.2012 Monday News You can USE - Use it this week with your DB!

2011-12-05T16:49:00.001-05:00

Housing Prices still stuck in the mud - read this... and feel sorry for us in those 4 really bad markets!

Foreclosures Mostly halted for the Holidays

Drop Box and Incredibly Useful tool - do you use it and how do you use it?

First major Lawsuit filed by a state over RoboSigning

BTW anyone see 60 minutes last night??
Incredible piece on Fraudulent Loans Last night (two parts so putting full links in for you below)

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7390540n&tag=component.0;topnews
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7390542n&tag=contentMain;contentAux

Famous Holiday Houses - Just for Fun

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
William James

11.28.11 Monday NEWS YOU CAN USE!

2011-11-28T13:53:00.001-05:00

Low Low Rates - Does EVERY person in your Database KNOW about this? CLICK HERE 3.98%

For your Sellers that think it will be better in the Spring. Do they want to lose another 5%? Send them THIS: Analysts Now say housing recovery in 2013 after 5% drop in 2012

Know someone that has hired a Scammer to reduce their payments? READ THIS: Mortgage relief fraud: 210 Shut Down!

Investor sales surge – are you targeting this market? Does your Database know what a GREAT DEAL investment proerties are? Have you SHOWN THEM? Use this article!

Marketing during the Holidays: Don’t take it off the market!!! Send to your current listings!

Toronto Buyers starting to cool off: This may signify prices peaked

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney

Double Dare you to watch the videos on the page... Ask me questions about it. Dare you...

2011-11-22T14:13:00.001-05:00

via retechulous.com

11.14.11 Monday News you can Use

2011-11-16T10:39:00.001-05:00

Are We Becoming A Society Programmed To Rent? What can you DO about this trend in your community? Are you DOING anything about it? Renting versus Owning

Income Gap Between Generations "Largest Ever" (skip the ad) CLICK HERE for the Gap

Selling your home in the WINTER We also have an article - 12 reasons to list during the Holidays - send us an email if you'd like a copy

Eight Years to close the 2.1 Million foreclosures- tell me what that is GOOD NEWS? Eight Years

Need a Vacation from all this? Bizzare places to stay (just for fun)... Try these

How Does A Short Sale Affect FICO Scores?

How much impact does a short sale have on FICO® Scores? How about a foreclosure? Since I frequently hear these questions from clients and others, I thought I’d share new FICO research that sheds light on this very subject.
The FICO study simulated various types of mortgage delinquencies on three representative credit bureau profiles of consumers scoring 680, 720 and 780, respectively. I say “representative profiles” because we focused on consumers whose credit characteristics (e.g., utilization, delinquency history, age of file) were typical of the three score points considered. All consumers had an active currently-paid-as-agreed mortgage on file.
Results are shown below. The first chart shows the impact on the score for each stage of delinquency, and the second shows how long it takes the score to fully “recover” after the fact.

All in all, we saw:
The magnitude of FICO® Score impact is highly dependent on the starting score.
There’s no significant difference in score impact between short sale/deed-in-lieu/settlement and foreclosure.
While a score may begin to improve sooner, it could take up to 7-10 years to fully recover, assuming all other obligations are paid as agreed.
In general, the higher starting score, the longer it takes for the score to fully recover.
Even if there’s minimal difference in score impact between moderate and severe delinquencies, there may be significant difference in time required for the score to fully recover.
This study provides good benchmarks of score impact from mortgage delinquencies. However, it is important to note that research was done only on select consumer credit profiles. Given the wide range of credit profiles that exist, results may vary beyond what’s in the charts above
.

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
Jimmy Dean

What if?

2011-11-08T08:54:00.001-05:00

From TUT - modified slightly...

What if your every conflict, disappointment, struggle or challenge, with others or yourself, was merely a manifestation of what's going on within your own thinking... would you go there first to fix, mend, and allay?
.... Yeah, you might miss the drama.

Would you?

11.7.11 Monday News you can USE - check out the Gen Y article... might learn something!

2011-11-07T14:28:00.001-05:00

Good news for Residential Resales - new home construction at new low - long term this can hurt resales in that there are fewer trade-up /trade downs transactions, but it also can stablize re-sale prices.... Click to read: NewHomeSales

Adults kids moving back in with parents. Yikes! 19% of Males 25 to 34. Might just scare a parent into moving into a less "inviting" home to prevent this! Click for Article...

On the FLIP side... Gen Y is likely your next Buyer Sale. Do you connect with them? Click to read.

How long will it take for a bank to get rid of it's REO properties? Freddie Mac says possilbly "More than a Decade" - good news for not flooding the market! Click here

A Unique New Business Source??? Want to work with Pro Athletes? SportsAgent411.com

Cool Interactive Map showing change in Canada real estate prices... In US - you should see this in our Global Economy... in Candada, you should USE this lnk with your clients! Click Here

Do your listing photos drive traffic to or away? Great artice... be TOUGH on yourself! Tips Here

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.
Elbert Hubbard

LIVE where you want to BE...

2011-11-04T23:38:00.001-04:00

Be there.

Go there now and never leave. Imagine that your dreams have already come true. Live your life from that mindset.

Predicate your behavior on THAT reality, not what surrounds you now.

Filter every thought, question, and answer from there. Let your focus shift and be born again -

Because dwelling FROM, not upon, the space you want to inherit is the fastest way to change absolutely everything.

- inspired by TUT

Snooze - Fall Back

2011-11-03T13:10:00.000-04:00

Cute link Terri Pontzious sent!

Click the link: Snooze - Fall Back

KarmaTube: A Gift Economy at Karma Kitchen

2011-10-31T17:51:00.000-04:00

KarmaTube: A Gift Economy at Karma Kitchen

What a gift.... to the world!

10.31.11 Monday News you and USE! (and use them!)

2011-10-31T17:07:00.001-04:00

What do the builder know and do that your sellers won't: Cut Prices to increase sales

Don't expect this to speed the recovery but it might help your clients: Foreclosure Review

Triple Dip??? CNN thinks so.. click here...

And it's a great time to buy a retirement home CHEAP. Buy Here!

Here's an idea from our Vancouver neighbors: Virtual Open Houses - live webinar open houses!

Athletes have coaches - why not you?

A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.
Charles Schwab

10.24.11 Monday News You Can USE (see Jobs Quote at bottom)

2011-10-24T11:56:00.001-04:00

We sometimes forget what our NAR and loacal boards have to offer. Here's something interesting: Customizable Print on Demand Brochures!

Housing Triple Dip or Seasonal Variation? View CNBC Video here

Why Americans Not Buying Homes... See article here.

When Steve Jobs met Bill Gates. Titans discuss business.

Fix the Economy? Fix Housing!

Here's an anomaly: Six Figure Salary and homeless!

“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it.” – Steve Jobs

Are YOU going to Finish Strong?

2011-10-18T17:03:00.001-04:00

Two minutes, forty one seconds. If you've seen before, watch again... CLICK HERE

Who are you to say you can't do it.... you CAN do it. ANYONE can do it... even Nick.

Do you have what you need? YES. REACH DEEP.

You have 10 weeks to finish this year. Take control and finish the year KNOWING you did the BEST JOB you could do the last 10 weeks. Start today.

Coach Donna

10.17.11 Monday News you can USE!

2011-10-17T15:17:00.001-04:00

It’s time to buy that house! Click here....

Rates going back up? Click here...

No news to our clients – foreclosures still a problem... click here

Got home building ideas – could you be an innovator? Click here!

Gov’t Foreclosures – will they make good rentals?

Lessons from Canada – points to ponder

Atlanta not recovering anytime soon - great time to buy here...

Two cool free programs Free conference Calls (now can do screen sharing, recording, etc.) and free image editing software:
http://www.freeconferencecall.com/
http://www.irfanview.com/

Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.

Charles F. Kettering

There are 3 Sales in Almost Every Deal....

2011-10-14T10:56:00.001-04:00

Did you know there are 3 sales that occur in most real estate sales? That's right... you have to sell the property THREE times. And if you are not effective at ALL THREE sales, you may not close the deal...

Sale #1

First, you must sell the property to the Real Estate Agents... You have to have an attractive price, GREAT photos/video/remarks, be EASY to show and GET showing instructions, AND an attractive Selling Office Commission. This gets Agents to SHOW your listing. That is Sale #1

Sale #2

Second, you must sell the property to the BUYER. Again, you STILL have to have an attractive price, great curb appeal, be easy to show AND it has to look, feel smell great when they SEE it inside too. This gets Buyers to make an offer on the property. That is Sale #2

Sale #3 is the one we often forget about....

For MOST transactions, you have 3rd sale that must ocur to close the deal. This is the SALE to the bank and the appraiser. Are you doing a great job on THAT sale, or is that the sale you're crashing and burning on... with Low Appraisals, Bank required repairs, etc. Are YOU, the listing agent, meeting the appraiser at the property? Do you have a package of comps with yellow highlights of what they need to see? Do you have a great CMA form you're using that PROVES your price? Is the house prepared for the most important showing of all? Are the lights and fans on? Music? Is it clean and ready for this LAST sale? If not... and if this is one of the Leaks in Your Income Funnel (deals falling out during Pending Process), then take this opportunity to CORRECT it and make this LAST sale in the selling process.

10.10.11 Monday News you can USE!

2011-10-10T08:53:00.001-04:00

Smart Phone Apps you might want to look at... click here

Short Sale verses Foreclosure... which to do? GREAT one for your database contacts!

Power Brokers Discussion what brokerages are looking at in the next 3 to 5 years- What do to to be READY... click here

Big Drop in Home Ownership: 180 Degree Theory - BUY NOW!!!

Flipping Houses? Not so much - rent them instead... great time for THAT! Click here...

Does EVERY client you have know this??? - 30 year rates < 4%!! Click here and be SURE to tell every one of them TODAY! Click here for the article to send them...

Better Homes and Gardens Back in Canada!

"It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it." John Wooden

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another." Walter Elliott

Are you finishing the "short race" every day? - We're noticing that our clients who lead generate AND lead follow-up DAILY are the ones getting outstanding results!

Is that YOU? Make it happen TODAY....

09.26.11 Monday News You Can USE! This may the BEST NEWS of the YEAR! USE IT!

2011-09-26T17:49:00.001-04:00

Sales are PICKING UP! How many people have you shared this news with since we sent out last week? DON'T DELAY! Share this now before someone else DOES! Click here for article link!

How do you break into this market?? Do you HAVE to be rich? Interesting article... click here...

Rising Rents? Equals LOTS of investors out there buying! Do you have YOUR SHARE? Click here and share with your Database so you can GET your share! TELL THE RENTERS TO BUY.....

Spin! This article could have just as easily been titled - Foreclosures fall for 11th straight month instead of Foreclosures Rise in August.

Mortgage Rates at 60 year Low! SIXTY!!!! - do your clients know this??? May be "old news" to you but it's NEW to them! Virutally 90% of your database should sell/buy or refinance, right? Are you telling them???

Interesting Book Reviews from Canadian Agents (although I bet everyone could benefit by reading them!)

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”
Mary Anne Radmacher

Posted on Broker-Agent Social a few days ago... thought I'd share

2011-09-21T21:02:00.001-04:00

Are you Presenting Offers as well as you SHOULD be...

