Your referrals are what create and maintain my business. I want to be your realtor and hope to grow our relationship into a long standing friendship. I am your guide to many useful resources so don't hesitate to call me today!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Real estate buyers prioritize trade-offs
Don't hold out for the 'perfect' home
Anecdotal evidence suggests that we're moving into a summer slowdown. It's not unusual for the home-sale market to begin to slow during July and August, when many real estate agents and buyers are on vacation -- those months, though, still tend to have higher sales than most other months. The market often picks up again after Labor Day, and October can be a good month for home sales.
A slower market shouldn't deter you from beginning or continuing your home search, as long as you have realistic expectations. Some real estate agents advise their seller clients to hold off on marketing their homes in August. This means there might be a slowdown in new inventory coming on the market and fewer new listings for you to consider.
Patience is the name of the game in today's real estate market. There are many uncertainties about where the market is heading. Many economists think we've hit bottom, price-wise. But we may not see a significant improvement in home sales for several years.
Buyers need to understand that they could see lower prices ahead, followed by improved market conditions. However, a sustainable recovery will depend on a strong local economy with sufficient job growth to fully stabilize the housing market in your area.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that we're moving into a summer slowdown. It's not unusual for the home-sale market to begin to slow during July and August, when many real estate agents and buyers are on vacation -- those months, though, still tend to have higher sales than most other months. The market often picks up again after Labor Day, and October can be a good month for home sales.
A slower market shouldn't deter you from beginning or continuing your home search, as long as you have realistic expectations. Some real estate agents advise their seller clients to hold off on marketing their homes in August. This means there might be a slowdown in new inventory coming on the market and fewer new listings for you to consider.
Patience is the name of the game in today's real estate market. There are many uncertainties about where the market is heading. Many economists think we've hit bottom, price-wise. But we may not see a significant improvement in home sales for several years.
Buyers need to understand that they could see lower prices ahead, followed by improved market conditions. However, a sustainable recovery will depend on a strong local economy with sufficient job growth to fully stabilize the housing market in your area.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Real Estate Wealth Effect Hurts US
Falling home values have stopped homeowners from taking a family vacation this summer, completing a home improvement project or making a big purchase depressing the overwhelming majority of Americans, according to a new Housing Predictor opinion poll.
The impact of the "Wealth Effect" related to the real estate crash is being felt by homeowners, who are cutting out vacations at the beach or mountains, a trip abroad, buying a boat and other big purchases. More than 3 out of 4 homeowners are making sacrifices and it’s effecting the way they feel about themselves with more than one out of four owing more on their home than it’s valued at in the current marketplace. Home values are still declining in the majority of markets.
The HousingPredictor.com survey clearly indicates that the large majority of Americans are directly affected by the drop in home values. The foreclosure crisis is pressuring home values in all but four states. Less than one out of four surveyed said they were not impacted by declining real estate values known as the Wealth Effect.
Many areas of the U.S. have seen home values decline five years, including the hardest hit states like California, Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Michigan. But states that weren’t widely marketed ALT-A and subprime mortgages are doing much better in terms of coping with the fall-out of the crash, many of which are listed in the updated best 25 Housing Predictor market list.
Housing Predictor regularly surveys visitors to its website on important issues related to real estate to get a pulse on how consumers feel and forecasts more than 230 local housing markets in all 50 U.S. states and keeps visitors up to date on real estate news and mortgage rates.
The impact of the "Wealth Effect" related to the real estate crash is being felt by homeowners, who are cutting out vacations at the beach or mountains, a trip abroad, buying a boat and other big purchases. More than 3 out of 4 homeowners are making sacrifices and it’s effecting the way they feel about themselves with more than one out of four owing more on their home than it’s valued at in the current marketplace. Home values are still declining in the majority of markets.
The HousingPredictor.com survey clearly indicates that the large majority of Americans are directly affected by the drop in home values. The foreclosure crisis is pressuring home values in all but four states. Less than one out of four surveyed said they were not impacted by declining real estate values known as the Wealth Effect.
Many areas of the U.S. have seen home values decline five years, including the hardest hit states like California, Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Michigan. But states that weren’t widely marketed ALT-A and subprime mortgages are doing much better in terms of coping with the fall-out of the crash, many of which are listed in the updated best 25 Housing Predictor market list.