How are you Submitting Offers to your Seller Clients? Are you losing any good offers because you countered them? If so, read this:

In today's market, how you present an offer can mean the difference between selling a home or NOT selling it all. I know of too many decent offers that were countered "just a little" and the buyer walked and decided to look at some more homes, never coming back to the original one.

By submitting an offer with the TRUTH up front it can make all the difference to a Seller. What is the TRUTH? The Seller really only has 2 choices... CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE AND COMMENT IF YOU WILL... thanks!

EXISTING HOME SALES LEAP! Monthly Gains in ALL REGIONS... Is your head in the right place to get your share?

2011-09-21T14:49:00.001-04:00

August Existing-Home Sales Leap Despite Headwinds

Daily Real Estate News | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Existing-home sales increased in August, even with ongoing tight credit and appraisal problems, along with regional disruptions created by Hurricane Irene, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Monthly gains were seen in all regions.

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 7.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.03 million in August from an upwardly revised 4.67 million in July, and are 18.6 percent higher than the 4.24 million unit level in August 2010.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there are some positive market fundamentals. “Some of the improvement in August may result from sales that were delayed in preceding months, but favorable affordability conditions and rising rents are underlying motivations,” he said. “Investors were more active in absorbing foreclosed properties. In additional to bargain hunting, some investors are in the market to hedge against higher inflation.”

Investors accounted for 22 percent of purchase activity in August, up from 18 percent in July and 21 percent in August 2010. First-time buyers purchased 32 percent of homes in August, unchanged from July; they were 31 percent in August 2010.

All-cash sales accounted for 29 percent of transactions in August, unchanged from July; they were 28 percent in August 2010; investors account for the bulk of cash purchases.

“We had some disruptions from Hurricane Irene in the closing weekend of August, when many sales normally are finalized, along the Eastern seaboard and in New England,” Yun said. “As a result, the Northeast saw the smallest sales gain in August, and some general impact is expected in September with widespread flooding from Tropical Storm Lee. Aberrations in housing data are possible over the next couple months as markets recover from disrupted closings and storm damage.”

Yun said an extremely important issue currently is the renewal and availability of the National Flood Insurance Program, scheduled to expire at the end of this month. “About one out of 10 homes in this country need flood insurance to get a mortgage, and we would see significant negative market impacts without it,” he said.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.27 percent in August, down from 4.55 percent in July; the rate was 4.43 percent in August 2010. Last week, Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed rate fell to a record low 4.09 percent.

NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I., said the market is remarkably affordable for people with secure jobs, good credit and long-term plans. “All year, the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income has been hovering at historic highs, meaning the best housing affordability conditions in a generation,” he said.

“The biggest factors keeping home sales from a healthy recovery are mortgages being denied to creditworthy buyers, and appraised valuations below the negotiated price. Buyers may be able to find more favorable credit terms with community and small regional banks, and Realtors® can often give buyers advice to help them overcome some of the financing obstacles,” Phipps said.

Contract failures – cancellations caused largely by declined mortgage applications or failures in loan underwriting from appraised values coming in below the negotiated price – were reported by 18 percent of NAR members in August, up from 16 percent July and 9 percent in August 2010.

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $168,300 in August, which is 5.1 percent below August 2010. Distressed homes – foreclosures and short sales typically sold at deep discounts – accounted for 31 percent of sales in August, compared with 29 percent in July and 34 percent in August 2010.

Total housing inventory at the end of August fell 3.0 percent to 3.58 million existing homes available for sale, which represents an 8.5-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 9.5-month supply in July.

Single-family home sales rose 8.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.47 million in August from 4.12 million in July, and are 20.2 percent above the 3.72 million pace in August 2010.

The median existing single-family home price was $168,400 in August, which is 5.4 percent below a year ago.

Existing condominium and co-op sales increased 1.8 percent a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 560,000 in August from 550,000 in July, and are 8.3 percent higher than the 517,000-unit level one year ago. The median existing condo price was $167,500 in August, down 3.3 percent from August 2010.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast increased 2.7 percent to an annual pace of 770,000 in August and are 10.0 percent above a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $244,100, which is 5.1 percent below August 2010.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 3.8 percent in August to a level of 1.09 million and are 26.7 percent above August 2010. The median price in the Midwest was $141,700, down 3.5 percent from a year ago.

In the South, existing-home sales increased 5.4 percent to an annual pace of 1.94 million in August and are 16.9 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the South was $151,000, which is 0.8 percent below August 2010.

Existing-home sales in the West jumped 18.3 percent to an annual pace of 1.23 million in August and are 20.6 percent higher than August 2010. The median price in the West was $189,400, down 13.0 percent from a year ago.

Source: NAR

9.19.11 Monday News You can USE!

2011-09-20T10:22:00.001-04:00

Housing Recovery may be key to US Economy - read more....

Getting a Mortgage not an easy thing to do... click here for Article to show your Sellers...

Here's an Idea to Share... "I bought my dream retirement home CHEAP"..... click

California Florida - most underwater mortgages... = BEST DEALS!??

What you get for $1.25 million in Toronto!

COOL VIDEO FOR A HOME FOR SALE - Thanks Josh....

A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.
Charles Schwab

THURS SKILLS CALL 9.15.11 is a WEBINAR - see below

2011-09-13T13:25:00.001-04:00

Please join my meeting, Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 10:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/886050656

You will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended.

Meeting ID: 886-050-656

I will also send the presentation by email... you're going to learn SO MUCH!

9.12.11 Monday News You Can USE!

2011-09-12T09:25:00.001-04:00

50 Year Lows for Interest Rates! What are your buyers waiting for? Mortagage Rates fall to LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1950's!!! Click here for more....

New Loan Limits affect higher priced homes..."Coming loan changes could Squeeze high-priced home markets"... Click here to read more...

What's the new normal? Low growth rates, more pain to come per Fed Economist...

#1 Agent in the country did 1268 sides in 2010 - Key thought - Follow Up Wins everytime.

Canadian Prices at the peak?

Would you stand under your work?
“The ancient Romans had a tradition: whenever one of their engineers constructed an arch, as the capstone was hoisted into place, the engineer assumed accountability for his work in the most profound way possible: he stood under the arch.”

Time to buy some rentals...

2011-09-07T16:09:00.001-04:00

via realtormag.realtor.org

9.5.11 Monday News you can USE

2011-09-06T08:46:00.001-04:00

In Case you haven't seen the interview yet- It's apparent Obama is going ot focus on Housing... click this link to see the article....

Rates to stay low - Click HERE for the article

Federal Reserve Board's Chairmain Ben Bernanke's take on the housing crisis

http://agentgenius.com/real-estate-mortgage-economy/bernankes-recent-speech-addresses-the-extent-of-the-housing-crisis/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AGNewsMag+%28Real+Estate+News+-+AGBeat%29

Case-Shiller Report - Prices "kind" in 2nd quarter 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2011-08-30/Home-prices-fi...

Auctions in Canada Picking up Steam?

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/real+estate+auction+means+action/5353...

Wouldn't it be easier to pick up the phone and call your past clients, FSBO's and Expired?

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/pf/1108/gallery.make_extra_money/index.html

Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work - and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't.
Lucille Ball

9.5.11 Monday News you can USE

2011-09-06T08:45:00.001-04:00

In Case you haven't seen the interview yet- It's apparent Obama is going ot focus on Housing... click this link to see the article....

Rates to stay low - Click HERE for the article

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20110902_rates.htm
Bernankes Take on the housing crisis

http://agentgenius.com/real-estate-mortgage-economy/bernankes-recent-speech-a...

Case-Shiller Report - Prices "kind" in 2nd quarter 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2011-08-30/Home-prices-fi...

Auctions in Canada Picking up Steam?

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/real+estate+auction+means+action/5353...

Wouldn't it be easier to pick up the phone and call your past clients, FSBO's and Expired?

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/pf/1108/gallery.make_extra_money/index.html

Have a WONDERFUL Labor Day Monday!

2011-09-02T17:13:00.001-04:00

It's time to be GRATEFUL for our "Labor". Isn't it great that we CAN'T get a pink slip and lose our job! We ARE so blessed.

No calls Monday. I believe I talked to each Monday client already. For those with a TUESDAY call, remember.... Tuesday will FEEL like Monday, so don't forget!

News on the personal homefront: Mike and I bought a new home and we're moving in the week of Sept 10-17th. Please try to keep your scheduled coaching times the next few weeks as time will be tight! We are also leaving Sept 27th to celebrate our 19th wedding annivesary in Hawaii and visit family and friends. Yes, you heard it right... we are taking a RARE vacation! Been awhile, hasn't it??

So, for planning purposes - there will be NO coaching calls Tuesday Sept 27 through Wednesday October 5th. I will be rescheduling those people who have Tues/Wed calls so you only miss ONE week, not 2. Talk to me about it now if you want to plan in advance! :)

Go have fun on Monday with friends and family and CELEBRATE the fact that YES, you DO have a JOB and isn't that a blessing?

History of Labor Day: http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

Sincerely appreciate your business and referrals!

Donna

Another Real Estate Boost from the White House next week?

2011-09-01T14:26:00.001-04:00

Be sure YOU are the first to share this news with your database... YOU be "The" Real Estate Info Source and you will reap the rewards!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/31/us-usa-obama-housing-idUSTRE77T6DV2...

Who is taking my database class next week? Sign up here: http://bit.ly/MaximizingDatabaseResults

REPEATS only may use the code for 50% off - ycm50

THURSDAY SEPT 1 - IMPORTANT INFO

2011-08-31T09:13:00.001-04:00

Rudy Bachraty will be teaching us all about using FACEBOOK and SOCIAL SEARCHES at 1:30EST/ 12:30 Central / 11:30 Mtn / 10:30 Eastern

This is NOT a sales call, but PURE education from the folks at Trulia, sponsored by Your Coaching Matters! PLEASE Sign up in advance and put it on your calendar!

NOTE: This is a ONE HOUR CALL - not the normal 30 minutes. We will NOT be doing the Numbers Tracker tutorial afer this call.

NUMBERS TRACKER will only be taught this month on Sept 8th!

LINK TO JOIN MEETING: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/896523250/106076244

TO USE YOUR COMPUTER'S AUDIO:
When the Webinar begins, you will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended.
TO USE YOUR TELEPHONE:
If you prefer to use your phone, you must select "Use Telephone" after joining the Webinar and call in using the numbers below.

   Toll: +1 (805) 309-0022
   Access Code: 498-572-060
   Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Real Trends Analysis

2011-08-29T17:03:00.001-04:00

Data person? Take a look at this monthly update from Real Trends Magazine - link at the bottom of this article takes you to a 38 page report you can find SOMETHING in to share with your Database... CLICK HERE

By the way, I'm offering my Database Course again Sept 8, 15, and 22nd at 11am EST/ 8am Pacfic - Cost is $99. If you are a repeat to the course, contact me for a 50% off discount code. Donna.Stott@YourCoachingMatters.com

If you're not a repeat - here's the LINK TO THE CLASS

8.29.11 Monday News you can USE

2011-08-29T11:35:00.001-04:00

Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be all day hunting for it. ~Richard Whately

I Like this quote - couldn't sleep last night so got a good workout in and and extra hours of email follow-up - wow - it's 6:30 and I'm already where I usually am at 9:30 - wonder how much extra I can accomplish and how many extra people I can help today?

Short Sales up 2% 2nd Qtr 2011 versus 1 Qtr 2010 - Bank of America expects to do 100,000 short sales this year - read this article for some amazing statistics

Shadow Inventory - 4 to 5 Million Homes! It may take 47 months to clear them all out! Read MORE here....

From our Partners at RealTrends: read the last paragraph about referrals!

Hello friends in Canada - time to buy in the USA??

Do any Commercial? Read this article:

Mike Stott
678-232-0927
Mike.Stott@mac.com

NEXT THURSDAY, SEPT 1 - SPECIAL GROUP WEBINAR

2011-08-26T11:43:00.001-04:00

Rudy Bachraty will be teaching us all about using FACEBOOK and SOCIAL SEARCHES at 1:30EST/ 12:30 Central / 11:30 Mtn / 10:30 Eastern

This is NOT a sales call, but PURE education from the folks at Trulia, sponsored by Your Coaching Matters!

Link to sign up: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/896523250

Thanks SO much Rudy!

FREE Kindle Book

2011-08-23T15:00:00.001-04:00

The Science, Design, and Engineering of Contagious Ideas

http://goo.gl/62onh

8.22.11 Monday News You can USE and SHARE!

2011-08-22T08:25:00.001-04:00

A topic to discuss with current Buyers as well as with your Past Clients and Centers of Influence Database - SHORTEN YOUR LOAN NOW! Click here for full article

Wow - 4.0% 30 year mortgage rates!?? And 15 year rates at record lows! RECORD LOWS as reported by our good old Hawaii Paper... did you know we're visiting in late September?? Click here for details!

Which means of course... AFFORDABILITY! Click here for article from Realtor Magazine

A Great Thinker in Real Estate offers some interesting Insights: Is it time to be thinking of YOUR "Brand"... do you even know what it is? Click here for article you might want to consider...

Finally... a reminder: how's your ENTHUSIASM? It's NEVER been a better time to buy! A first home, an investment property, a trade-up to more expensive property than you live in now... ALL of those are fantastic right NOW! Is EVERYONE you know aware of this? How's YOUR level of ENTHUSIASM in sharing that news? If you aren't doing enough business and you haven't reminded EVERYONE you know about how GREAT the market is... then isn't it time to call them THIS WEEK?

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let's be Enthusiastic this week!

~Mike and Donna Stott - Your Coaching Matters

How to Sell a Property For More Than It’s Worth | Real Trends

2011-08-18T13:25:00.001-04:00

via realtrends.com

8.15.11 Monday News You Can USE - copy favorites and send to you DATABASE TODAY~

2011-08-15T09:20:00.001-04:00

Remember... EVERYONE runs into SOMEONE that is moving every 3-4 months. How often are you reminding your DB that you WANT their referrals... (don't let them think you are "too busy" or "too successful" to take their referrals)... Here's NEWS you can USE today to contact them. Don't forget to ASK FOR REFERRALS!) Example:

"THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your real estate referrals to me... if you hear of ANYONE needing to move or interested in discussing investment real estate, PLEASE refer them to me! My business grows based on the referrals I receive from my GREAT CLIENTS like YOU! With much appreciation... Donna

AND NOW FOR THE NEWS:

Rates at near record lows (15 year mortgages are at record lows) Who do you know that should refinance (60+% of all mortgages are above 5%), trade up, buy an investment property, or buy their first home? CLICK HERE for full article....

Personally, I hate this vdieo and don't agree with the guy... but if your listings are selling, this may be why. Buyers are seeing some give this advice. Highly recommend your sellers that need to sell watch this and show them why they have to be ROCK BOTTOM low priced to sell. If all your listings are selling, don't bother with this one... Click here for vidoe link with short commercial upfront.

Zillow News - Bottom 2012 (Donna's Crystal Ball is still 2011 in most areas) - Click for Zillow Article

100 BEST Cities to Live in from CNN - where is YOUR area on this list? Use the "near you" button for your state CLICK HERE

What's Next for Vancouver's HOT HOT HOT MARKET - Click here for Canadian News (wish you were there???)

Quote of the Week:

Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

8.8.11 Monday News you can USE

2011-08-08T17:38:00.001-04:00

Will the Downgrade Affect Interest Rates? click here to find out

Will congress extend Loan Limits? Clck here...

Have clients thinking of retiring - some things to consider - click here!

Homeownership at historic low rates. Read into the article - prices have dropped 32% since the peak! What a time to BUY! Click here to see article and send to those YOU want to help!

Good thoughts on Discount Brokers from a great agent in Ontario

Not Every City is singing the blues - check out the "Untouched Cities"...

Most UNHEALTY markets = BEST places to BUY NOW! Click here...

TED Blog | 5 ways to listen better: Julian Treasure on TED.com

2011-08-06T18:57:00.001-04:00

via blog.ted.com

7 minutes - take the time to LISTEN...

Set the alarm clock the night before..

2011-08-06T15:56:00.001-04:00

Situational goal adjustment is a real problem.

Don't set the clock when you're tired, set it when you are planning your day.

Don't whittle away at your sales goals right after a serious rejection, set them when you're on a roll.

The discipline is in obeying the rule you set when you were in a different mood than you are now. That's what makes it a rule as opposed to a guideline.

- Seth Godin

THURSDAY OPPORTUNITY of a LIFETIME??

2011-08-02T17:41:00.001-04:00

This Thursday Master Real Estate Instructor Jerry Bresser will be a GUEST SPEAKER on our Skills Training Call at 1:30pm Eastnern / 12:30 Central /11:30 Mountain / 10:30 Pacific

Dial in at 1-270-400-1500 code 22558# to access the FREE seminar on The POWER of LANGUAGE: The MAGIC WORDS to get a BONUS commission EVERY single time! Put aside 30-45 minutes for Jerry to help YOU get more listings and get more sold!

I'll be back next week.

No NUMBERS TRACKER TUTORIAL this week. Next one is August 11 at 2:30pm EST, same dial in as above.

8.1.11 - MONDAY NEWS YOU CAN USE - How will YOU use one of these today?

2011-08-01T14:13:00.001-04:00

With the Debt Ceiling monopolizing all the Press - not much "news" this week! Most of you should be using the 2nd Quarter Statistics for your Board/area to talk with your sellers and buyers this week.

Foreclosures Down - but it's all artificially down - In Las Vegas 1 out of every 19 homes got either a notice of default, a notice of sale or bank repossession -- during the first half of 2011 - CLICK FOR FULL ARTICLE

Home Prices off 32% from July 2006 Highs (the great depression declined less than 30%) and were down 4.5% year over year for May's numbers, CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Part of the reason why Canada is Hot Hot Hot! CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Okay we can all relax now on the debt ceiling... CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE TO SHARE!

And finally from our Friend and Partner at Real Trends Steve Murray tells it like it is and why you might want to avoid real estate gossip - CLICK HERE to read full article...

Instead of a quote this week - how about a funny to share with your datbase?

Mike Stott
678-232-0927
Mike.Stott@mac.com

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Home Ownership Matters is Back on Tour

2011-07-15T16:40:00.000-04:00

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Home Ownership Matters is Back on Tour

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Facebook Launches Video Chat Feature

2011-07-07T15:01:00.000-04:00

Tested FB's new Video chat. Took about 2 minutes to set up an chatted with a client in less than 4 minutes after I started... have you tried it yet? How could you use it with your business?

Click Below to try it....
http://www.facebook.com/videocalling

Seth's Blog: Dangerous (in a good way)

2011-06-20T11:27:00.000-04:00

A path on the way to building a reputation:

When someone asks you a question, they get an answer bigger than they ever expected.
When someone gives you a project, they get a plan scarier than they hoped for.
When you take on a project, you finish it.
If this is your reputation, what sort of projects and gigs will you find yourself getting? Not a good way to fit in, but an excellent way to be the one people seek out.

Brain Rules

2011-06-16T12:49:00.001-04:00

By Tricia Molloy:

I'm a motivational speaker on change management through wise business practices.

In other words, I present programs like CRAVE Your Goals! and DESIGN Your Ideal Life! to help reinforce or change behaviors in the workplace. So, I'm always interested in the primal laws, ancient truths and latest research on how people learn, retain and apply information.

In Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School, author and molecular biologist John Medina shares with wit and wisdom a dozen rules that help us understand how stress, gender and other variables either support or sabotage our success.

Whether this information is new to you or not, it always helps to remember the little things you can do that make a big difference, like:

To increase your mental sharpness, go for a walk or a run or just take some deep breaths. Oxygen flow into your brain reduces brain-bound free radicals and that increases your attention and focus, and helps you solve problems easier. (To prove this point, read the rest of this while breathing deeply.)

Multitasking doesn't work because, unlike a computer, the brain is a sequential processor and large fractions of a second are consumed every time we switch tasks. That adds up to a lot of wasted time.

Midday naps boost your productivity. Around three each afternoon, which is 12 hours after the point of your deepest sleep, your brain craves a break. When NASA pilots took a half-hour nap, their performance soared 34 percent. Consider that when planning meetings or conferences.

Show and tell. Studies show you'll remember 10 percent of what you hear after three days. If you see it too, you'll remember 65 percent. Vision trumps all other senses perhaps because it's how our ancestors perceived major threats and identified food supplies and reproductive opportunities. Consider this the next time you're preparing a PowerPoint presentation.

For more, including a clever series of videos, go to http://www.brainrules.net/

What are your favorite books on professional and personal development? I will provide highlights like this in future enewsletters. Share your wisdom on my Facebook Page or just reply back to me. I love hearing from you!

To Your Wisdom,
Tricia
770.565.1231
www.triciamolloy.com

PS: If this message resonates with you, please share it

Why Buy A Home Now

2011-06-14T11:23:00.000-04:00

Despite what appears to be a non-stop wave of tough news regarding real estate, four major media players have come out this month with the same advice: It Is Time to Buy a Home! Here are the four articles and a breakdown as to why the advice makes sense.

The Wall Street Journal: Why It’s Time to Buy

CBS Money Watch: Why the Time to Buy is Now

Forbes Magazine: 9 Reasons to Buy a House Now

National Public Radio: For Many, It’s Still a Good Time to Buy a Home

With prices continuing to depreciate in most regions of the country, some may wonder why these four entities are suggesting to their readership that now is the time to buy. Each organization realizes that PRICE is not as important as COST. The cost of a home can go up even if prices continue to fall. Unless you are an all cash buyer, you must take into consideration the expense of mortgaging when calculating the full cost of a home. Here is some information to consider.

Interest Rates

Currently, interest rates sit at historic lows. However, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, PMI and the National Association of Realtors are all projecting approximately a 1% increase in mortgage rates over the next year. A one percent increase in rate negates a ten percent fall in prices.

Lending Standards

The government has proposed a tightening of lending standards called Quality Residential Mortgage (QRM). If accepted as proposed two things will happen:

The qualification process for loans will become more difficult
The cost of a loan will increase

Bottom Line

There is a reason more and more financial organizations are suggesting to their followers that now is the time to buy a home: because the cost of purchasing a home is about to increase (even if prices continue to fall).

Are you ready for a Miracle?

2011-06-08T13:19:00.001-04:00

Are your systems and checklists and schedules READY for this?