Housing Predictor regularly surveys visitors to its website on important issues related to real estate to get a pulse on how consumers feel and forecasts more than 230 local housing markets in all 50 U.S. states and keeps visitors up to date on real estate news and mortgage rates.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
To use a Realtor or not?
Many times people wonder whether they should use a Realtor or not when buying a home or selling a home. This is a great question and depends on the clients situation. As a Realtor I obviously see the benefits of using a Realtor on both sides of a transaction, but can understand the financial situation of a seller that is upside down on their mortgage or just needs to save some money. Let's approach each situation.
If you are a buyer and are only buying(you have no house to sell), it is imperative that you have representative to walk you through the process of negotiations, contracts, inspections, and the appraisal process. Unless you are an attorney or are knowledgeable of the process, you need to have a Realtor assist you. There is a lot of stress that comes along with buying a home, plus, there is no fee to use the Realtor as they are paid their fee from the seller. If the Realtor is charging you a fee, then you need to be smart and ask questions about where this fee is derived and why is it necessary.
If you are on the selling side, using a good Realtor, will give you peace of mind knowing they have a fiduciary duty to assist you and work to your best interest. An agent has the ability to work up a market analysis to compare your property to other 'like' properties. This market analysis will help the agent to decide the best listing price to sell the home quickly. Sometimes, and depending on the current market, prices can be higher or lower depending on how many homes are available. If the supply is high, the price has to be competitive if you stand a chance of selling it quickly. Unless you home is unique and has many upgrades such as hardwood floors, granite countertops, neutral colors, updated appliances, or has a pool, it needs to be priced on the lower side. If there was no agent involved, a seller may not have known how to correctly price their home.
Each situation whether on the buying side or selling side will vary but it is usually safe to use a great agent that you trust or one that came highly recommended. Please visit my website to receive more great information.
If you are a buyer and are only buying(you have no house to sell), it is imperative that you have representative to walk you through the process of negotiations, contracts, inspections, and the appraisal process. Unless you are an attorney or are knowledgeable of the process, you need to have a Realtor assist you. There is a lot of stress that comes along with buying a home, plus, there is no fee to use the Realtor as they are paid their fee from the seller. If the Realtor is charging you a fee, then you need to be smart and ask questions about where this fee is derived and why is it necessary.
If you are on the selling side, using a good Realtor, will give you peace of mind knowing they have a fiduciary duty to assist you and work to your best interest. An agent has the ability to work up a market analysis to compare your property to other 'like' properties. This market analysis will help the agent to decide the best listing price to sell the home quickly. Sometimes, and depending on the current market, prices can be higher or lower depending on how many homes are available. If the supply is high, the price has to be competitive if you stand a chance of selling it quickly. Unless you home is unique and has many upgrades such as hardwood floors, granite countertops, neutral colors, updated appliances, or has a pool, it needs to be priced on the lower side. If there was no agent involved, a seller may not have known how to correctly price their home.
Each situation whether on the buying side or selling side will vary but it is usually safe to use a great agent that you trust or one that came highly recommended. Please visit my website to receive more great information.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
California Dreamin' About Texas Jobs
California Dreamin' About Texas Jobs
By Steven Malanga
A group of California legislators recently made headlines when they traveled to Texas to learn why the Lone Star State has lately been generating the kind of job growth that the Golden State was once known for, and even luring many companies that once made California their home.
But every politician in California of either party ought to know that the answer to the state's economic woes lies not in Texas, but in California. Job migration is a very sexy issue, and one blogger, relocation expert Joseph Vranich, is even keeping an online list of firms that have exited California. But migration makes up only a small part of the job gains or losses a state experiences. By contrast, job creation through expansion of businesses and the formation of new companies is far more responsible for job growth. California once knew how to create new jobs and new companies, and a few places in the state still do it fairly well. The answers to California's woes lie in those places, not in Texas.