Daily Real Estate News | June 8, 2011 | Housing Shortage Is Likely Coming, Report Says
Within the next decade, 16 million new housing units will be needed to meet population growth and shifting demands, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies in its latest annual "State of the Nation's Housing" report.

That means household growth, which has dropped drastically in recent years, will need to greatly reverse its trend to meet the forecasted spike in demand. From 2007-2010, household growth averaged about 500,000 per year--less than half the 1.2 million annual pace averaged prior from 2000-2007.

To absorb the current rate of foreclosed and distressed homes plaguing most markets, a more normal rate of household formation is critical, according to the report. However, household growth partially has stalled as young adults have delayed home ownership and immigration has slowed.

As such, in recent years, builders have drastically cut production of new homes.

"With inventories of new homes at historic lows, a turnaround in demand could quickly result in tighter markets," the report notes. "Over the longer term, the number of younger households is set to rise sharply, supporting growth in the population that fuels growth in both new renters and first-time buyers. The path of the economy and evolution of the mortgage market will determine when and if this increased demand materializes."

The report predicts a need for greater housing units for several reasons. For example, the report projects demand for 1 million new homes a year is needed to meet population growth in the coming decade. The report also predicts a surge in smaller homes, estimating that 3.8 million baby boomers will be looking to downsize their homes within the next decade. Also in adding to the increase in housing units needed, Immigration growth, the need to replace existing homes, and demand for second homes will contribute to rising demand, the report notes. Therefore, researchers conclude at least 16 million new housing units will be needed over the next decade.

Source: “Harvard: Real Estate Recovery Hinges on Return of Demand,” Inman News (June 6, 2011)

How To Series #1 - How to Intelligently Change Companies

2011-05-31T17:41:00.002-04:00

If you make a decision to change companies, many experts say either just “Don’t do it”, or warn that if you do, you can lose 6-12 weeks of business adjusting. That is just too long in most cases, to make the move practical financially, however, a change in companies doesn’t have to be impractical and costly.

Here are 12 steps to help you avoid losing more time than is necessary if you’ve made the decision to change… and a few tips to decide whether you should make a change at all.

1. Determine what you are hoping to accomplish with the move. Be specific. Beware of making a change due to an emotional conflict or a promise of leads from the new Company. In over 30 years of real estate, we’ve found the only way to generate business is through effective and constant Lead Generation and diligent Lead Follow-Up. Lead “promises” from a company rarely come through and if they do, there is often a 35-50% “referral fee” that makes accepting leads impractical. That being said, there ARE legitimate reasons to switch companies *. Answer this question: Exactly how will the move benefit you and more importantly, how will it benefit your clients?

2. Write out the benefits of your current company as if you were trying to recruit someone to the company. List all the pluses… and only then list the minuses.

3. Interview more than one other company and take a prepared list of questions based on your pluses and minuses of your current company, so you are comparing apples to apples. Ask all of the questions and write down the answers to compare later. Be sure you walk the office and observe the other Agents and Staff in the office. Make notes on that as well. DON’T make a decision on the spot. Ask for a written offer from each company listing all the items they are offering you.

4. Once you’ve compiled all the information, if it’s at ALL possible for you to remain happy where you are, go to your current Broker/Manager and explain your reasons for leaving. It’s possible they will match or beat the competition to keep you. Give them the chance if you think they can make it work with you.

5. Consider your current company policy with your listings and pending transactions. Calculate the hard cost of the move, and factor that in.

6. Speak with your Current Clients and make sure they understand why you are moving and exactly what their options are. Be sure the reason is to improve the experience you can provide to your Clients. Absolutely no complaining about the Company you’re with now. Focus on the benefits to the clients. Period.

7. Long before the move day compile a list of everything that needs to be done. Everything. It’s going to be pages and pages, so start it early and add to it as you think of things. It’s not just your business cards! See if your new company has a list prepared too and ask how much they are willing to help with it.

8. Before the move have a plan in place and be poised to change everything in just one-two days. Every sign, flyer, marketing materials, signature in your email, every voice mail message, stationary, cards, licensure... Yes, pages. If the change happens all at once, it’s easier to focus on generating more business immediately instead of handling “oops” emergencies as they come up over and over again. Engage help to get the list done. You can’t do it all yourself.

9. Hints for your move checklist: If you save passwords in one place, look at that list to see places you need to change you might have forgotten about. Look at your credit card statement to see what bills you pay that will need to be informed. Check your email folders for other items that need to go on the list. Check your schedule items the last year for more tips on what goes on the list. That list perfected before you move can save you thousands of dollars in less mistakes.

10. Immediately start a structured program of notifying your past clients and centers of influence. You must use “redundant, varied and repetitive” methods. That means to call them, email them, mail them, text them, blog about it, facebook-post it, Tweet it, Linked-In changed, Active Rain changed, etc. All of those are on your list in above.

11. Spend the first week doing not much more than making sure everyone knows about the move. Every vender, every cooperating Agent you’ve worked with. Every referring Agent you’ve worked with and of course, your Database... Six weeks later, do it again. And then again at 6 months and 12 months. By then, you should be able to go back to your normal contact routines and everyone knows where to find you. Be prepared to spend the $ necessary to finance this plan and schedule the time to complete it.

12. Do a "mindset" check before you make the final decision. Is this the best thing for my clients? Exactly how? Be ready to explain that in a 1 minute “elevator speech” as well as a 3-minute more detailed explanation. Don’t spend more than 3 minutes explaining to anyone. They don’t want or need to know more than that.

* if you’d like to discuss "legitimate reasons" for changing companies, email me confidentially at FreeCoachingHelp@yourcoachingmatters.com

Back to the Basics

2011-05-26T09:38:00.002-04:00

The buzz phrase of today’s market is: Go back to basics. But, what are those basics and haven’t they evolved? We created a laundry list of today’s basic. These are things you should be doing in order to thrive in business today.

Mindset/Intangibles
1. Great Attitudes and sense of humor
2. Flexibility and ability to think outside the box
3. Impeccable language and communication skills
4. Good Customer Relations (messages you leave, how fast you return calls, staff training, etc)
5. Rest, exercise, healthy food
6. Courage/unafraid of failure
7. Focus and discipline
8. Personal Growth Strategies (books you read, CD’s you’re listening to, TED.com videos to watch a week, etc.)
9. Take ACTION: Implement something new every quarter/year/month
10. Be active in the community you want to work in
11. Join networking events or groups and have a desire to meet people
12. Boundaries. Learn to use the word “No.” Limiting “Pro-Bono” cases
13. Good listening skills

Equipment/Mechanics
1. Phone—A Smartphone is a necessity because it has so many uses: email, computer, lockbox opener, financial calculator, etc.
2. Email— answered daily or sooner
3. Computer, Printer, Scanner
4. Signs and Lockboxes
5. Lockbox Openers (Supra Key) in some markets
6. Car that can take people places and are clean and presentable.
7. Quality materials. Print originals verses photocopies. Make sure you have a picture that looks like you, clean, clear, organized, etc.
8. Business card? Do you need one anymore?
9. Contracts: whether on paper, computer, iPad, other electronic device.
10. Camera or consider hiring a photography service
11. Measurement-taking device
12. MLS membership + national, state and local Realtor Association dues
13. Website
14. Social Media with good Social Media etiquette
15. Proper attire, good hygiene

Business Systems/Practices
1. Budget and Basic start up cash. Savings plan for 1 yr; 5 yr, etc. Trustworthy accountant/financial planner.
2. Someone answering the phones. Is it voice mail? Could it be a live person? What would that take?
3. Written Scripts and Objection Handlers - practiced often

4. A supportive Office Manager or Broker.Do you need training/support? Do you like the office systems? Do they work well for your purposes? Is the office culture appropriate?
5. Real Estate License and Continuing Education Plan
6. Vendor List (include Lender, title, escrow, roofer/gutter, plumber, flooring, Heat/Air, Termite, handyman, surveyor, septic, electrician, PM, Cleaners, Stager, landscapers, Attorney and specialty Attorney (divorce or Bankruptcy), CPA/estate planner, home insurance provider, home warranty, structural/soil engineer, furniture rental, home inspectors, locksmith, exterminator, painter, moving company, radon, remodeling, snow removal, chimney sweep, basement waterproofer, carpenter, asbestos/mold abatement professionals, contractors, gift basket/closing gift folks, duct cleaning, carpet cleaners and Employment Agency.
7. Basic financing knowledge
8. Basic market knowledge (preview properties, doing CMA practice)
9. Database/CRM system. When a lead comes in what happens to it? Add everyone you know and meet that can do biz w/you or refer you biz.
10. Schedule/calendar
11. Minimum standards ( X # of Pro-bono per year -under a certain $$; minimum price; maximum area)
12. Lead Generation Systems (Database? FSBO’s Expireds? NOD’s? SOI? – and what do you do with them?)
13. Lead Follow-Up System
14. Checklists – Lead to Listing or Buyer Contract. Listing to Sale, Sale to closing
15. Price Reduction System
16. Post Closing Follow Up System
17. Open House system if you’re going to do that
18. Goals/Business Plan
19. Numbers Tracker System. Where are you getting the best return on your investment of time, money, effort, energy?
20. Hire a Coach!
21. Exit strategy. Do you have a great Database and Business Systems to SELL?
22. Mastermind Group/Accountability Group

My Coaching question for of you is twofold:

1. How would you grade yourself in each area ? How could you improve?

2. What would YOU add to this list that’s missing? What do YOU consider the “Basics” in your business?

Eliminating Guilt from your life

2011-05-09T16:14:00.006-04:00

Had the opportunity this weekend to listen to a wonderful speaker talking about her book called Keeping our Promises. Author - Stephanie Seigh. Book - http://amzn.to/GuitFree

The book is technically about motherhood (it was a Mothers Day talk) however the 7 steps outlined work for any area we might be carrying guilt around. Including our business lives.

The first portion of the talk covered was WHY we feel guilty. In a nutshell:

"Guilt is felt when we do not do something we promised ourselves or others that we would do" Stephanie said. When we make a Promise, we automatically create TENSION. Think about it... That tension is not released until we fulfill the promise. Hence, mothers feeling guilty. Our "promise" is to raise great kids and they aren't "done" - ever. See the problem with hanging on to the tension?

Stephanie explains that when we get VERY clear about the Promises we make, we can alleviate that tension and guilt. Makes sense, right? I thought so!

Here is an overview of the 7 Promises this brilliant author says we CAN make... and keep. Notice how these apply in your business life as well as your personal life.

We CAN Promise to:

1. BE PRESENT - Be fully focused on what's in front of us... rather than planning what we will say next... or judging what others are saying or doing...or what we'll do AFTER this. Interrupting others is a way that is clearly saying "I'm not present".

2. LIGHTEN UP - Recognize that the world is bigger than "this". When we lose our sense of humor this is a clear indication we need to lighten up. How can you lighten up? One way is to say "YES" as often as you can and realize that we are NOT the center of the universe...

3. BE KIND - I love this one since my own mom's "rules" for life were "Be kind. Be safe. Be happy." Stephanie describes this Promise as being "friendly, gentle, humane, generous... with our time, talents and attention". She warns though that this is not being "nice". In fact, being kind has a lot to do with telling the truth. And sometimes that's not "nice". Interesting isn't it?

4. TELL THE TRUTH - Reflecting back on #3, this one too, may not be "nice". It's about making sure that the "truth" we tell is judged against what is our OPINION... The real TRUTH verses the truth of our opinions or perceptions. It's about what is REAL or really happening/happened. She gave a great example on this one... for years Steph wanted to write this book... but didn't. She SAID she didn't write the book because she was so "busy"... but the TRUTH - the reality - was it was because she wasn't typing. We don't "write the book" because we're not writing. THAT is the truth. We have to actually sit down and WRITE in order to write the book. Get it?

5. BE GRATEFUL - What can you find to be grateful for? I've heard it said that one cannot be angry and grateful at the same time. The "grateful" emotion is very very powerful. Writing down 10 things each day to be grateful for can change you life, quite literally. Try it for a month. One of Stephanie's greatest hero's is Pollyanna from the very old Disney Movie. I often call my husband "Pollyanna". Pollyanna found the Silver Lining in everything. Note that this blog's website is the http://realestatesilverlining.blogspot.com/ - enough said.

6. BE LOVING - I love this one because being loving is FIRST, taking care of you. As Steph put it... "Ancient Airline Wisdom: Put the oxygen mask on yourself first". I can't tell you how often I'm telling clients to TAKE A DAY OFF... or GO DO SOMETHING (ANYTHING) FOR YOURSELF. I find most of us give until we're sick... or maybe I just know a lot of people like this! Being loving IS about taking care of YOU... but it's also about allowing others to be different from us. Interesting take on loving. Stephanie said that "Loving is about being detached from the result while still being "caring". Great thought. Very wise.

7. BE FORGIVING - Again, our first thought on this Promise may be to others when Stephanie's intention was to be forgiving of YOURSELF. And being forgiving FOR yourself... She describes being forgiving as "letting go of need to carry pain... letting go of the need to be right... letting go of the past and more importantly what WE have made the past MEAN... and letting go of the negative feelings we tend to carry around with us.

In closing, I hope you'll get a copy of the book. It's much deeper than this post. Click the title of the post for a link to order it from Amazon.

And a quote from Pema Chodrun - Joy has to do with seeing how big, how completely unobstructed, and how precious things are.

Be joyous. And make promises you can keep.
Donna

What are you Creating Lately?

2011-04-11T18:19:00.001-04:00

Have you given any thought lately to what you are creating? ARE you creating anything at all in your life? Do you think of yourself as “creative” or as someone that is NOT creative at all?

We are ALL creative. We create all the time. The question is… what are you creating?

What about a new Listing or Buyer Presentation?

What about creating a saleable database?

What about a vacation/travel plan for the next 12-60 months?

What about creating a retirement plan?

What is it you want to IMPROVE?

“Creating” is a mindset and an attitude, yet it does require a “creative process”. The question is, do you take the time for this process? If not, do you want to continue to move through each day without it? Or, would you prefer to start CREATING your life and your future?

Here’s a Newsflash: YOU have everything you need to start this process right now.

You may not REMEMBER right now, but you do. Think about the memory game where you study 10 things on a tray for a period of time. The tray is then covered and you write down the items. Even if you can’t remember them all, when the tray is uncovered, rarely do you say “What? That wasn’t there before!”…. No, you say “Ah, yes, now I remember seeing that”. This is the same. You KNOW, you just don’t remember right now. And you need the process by beginning to remember.

You don’t need anything or anyone else to get this started. Just start. I saw a quote this week where Abraham Lincoln said “If I had 6 hours to saw down a tree, I’d spend the first 4 sharpening the blade”. That’s exactly what we’re talking about here.

Here’s the Process in a Nutshell:

1. Schedule it. Put time in your schedule on a regular basis for creating. Weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually. The biggest EARNERS and the HAPPIEST people take a large chuck of time to create.

2. PREPARE. Take the time you’ve scheduled to start with a deep breath and remember what it is you are looking for. If you meditate, you might want to start with that and a pad of paper to write down thoughts as they come to you.

3. INCUBATE and IMAGINE the creation complete and as detailed as you can make it in your mind. Jot down the details. If applicable, draw a picture of it. Add color, etc. The more detailed it is, the easier it becomes to create. It’s the time you take to “percolate” and it does take time. It’s OK for this step to take many of your scheduled appointments. Don’t rush it.

4. IMPLEMENTATION makes up the rest of the steps. Start with list of actions to be taken in the completion of the creation. Broad general actions first and then break the bigger action steps into smaller ones.

5. Put a timeframe on each step. Action Step 1 may be by May 1, Action Step 2 by May 7, etc.

6. BE FLEXIBLE. Be willing to change the dates if/when necessary. Move them up or move them out, but don’t SKIP them. It’s OK to change the timeframe, it’s not OK to give up the creation. Just keep plodding along and never ever give up.

7. Post the Steps where you have to look at them all the time. On the fridge, on your office wall, on your mirror, etc. Check them off as you complete. Cross of due dates and change so you SEE how many times you’ve done that. It’s OK. It’s part of the process.

8. Get someone to hold you accountable. Have a friend, a manager, a family member or even a Coach. When this is skipped it is way too easy to let it go… again. Do you want that? Then get serious and TELL someone about it and have them hold you accountable!

What ARE the next creations you need to focus on next in your life?

How will those creations help you? How will they help others?

I hope you’ll give this some thought and if you need someone to hold you accountable, just let me know...

Donna Stott

Donna.Stott@mac.com

Housing SHORTAGE on the Horizon... Really??

2011-03-31T14:20:00.003-04:00

Interesting take from Mike Castleman, founder and CEO of Metrostudy, which tracks real-time data of the country’s inventory of new homes. Mike says a housing shortage is looming that will soon will create a huge surge in demand for new homes. As such, now is the time to buy, he says.

In the 41 cities Metrostudy covers, 78,000 houses are either vacant and for sale, or under construction — that is less than a quarter of the new homes that fell in that category during the housing boom in 2006 and way below the level of a decade ago. "If we had anything like normal levels of buying, those houses would sell in 2½ months," says Castleman. "We'd see an incredible shortage. And that's where we're heading."

Donna's Note: CNNMoney says yes, the "shadow inventory" is shrinking...slightly. But it's still about 1.8M... which is a lot more than 78,000

The historic drop in new construction mixed with the decline in housing prices is laying the foundation for a dramatic recovery in residential real estate, Castleman told CNN. Castleman expects home owners soon will start returning, which will drive up prices in many markets later this year.

While demand remains low for new construction, he expects that to change. He foresees the recovery following a similar path as previous ones: A severe housing shortage will drive a big increase in demand. “We'll get a big surge in demand and the drywall companies will take a long time to ramp up, and it will take years to get new lots approved,” he predicts. “Buyers will show up looking for a house in a subdivision, and all the houses will be sold. The builders will tell them it will take six months to deliver a house." But they’ll want the house so bad that they’ll “bid the prices up."

Donna's Last Note: Interesting take and yes, I do think this will happen, but my own crystal ball says it's not yet THIS year...And a rise in interest rates without a massive improvement in unemployment will keep the skids on any major improvement... just my 2 cents!

Systems... again

2011-03-26T11:46:00.005-04:00

To build a sustainable business in Real Estate Sales, Systems make the business flow smoother and allow you to do more in the time you have. How many Systems do you actually need? What systems are most important?

Basic Systems should start with:
Generating Leads Systems
Past Client and Centers of Influence/Database Systems
Lead Follow Up (biggest loss of business for most Agents is here)
Pre-Qualifying Systems for both Buyers and Sellers
Buyer Consultation System
Seller and Buyer Presentations (yes, that’s a system)
Listing System (day 1 to day of accepted contract)
Pending Contracts System (day 1 of accepted contract to day of closing)
After Closing Systems

Taken to the extreme, there are probably dozens of systems that could make your business run faster, smoother, and with fewer headaches.

More Specific Systems get added as your business grows and may include:
Office Supplies Systems
Continuing Education Systems
Price Reduction Systems
Showing Systems
Open and Closing the office Systems
Checklists for Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annually, and Annual items

The lists could go on and on. I'd love copies of any Systems YOU have in place now as I'm putting together a MASTER list of systems and best practices for the purpose of a New product called "Systems Coaching". If you're interested, let me know.

Donna.Stott@YourCoachingMatters.com

2011-03-10T15:38:00.001-05:00

Starting a ping.fm account - do you use it?

Certified Investor Agent Specialist

2011-03-10T13:56:00.003-05:00

I'm at the CIAS training March 10-11 in Atlanta learning even more about working with Investors in our fabulous real estate market.

Would love to share ideas with you and help you to help others make great long term investments that pay for themselves, provide cash flow, and even PROBABLY appreciate... All using MOSTLY OPM (Other people's money).

Seriously... can you go into a bank, put 20% down, and buy a CD? No... Can you buy stocks with 25% down? 50% down? NO!

There is NO better investment than real estate... Let's talk about it!

Donna and Mike Stott

The COST of Waiting to Buy

2011-02-11T18:26:00.002-05:00

Many purchasers have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for home prices to hit bottom. They want to guarantee that they are purchasing at the best possible price. Like them, we also believe that prices still have some room to fall in most markets. However, we disagree that waiting is a good financial decision. The buyer should not be concerned about housing prices. They should be concerned about cost.

The cost of a house is made up of the price AND THE INTEREST RATE they will be paying. Two different pieces of news released yesterday highlight this point.
PRICES

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their 4th quarter housing research report. In the release, they reported that home sales rose 15.4% in the 4th quarter over the 3rd quarter. They also showed that prices remained stable during the year:

The national median existing single-family price was $170,600 in the fourth quarter, up 0.2 percent from $170,300 in the fourth quarter of 2009.

A buyer who delayed a purchase might find solace in the fact that prices have not increased. However, the other news released yesterday paints a different picture.
INTEREST RATES

The Primary Mortgage Market Survey was released by Freddie Mac which showed that the 30 year fixed rate mortgage was at 5.05%. Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac said:

“Long-term bond yields jumped on positive economic data reports, which placed upward pressure on mortgage rates this week…As a result, interest rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to the highest level since the last week in April 2010.”

So prices have remained stable but interest rates have risen dramatically in the last 90 days. What does that mean to a buyer looking to purchase a home this year?
The price is the same. It just costs more.

Let’s show you what the news means:

By sitting on the sidelines for the last 90 days a purchaser lost:

* $89.44 a month
* $1,073.28 a year
* $32,198.40 over the thirty year life of the mortgage

If you buy a $340,000 home, double all these numbers.

Bottom Line

Even if prices fall another 10% this year, the cost of a home will increase if interest rates go up more than 1%. Buyers should not worry where prices are going. They should be concerned where costs will be later in the year.
by The KCM Crew on February 11, 2011 · Re-posted with permission

I know who MY "best customers" are... do you?

2011-02-07T11:41:00.001-05:00

DO you know who your best customers are?

How do you treat them?

Why are they your best customers?

Seth Godin's post today is pretty good... take a look:

Here's what most businesses do with their best customers: They take the money.

The biggest fan of that Broadway show, the one who comes a lot and sits up front? She's paying three times what the person just three rows back paid.

That loyal Verizon customer, the one who hasn't traded in his phone and has a contract for six years running? He's generating far more profit than the guy who switches every time a contract expires and a better offer comes along.

Or consider the loyal customer of a local business. The business chooses to offer new customers a coupon for half off—but makes him pay full price...

If you define "best customer" as the customer who pays you the most, then I guess it's not surprising that the reflex instinct is to charge them more. After all, they're happy to pay.

But what if you define "best customer" as the person who brings you new customers through frequent referrals, and who sticks with you through thick and thin? That customer, I think, is worth far more than what she might pay you in any one transaction. In fact, if you think of that customer as your best marketer instead, it might change everything.

GOOD NEWS ABOUNDS!

2011-02-02T10:53:00.002-05:00

With prices flat and interest rates below 5%, there's NEVER been a better time to:

1. Buy your FIRST home. In MOST areas, it's MUCH cheaper than renting and with FHA only costing 3.5% down payment, it's not a lot more than "first and security"....

2. Moving UP to a bigger/better/nicer home. The numbers show you WIN BIG when you sell low and buy low in an upper price range. Let your Agent show you how that works... Don't wait for prices to go UP on your home... because percentage-wise, it costs you MORE on the home you buy! Sell/buy NOW to win the BIGGEST!

3. Invest. It's time to start investing in real estate again! I know a property nearby where I live in North Atlanta that with $30K down, you'll make a positive cash flow of about $6000/yr. Calculate THAT return!

Read the article:
http://www.inman.com/news/2011/01/27/real-estate-sales-rebound-in-2011-prices-nearly-flat

Two Minute Agent Survey

2011-01-28T11:33:00.000-05:00

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

6 Attitudes of Top Agents

2011-01-19T15:46:00.001-05:00

During the past 30 years we've worked with and coached top real estate professionals across the US and Canada. We've noticed they have some traits in common and put together our list of the top six attitudes to help you start 2011 with a BANG!

1. Top real estate agents expect to succeed. They decide to succeed and they take the actions necessary to ensure that success. The root of decide is "cide" or "to kill." When you truly decide to do something, you in a sense kill off all options of failure. Obstacles, setbacks, learning experiences and other failures are met with a resolve to keep trying, find a new way or to try something different. Stopping and not succeeding is simply not an option.

2. Top real estate professionals understand the law that what you concentrate on becomes real. Where you spend your mental energy manifests in your life. Do you wake up everyday and say "Hot-dog! I'm in real estate and get to help people buy and sell!" or do you say "Oh, God--what do I do today?" Which attitude will ensure your success?

3. Top real estate agents take responsibility for their actions. They don't blame the economy, the broker, the interest rates, the leads or anything else for their setbacks. They know that when they accept 100 percent responsibility for their actions--and their results--they have the power to reach their goals.

4. Top real estate agents don't expect a struggle. They know success is simply a natural outcome of the thoughts they think and the actions they take. Top agents lead generate and lead follow-up enough so that they can tell those difficult clients that they can't help them and refer them to someone else. How much easier would your business me if you could do that?

5. Top Agents accept joy and happiness now. They don't just expect to be happy when they reach their goals; they also enjoy the journey. They concentrate on being the person they want to become so that they do the things they need to do to have the things they want.

6. Top agents get over it quickly. Top agents don't dwell on setbacks or failures. They don't worry about not having enough: money, time, energy, business, etc. Instead they ask themselves great questions, learn from the experience, and then LET IT GO moving on to something more productive very quickly.

Adopt these attitudes and watch your business, and life, soar!

HUD USER GIS Maps

2011-01-17T07:33:00.000-05:00

Are you familiar with this program? If not, you should check it out!

HUD USER GIS Maps

I would prospect but Who Do I Call?

2011-01-04T10:27:00.000-05:00

Your Coaching Matters is offering twice-a-month workshops through 2011 called Prospecting Magic. Recently, a newer sales associate contacted us saying "I'd like to take the class, but I don't have anyone to call."

Sound familiar? Is that your voice in her ear? This email prompted this blog post because it's a question we've heard hundreds of times as coaches.

1. Remember a contact is not necessarily a call. A contact can be done in a variety of ways thanks to technology and good common sense. Here are just a few and I'd love some comments to this post with other ways you can contact people!

1. Call them and talk to them, or leave a message and they call back.
2. Meet them in person (not easy at Prospecting School, but it still goes on the list) in your daily life, door knocking, etc.
3. Mail them something and they respond. Two-way communication=a contact.
4. Email them something and they respond.
5. Text them and they reply.
6. Facebook Chat (or other internet chat) and you talk about real estate.
7. Fax them and they respond.

2. A real estate contact is someone you talk to about real estate! Not "Hi, how are you all doing," but a conversation about real estate. Anything else doesn't count. No cheating!

3. Who can we contact? There are literally dozens of sources listed on our "Business Sources Toolbox" but here are a few to get you started:
1. Your current leads. Anyone thinking about doing something is talking about it--meaning they are running into other leads for you.
2. Your current listings or pendings. Anyone actually buyer or selling now is talking about it too. They WILL get you more business if you ask.
3. For Sale By Owners. FSBO's are 90% already pre-qualified leads for you to contact. You can contact them any of the ways above.
4. Expired and/or Withdrawn Listings-if this is legal in your area.
5. Everyone in your Database. Remember, if you have 500 people in your database, and they only move on average every 10 years, that's 50 potential sales per year! Easiest way to get business is to create and work your database.
6. Every old lead you ever had (calls on signs, anyone you've ever shown or gone on a listing appointment with, any listing you had that expired or withdrew, etc.).
7. Investor owners/multiple homeowners.
8. Every local vendor you use for personal or business.
9. Internet leads you generate or buy.
10. Neighborhoods with the Just Listed or Just Sold scripts.

VistaPrints

2011-01-03T20:13:00.003-05:00

I used this company in December and was impressed with the price and quality. Check it out if you need business cards, promotional products, cards, etc...

Save up to 80% on custom printed products at Vistaprint. Order today!

Free Real Estate Info Weekly

2010-12-15T14:21:00.004-05:00

Did you know that Your Coaching Matters offers a FREE Monday News You Can USE service? If you are interested in signing up for this free, no obligation service, please sign up below:

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It's a New World

2010-12-13T08:11:00.000-05:00

Your Real Estate Database

2010-12-06T20:06:00.002-05:00

This time of year is an ideal time to review your database. Many refer to it as Past Client/Center of Influence list. How many people are in it? Who are they? Did you reach all of them this year by phone, by mail, and by email? If not, it's time to do that NOW before year end. Thank them for their business and referrals and ask about their real estate plans for 2011. There is GOLD in those people if you'll just sift it!

Click the title for the rest of the article recently published on Active Rain!
Donna Stott

Great NEWS on Pending Home Sales!

2010-12-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Strong Rebound in Pending Home Sales
Great news on the Pending Home Sales front, which is also echoed by my clients... Pendings (homes under contract but not yet closed) are UP! Article you can link to says up 10%... that's significant. Buyers are Buying... so if you want to sell something, there is NO EXCUSE to wait! Get on board and make it happen.
December is a GREAT month to sell. SERIOUS buyers are out there. Let me know if we can be of service to help you!

Are you STUCK where you want to be?

2010-12-01T11:53:00.001-05:00

Most people think we are at or near the bottom of this market cycle in most areas... But what if we aren’t? What if we still have another 20-40% declines? IF that is true... Isn’t the real question to be asking ourselves and our clients: “Where do you want to be STUCK?” Because IF we go down a lot more... you are still going to be stuck somewhere... Either where you are NOW, or where you COULD BE if you acted NOW.

There are 5 types of people in today’s real estate world...
1. Those that should be Buying a home and/or investment property while prices are at or near the bottom and interest rates are at or near the bottom. These people are the big winners in our market.

2. Those that SHOULD be moving (Selling and Buying) – selling LOW, yes… but BUYING LOW as well. They lose nothing by making a lateral or upgrade move and may actually BENEFIT from selling low now. More big winners here!

3. Those that should sell because they HAVE to (death, divorce, job transfer, hate the property, can’t make the payments, etc.) They may not be big winners, but they avoid being big losers by getting out while it’s possible without foreclosure. These may often be short sales and it’s OK. It’s a much better solution than foreclosure, so is still a win!

4. Those that should sell because they WANT to and have the ability to do so since they owe little or nothing or can bring funds to closing if upside down. They also may be downsizing and take a bit of a hit, but can do it and want to do it.

5. Those that should hold tight to what they are doing now. Renting if they have poor credit or poor employment. Owners that love where they are. Owners that are upside down and simply can’t sell… and don’t need to.

Ask yourself the Question: Are you “stuck” where you want to be now? If not, do something about it NOW. The option to do something later may not be there and you'll be "stuck" thinking "if ONLY I'd done it last year!"

Hope this helps you. And helps you to help others... to make good decisions about what to do NOW with their real estate portfolio’s!

Complacency and how to CHANGE in the NEW DECADE

2010-11-27T21:15:00.003-05:00

The good thing about complacency is that you are doing well enough to be there! You're "comfortable" which means you're not starving. That's a lot to be grateful for, right? Many people get to that point and then hang onto "good enough". Others however, begin getting "uncomfortable" with "comfortable". They KNOW there is MORE for them. And there always IS.

If you are feeling at that point - "comfortable", yet finding that you are uncomfortable there after all, congratulations! This is GOOD NEWS! It means you've noticed and are thinking in terms of THRIVING verses "surviving". It's a normal time to be thinking this. We are ending a crazy decade of excessive HIGH's and for many of us, excessive LOW's too. Aren't you ready for a NEW DECADE?

For so many of my clients our conversations about 2011 are pretty exciting. They are tired of just "dog paddling" and staying afloat in their businesses and are ready to take that next step forward!

What are a few things you can do to examine how you might move forward in 2011?
1. Have you done a new Dream Board with all the THINGS you can have if you break out of complacency and had a 20% increase this year?
2. Have you done a Business Sources Review of the last year and established what a 20% increase in each source would be? What source should also be ADDED this year/decade?
3. Are you Investing in your business with Education, Coaching, and Staffing?
4. Have you met with a Financial Planner to find out what you really need to be saving to retire HOW you want to retire, WHEN you want to retire?
5. How are you Giving Back to the World? Are you giving something of your TIME, TALENTS, and MONEY to a worthy cause?

Asking yourself these questions are part of breaking free of the chains of complacency. If you take an hour to write down your initial answers and then spend a good 3 hours on each of the 5 before the end of the year, I guarantee your complacency issues will be OVER for 2011 and you'll go into the next decade EXCITED!

Would love to hear back from you on this. What ELSE are YOU doing? Share the GOOD NEWS!

Foreclosure Foul-up: Tracking Down Those 'Lost' Mortgages

2010-11-23T06:48:00.002-05:00

Foreclosure Foul-up: Tracking Down Those 'Lost' Mortgages
This is the first article I've read with clear evidence explaining EXACTLY why the Feds pulled the plug on some foreclosures and WHY it's going to be another 3-4 years just to clean up and get back to the "New Normal".

Looks like some Lenders may have been the worst in looking for a "quick buck" in the last real estate cycle and cut corners sharply actually LOSING promissory notes - the document they need to prove they own the mortgage. Full article can be accessed by clicking the title of the post. Yet there IS GOOD NEWS, keep reading...

Yes, it may be a while, because if banks can't sell off their "shadow inventory" (stuff they should be selling but can't) we'll continue to have a supply of low, low, low priced competition, keeping overall prices down. FHA recently predicted pricing increases by 2015. So the question begs to be asked... here it is... the GOOD NEWS: Do you want to stay put another 4 years.... or "trade" what you have now (at it's lower price) for something you REALLY want - at IT's lower price? -- How can you "lose" when you trade a low price for a low price? Think about it... When YOUR price recovers, so does the one you want to buy. At today's interest rates, the REAL opportunity is NOW.

Below you'll see buttons to share this on Facebook, Twitter, etc. if it's something you think worth sharing.

Donna

Visioning Exercise

2010-11-04T20:08:00.003-04:00

Visioning Exercise
Create your Future with your FUTURE... Not your past.
This is adapted from the work of Werner Erhard via some Jack Canfield stuff.

Start by getting comfortable in a quiet location you won’t be disturbed. Have a NEW unused journal (permanent type) and pen close by. Relaxing music is OK, but not a guided meditation.

Close your eyes and ask your subconscious mind to begin letting go of limitations and let yourself wildly dream. I promise it won’t hurt. You are looking for images/pictures/sounds/smells about what your ideal life would be like. EXACTLY the way you think you’d want it now. It’s OK to change your mind later, this is just for THIS MOMENT.

Focus first on the Financial part of your life.
What is your ideal annual income/
What does your cash FLOW look like – what comes in AND what goes out. It’s a FLOW!
How much $$ do you have in Savings?
How much $$ in investments? What type are they?
What is your TOTAL net worth at this particular point in the future you’re imagining right now?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Focus next on your ideal Home at this future point of your life.
What does it look like outside? Is there a view?
What is nearby? Where is it located?
What is around it, landscaping, outbuildings, pool, barn, tennis courts, lake?
What is the color outside?
Now, go inside... In your mind go in the front door and look around. Go to each room.
What rooms are there? What décor is it – what furniture? Colors? Smells?
What is the kitchen like? Any great tastes waiting for you there?
What is your favorite room in the house?
Is there some special beautiful art and paintings? What do they look like? Feel like?
Walk through the entire house filing in all the detail you can.
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

NOTE: DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT “HOW WILL I GET THIS?” - Give your mind the picture and your mind will solve the “not enough money” challenge. It IS solvable. This exercise is about getting it clear in your mind! That’s it for now.

Third, focus on your Car or other possessions you might want. The “things” the “toys/stuff”. This is not a test... You can add or subtract from this list anytime!
What do they look like? Feel like? Smell like?
How much do they cost?
How often do you get to enjoy them and how?
Who else uses them with you?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Fourth, focus on your Ideal Real Estate Career.
Where are you working? Is it at a Company office? A private office? A home office?
What do you do each day to run your perfect business?
What is your schedule like each day and week?
What staff do you have, if any?
Do you work for yourself or have a Company you work for?
What kind of Customer/Clients do you have?
What does the PERFECT Buyer look like and how do they behave?
What does the PERFECT Seller look like and how do they behave?
What is your average commission? Do you have other compensation that comes to you?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Fifth, focus on your Free time that this wonderful career has brought you.
What do you do with this time?
How often are you off work to enjoy your other wonderful things financial freedom has brought you?
Who do you spend your free time with? What friends? What family?
What are your hobbies at this point in your future?
What vacations have you been on and have coming up soon?
What philanthropic activities are you involved in? Does that bring you joy to help others?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Sixth, focus on your Body and Physical Health.
What do you look like?
Have you kicked any bad habits?
How old are you and how old will you life with great health like this?
Are you relaxed and enjoying life?
What exercise do you enjoy and how often do you do it?
Are you full of energy and enthusiasm?
Are you flexible as well as strong? How did you get that way?
What foods are you eating? Getting more water in your diet than ever?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Seventh, focus on the Ideal Vision of your Relationships with others.
Think about your family – each member- and how you now interact with them in this perfect ideal life.What does that feel like? Comforting, comfortable, relaxed?
Who are your friends in this life?
What difference in the qualify of relationships with your friends and family do you notice?
What time do you spend with those important to you?
What do you do together?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Eighth... Focus on the “Personal Arena” of your Ideal Life
Do you see yourself having gone back to school?
Are you getting regular education and training? Attending workshops that are interesting and exciting regardless of cost and time?
What healing things have happened to you to get to this point? Therapy even if you feel it was needed?
Do you meditate daily or often?
How is the spiritual side of your life? Are you involved with a place of worship?
Have you learned to play an instrument? Are you writing a book? Maybe an autobiography?
Do you paint, or run marathons, or do triathlons?
What do you do for YOU? How do you continue to improve the Quality of your life?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

And finally Ninth. Focus on the community you are thriving in... The community you have CHOSEN.
What does it look like when it’s operating perfectly?
How is it decorated for the holidays?
What community activities take place there?
Are you doing charitable work in your community?
What do you do to help others and make a difference in the lives of others?
How often do you participate in these activities? Who exactly are you helping?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Whew! OK... You did it all. You opened your mind and IMAGINED for perhaps the first time in a long time. If you’re like me, you may have even cried at some of the incredible images you created in your mind! Now take your notes and create a beautiful final image of that perfect life. It can be in writing. It can be in pictures, or a combination. Get creative and spend the time on this part. See what it was you wrote! You may want to do this a day or two AFTER the initial exercise.

Here are the KEYS to making this successfully MOVE YOU FORWARD toward this life:

Key #1 – EVERY DAY review your final version. That’s right... Every single day.
Key #2 – Share this with people you know love and support you! You may have some fear about this but if they do love and support you, they will do just that. And think about this: MOST people want the same things you do... They just don’t know it. You may INSPIRE them to do a similar exercise and change their lives too! Deep down, we all want that ideal life.

Everyone wants financial abundance, a comfortable home to be proud of, meaningful work you enjoy, good health, time to enjoy it all, nurturing relationships and an opportunity to make a difference in their worlds. But too few of us admit it.

You will find if you share your vision several things will happen.

You’ll inspire others to create a vision of their own!
You’ll find they want to support you in your vision and may give you bigger and better referrals than they ever did! (I had a coaching client that shared this with their children and EACH child gave them a referral that turned into a sale in the next few months!)
You’ll find your friends introducing you to others that can support your goals too.
Every time you share your vision, it will become more CLEAR in your mind!
And lastly... Every time you share your vision... You STRENGTHEN your own subconcious belief that you CAN achieve it....

It’s magic. Real magic.

In closing, my favorite quote by Marianne Williamson:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you NOT to be? ~ You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not in just some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear our presence automatically liberates others.

Why List in the Fall and Winter

2010-11-02T16:51:00.002-04:00

If you'd like to sell but wonder if Listing now is better, or waiting until Spring is better, consider this Question first:

“If you DID get an acceptable offer during Nov-Feb, would you want to sell the property?”

If the answer is YES, then we can go into some of the great reasons why LISTING NOW may be better than waiting!

Inventory of competing homes is lower, so your home stands out better with serious buyers, who have less to choose from. Your odds of selling may actually go UP during this time of year! A LOT of people feel just like you... and don’t understand that there will be FLOOD of new listings on the market after the holidays... And that increased supply without an equal increase in demand, can cause prices to take a dip again. If you want to sell for the most money possible, now may be the best the time!
Only serious buyers are out in the fall/winter, so fewer people are running through your house... Yet, you may be likely to get a contract from those that do come through! And think about how fantastic it will be to have this all finished when others are just getting started.
Taking photos in the fall can be a big asset - they look great on the internet, MLS, and flyers before the winter sets in. A photo taken in Jan/Feb/March may not be as attractive as one in Nov/Dec.
Your home may show better while decorated for Thanksgiving and Christmas or Hanukkah. Your home may look nicer this time of year than any other! Why not have potential buyers see it while it looks it’s best? Fireplaces, evergreens, scented candles, warmth on a cold day... All can add to the beauty inside when it’s not so pretty outside. That contrast can equal a sale!
It’s OK to specify for “no showings” during certain times over the holidays. The lockbox can even be removed. Because you’re planning a few holiday events is no reason to not be for sale the rest of the time!
Houses feel more like “homes” when you come in from the cold weather. This cozy feeling causes emotions in a Buyer you can’t get other times of the year.
People stay home more in colder weather and online searches go way up. With today’s technology and my expertise in marketing your home online, the chances you get sold before the 1st of the year rise in November/December.
Buyers who buy closer to the end of the year often pay closer to full price than other times of the year, as they are often buying under a deadline, so have less time to negotiate and less inventory to choose from, getting you the BEST price.
Buyers have more day-times off during mid-November through January, increasing serious buyer traffic during normal business hours verses showings during your evenings and weekends.
Buyers at this time often have an “urgency factor”. Many employers want new hires to start in January, so they can’t wait to buy your home. If you don’t list until after January 1, you might miss out on those buyers. They can’t buy yours if it’s not for sale!
Many buyers that need to buy by end of the year don’t have to occupy the home right away. Late occupancies are common during this time, allowing you a real win-win. They win with possible lower interest rates now, and you may be able to negotiate your move for later.
Decreased demand on lenders, appraisers, home inspectors, movers and other vendors during this time can cause your escrow processing to be smoother and easier than during busy times of the year.
The bottom line is that if your home isn’t available, you may miss YOUR perfect buyer! If you know you want to sell, don’t wait. “You can’t win if you don’t play” as they say... The Question really is – why delay? What’s the downside to listing now?

Common Defense Strategies and Better Choices

2010-10-15T16:21:00.000-04:00

Look at this list and identify which 7 defense strategies are your top most likely to use when you are feeling “attacked” or “challenged”. If you can’t find any, check out #3 and #8.... ;)

Having no Sense of Humor
Taking offense - being “affronted”
Confusion or “playing dumb” (whaaaat??)
Needing to Always be Right and/or Have the “Last Word”
Teaching/Preaching/Rationalizing/Intellectualizing
Being a Victim
Too Rigid - Not open to others ideas
Denial (what problem??)
Withdrawing into silence (hit “delete” and ignore it)
Sarcasm/Making Fun Of or Highly Critical of Others
It’s “just the way I am”
Withdrawal from Negotiation (well then... I just won’t play!)
Blaming Others (well if THEY hadn’t X…)
Sudden Onset of Illness or Fatigue
Crazy-ness (“temporary insanity”)
Being too “nice”
Only hearing what I want to (la-la-la-la, I can’t hear you....)
Counterattack
Trivializing with humor – making light of
Inappropriate laughter or nervous giggles
Pretending not to care (didn’t want it anyway)
I’m already aware of that
Self-depreciation (belittling or undervaluing oneself)

When you have your 7... Take it down to JUST THREE – this may take a few minutes but you can do it.

Now consider these questions:

How is this working for you now? (lots of chuckles, right??)
What’s “up” for you when you use these strategies?
Think of a situation you used your current strategies, and ask yourself: How could you have responded instead?

Keys to helping with this exercise

• Defense strategies (read: reactions) are always 100% about US and never about others.
• Each of these strategies push us AWAY from others and NEVER solve the problem.

• 85% of what we perceive are PROJECTIONS not based on reality? So, what are WE projecting when we get defensive?

What’s “up” for you almost always boils down to a FEAR of something…. I’m not good enough. Rejection. Physical or mental pain. The Past. The Future. Etc.

We have to face the fact that at some level, we believe the other person has a valid point, or we wouldn’t be reacting that way. -- Think about it... If someone said you were Blue, would you believe you were actually Blue? Or would you be CURIOUS about why they thought that? Did they have some odd contact lens in?? Had blue spray paint settled on you without you knowing? Did your make-up change color? You’d be CURIOUS --- But you wouldn’t be OFFENDED if it was something absolutely not true, would you?

The fact is we ARE Stronger and can DO MORE than we give ourselves credit for. You DO make it through things you thought you might not.

Being aware of your own PERSONAL STRENGTH can give you the tools to avoid reactions that push others away. And being aware also gives you the CHOICE to Ask More Questions instead of “reacting”.

By simply NOTICING the behaviors, you give yourself a precious second to choose another way. Asking yourself: “How can I see this situation differently?” will make all the difference in discovering MORE of reality and stop that snowball rolling out of control. ALLOW YOURSELF to BECOME CURIOUS.

Think in terms of “Tell me More”... “What is behind what they just said/did?”....”I wonder why they said that/acted that way”.... “That’s interesting”….

Remember... If someone is being aggressive or defensive with YOU, THEY too are acting from some FEAR.

---Edited and adapted from Foster and Hicks’ How We Choose to be Happy and Luyet’s List of Defenses

mybrokersblog: Foreclosures Halted

2010-10-07T11:54:00.000-04:00

mybrokersblog: Foreclosures Halted: "Maybe this week's headlines will allow distressed homeowners a short breather while the banking industry figures out what's going on. Maybe...."

GOOD NEWS ABOUNDS!

2010-09-21T15:55:00.002-04:00

GOOD NEWS! You can choose to pooh-pooh it, or you can CELEBRATE improvement! I'm thrilled for these headlines and look forward to MORE good news later in the week. My crystal ball is predicting it....

Recession Over a Year Ago - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39269753/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/
Home Starts Surge - http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/21/news/economy/housing_starts/index.htm
Stock Market Gains - http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/21/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm
CA Prices Rising - http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/15/real_estate/california_home_price_rebound/index.htm
Cool Chart on 384 Cities - http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/homepricedata/index.html

Love to hear your comments....
Donna

Lessons from Disney's UP

2010-09-07T09:58:00.006-04:00

I recently watched the Disney movie “UP” again. In the movie, the main character is suffering the loss of life as he knew it, yet he couldn't let go and move forward to a new adventure.

It's a wonderful parable for many of us now as we're forced to reinvent our lives and careers.

Many of you are succeeding in your businesses--at peaks in your career even--while others are quite literally failing. Our average coaching client will earn over six figures this year. If you're not growing your business this year, consider the following:

1. What are you holding onto that's stopping you from have a new adventure in your career? Are you making room for what's working?

There's a great story about the woman who tried the Go-Kart track with her young son and was so afraid she started with one foot on the brake and the other gingerly on the gas pedal. As she gained confidence, she added more pressure to the gas pedal and began to speed up, but couldn't get the Kart to go as fast as those around her no matter how hard she pushed on the gas. The attendant finally took pity on her and yelled, "Take your foot off the brake!"
You see, even though she'd gotten beyond the fear of going faster, she had yet to remove her other foot from the brake pedal.

2. Have you truly released the brakes you put on your career when the market started adjusting? Are you ready to let go of that and step forward with your foot on the gas again?

Sometimes the challenge isn't just taking our foot off the brake. Sometimes we forget about the anchor we dropped. Even with high winds and full sail, if we haven't pulled up or cut the anchor, we still go nowhere or move slowly, dragging that anchor behind.

3. Are you doing the same things you did yesterday? What change will you make today to allow something new in your life or career?

Studies show that 85 percent of what we do each day is exactly the same as yesterday. It's true for most people, but for really successful people, just shaving that down to 80 percent is enough to make a huge difference. Where could you change just 5 percent of what you do each day?

4. Are you willing to let go of what you think you have now to make room for something better?

It's said that life abhors a vacuum. Yet if we're too busy and too full in our lives, how can there be room for what's next? What could you let go of to make room for something new?

I wish you great adventures ahead--full sails, no anchors, and your foot on the gas with no brakes holding you back.

The Sky is NOT Falling...

2010-08-26T15:25:00.001-04:00

The Sky is Not Falling! Big news on the Real Estate front:

July # of Sales was lowest sales month in 15 yrs.

But it's EASY to explain... The recent $8K buyers tax credit forced buyers to buy "early" (by April 30) and close by June 30th. We simply "stole deals" from May/June and "stole closings" in June from July. --

My bet? We hear the... Miracle next month... August sales are UP! -- Let's see....

Open to your comments!

Housing Market Sees Widespread Price-Cutting

2010-07-19T18:27:00.000-04:00

My 20 coaching clients are having great sales in July. I've read so many articles about low sales, but things ARE selling. Yes, many listings need a price reduction, but when reduced to the right price, they sell.
No reduction after 21 days is a death sentence to a listing. Every 21 days the market has been notified of your home and price... and no offers mean the market has rejected your offering, time to reduce. By 5% or more... that strategy works.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2003578,00.html?xid=newsletter-weekly#ixzz0uAaw9Jok

Would love to hear your comments!
Donna Stott
DStott@qtscoaching.com

Power of Knowledge Shared

2010-07-06T21:43:00.001-04:00

Check it out:
http://www.realtrends.com/blog/the-power-of-knowledge-shared

How to Make a Unique Thank You note...

2010-07-03T00:04:00.005-04:00

Found this way cool thing on someone else's blog. (Thanks M Team for sharing)

You have to check it out - takes about 3 minutes.

I tried it and it worked. Now.... how to use it??

CLICK HERE

Donna Stott
dstott@qtscoaching.com
Quantum Training Systems
Executive Vice President, Director of Coaching Services

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Closing Date Extended By Senate | Mortgage Rates & Trends: Mortgage Blog From Total Mortgage

2010-07-01T09:54:00.000-04:00

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Closing Date Extended By Senate | Mortgage Rates & Trends: Mortgage Blog From Total Mortgage

Donna Stottdstott@qtscoaching.com
Quantum Training Systems
Executive Vice President, Director of Coaching Services

How Winners Think

2010-06-21T11:38:00.005-04:00

Winners in business and life think differently, yet it's not hard to learn if you keep this list in front of you! Which question is the one you should ADD this week to your thoughts?

Short list below but click the title to a link for the full article!

How can I make this work?

What did I learn about my business today and who else needs to know about it?

Who do I know that I could share this with?

How can I duplicate this success?

Where is the Silver Lining in this?

How can expand that thought?

What is the best use of this extra ten minutes I just found?

What could I choose to think instead of what I’m thinking now?

What do I need to clear out/clean up in my life/office/mind that would make room for something better?

How can I get just a little bit better today?

Who could I help today?

What is the next major improvement I could make in my business?

What needs to change in my current systems/schedule immediately and how can I implement it now?

Am I being a good example in my thoughts, words, and actions to others around me? What could I do to be a better example?

What other great "winning question" do YOU ask yourself? Please DO comment and subscribe to this blog by clicking the subscribe button on the right! Thanks.

Pending Home Sales Surge Continues

2010-06-12T21:54:00.002-04:00

REPOST

RISMedia - http://rismedia.com -Posted By susanne On June 6, 2010 @ 1:08 pm In Home Buying 101, Real Estate, Today's Marketplace, Today's Top Story, Today's Top Story - Consumer

^[1]RISMEDIA, June 7, 2010—Pending home sales have risen for three consecutive months, reflecting the broad impact of the home buyer tax credit and favorable housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator, rose 6.0% to 110.9 based on contracts signed in April, from an upwardly revised 104.6 in March, and is 22.4% higher than April 2009 when it was 90.6. That follows gains of 7.1% in March and 8.3% in February.

Pending home sales are at the highest level since last October when the index reached 112.4 and first-time buyers were rushing to beat the initial deadline for the tax credit. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said this second round of surging sales from the tax credit extension looks as strong as the original tax credit. “There were concerns that only a small pool of buyers were left to take advantage of the tax credit extension. But evidently the tax stimulus, combined with improved consumer confidence and low mortgage interest rates, are contributing to surging sales,” he said. “The housing market has to get back on its own feet and now appears to be in a good position to return to sustainable levels even without government stimulus, provided the economy continues to add jobs.” NAR expects a net of 1 million additional jobs in the second half of this year and about 2 million in 2011.

“The home buyer tax credit brought close to 1 million additional buyers into the market, which is now helping the trade-up market and has significantly improved the inventory situation. This stabilized home prices more quickly and has preserved about $900 billion in home equity; in turn, that is keeping additional households from going underwater and risking foreclosure,” Yun said.

The PHSI in the Northeast jumped 29.5% to 97.9 in April and is 24.5% above a year ago. In the Midwest the index rose 4.1% to 104.2 and is 17.9% above April 2009. Pending home sales in the South slipped 0.6% to an index of 123.9, but is 31.3% higher than a year ago. In the West the index rose 7.5% to 107.9 and is 12.0% higher than April 2009.

“A big concern surfacing recently is insufficient time to close the deal at the settlement table. Under normal circumstances, two months would be enough time from contract signing to settlement date,” Yun said. “However, the recent housing cycle has brought long delays related to the short sales approval process by banks, and from ongoing appraisal issues. There could be a sizable number of home buyers who responded to tax credit incentives, but may encounter problems meeting the settlement deadline by June 30.” Because of these market challenges, NAR has asked Congress to provide flexibility on the deadline for closing.

Donna Stott

dstott@qtscoaching.com
Quantum Training Systems Executive Vice President, Director of Coaching Services

How Facebook Is Redefining Privacy

2010-05-25T12:14:00.000-04:00

How Facebook Is Redefining Privacy

Sometime in the next few weeks, Facebook will officially log its 500 millionth active citizen
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1990582,00.html?xid=newsletter-weekly#ixzz0oxTqi6r6

Donna Stott
dstott@qtscoaching.com
Quantum Training Systems
Executive Vice President, Director of Coaching Services

Social Media Revolution Updated May 5, 2010

2010-05-13T05:04:00.002-04:00

Takes 4 minutes to watch it. Recommend you turn down the sound to very low, but not off. If you aren't aware of this, you should be. If you are aware of this, you should remind yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng

I welcome your comments.
Donna Stott

How to Manifest Change

2010-05-07T11:42:00.005-04:00

Time for a little refresher on manifesting change, parking spots, and a new peaceful joyous mind:

Step 1: Think about it as if it were already done. (Note "already done" part.)

Step 2: Keep showing up, doing all you can, every day, in every way, until already done. (Note "keep" part.)

Note: For complicated cases, like when dealing with invisible, limiting beliefs, negative friends, or staring down adversity: same-same.

Got this note today from Mike Dooley (aka "the universe"). You can get the notes too if you like - click on the title above for a direct link to Mike's website.

Donna Stott
Quantum Training Systems
Director of Coaching Services

Quote I really liked

2010-05-05T18:07:00.002-04:00

Never compromise a dream.

Always compromise on how it will come true.

Keep knocking on every door.

Good rules to follow...
Have a great beginning to your SECOND THIRD...

Donna