Over the last 15 years, California ranks as the third worst state in the country in terms of job migration, with a net outflow of jobs that is 1 percent greater than the flow of jobs into the state, according to the National Establishment Time Series database. Texas, by contrast, is 10th best in the nation in that period, with a plus 1.3 percent inflow of jobs from other states. Based on Vranich's anecdotal list, Texas is the biggest beneficiary of jobs leaving California.
While those kinds of numbers won't make or break an economy, what the NETS database also tells us is that states that do a bad job attracting and holding onto businesses also generally do poorly in other areas of economic performance that matter more, especially in generating new businesses and in being home to firms that expand rapidly. California, for instance, ranks 34th in the country in the ratio of jobs created by new businesses compared to jobs eliminated by firms going under. The Golden State created just 3.3 percent more jobs than it lost through business births and deaths in the 15 years covered by NETS. By contrast, Texas created 9.3 percent more jobs that way. Texas also did better than California in jobs generated by local firms expanding compared to those contracting. The bottom line: Texas outpaced national job creation by 10 percentage points since the mid 1990s, while California underperformed the nation, according to NETS.
One theme is obvious and persistent when you peruse dozens of stories on California companies that have pulled up stakes in the past few years: Many are going somewhere else to lower costs, whether it's a shipping company moving HQ jobs from Oakland to Phoenix, or a software maker leaving North Hollywood for Austin, or a visual effects studio leaving Venice, Ca., for Port St. Lucie and Vancouver.
Some firms also say they are leaving because California's state and local budget crunch has made government voracious. LegalZoom, the online company, is leaving Los Angeles for Austin because of a lengthy dispute with city government over taxes. One thing that sealed the move: When the firm's 400 employees heard the company was contemplating leaving, some began asking to relocate. Meanwhile, Creators Syndicate, the media syndication company, has also contemplated leaving because of a dispute over taxes with the city of Los Angeles that prompted an official of the company to accuse the city of operating like a "banana republic" and its bureaucrats of acting like "Stalin's apparatchiks."
The greatest irony lies in the ‘green' companies exiting the Golden State, despite (or perhaps because of) the state's efforts to project itself as a leader in environmental legislation. CalStar Products Inc., a Newark, Ca. company, said shortly after receiving a federal clean energy subsidy that it expects to expand by building manufacturing plants in the Mississippi Valley. Cereplast Inc., an El Segundo, Ca., maker of renewable plastics, announced it was ‘reducing its footprint' in California to a mere 3,000 square feet and moving much of its operation to Indiana "to reduce drastically our costs compared to California from real estate to utilities," according to its CEO. Meanwhile CODA, an electric car and battery company based in Santa Monica, decided last year to build a new manufacturing facility in Ohio.
There are many reasons for the cost differences between the states, but government clearly plays a role. The chief executive of CKE Restaurants Inc., a California based owner of restaurant chains, told Bloomberg News that it takes only six weeks to get approvals to open a new eatery in Texas, but up to two years in California. Given those dynamics, is it any wonder that Texas has been generating more net jobs through start-ups and expansions than California?
Faced with the prospects of California Republicans heading to Texas for advice, Gov. Jerry Brown decided to send his lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom, along for the trip. But Brown also offered insight into his own thinking on the jobs gap between Texas and California by raising the issue of Proposition 13, the property tax cap which seems to be the default excuse for every California shortcoming these days. Brown pointed out that Texas' eight graders do much better on achievement tests than California students, then reminded a reporter that Prop 13 restricts property tax collections which finance the schools, thereby implying that California's problems are a matter of a lack of resources for public education.
What Brown failed to point out is that even with Prop 13's limitations California spends more per pupil in its K-through-12 public schools than Texas does, and that Texas' recent public school gains are a result of curriculum reform in the 1990s, not some great explosion of spending in its schools. By contrast, the whole education debate in California, controlled and shaped by the state's powerful teachers' union, has focused on ever more resources for the schools to lower class sizes and pay teachers more, which doesn't automatically raise student performance. Despite Brown's carping about the limitations imposed by Prop 13, California's teachers are the highest paid on average in the country, according to statistics from the National Education Association.
Trying to strike a conciliatory note after boasting about his own state's economic gains, Texas Gov. Rick Perry agreed to meet with the California economic development delegation because he said the Golden State's economic future is vital to the interests of the United States. That certainly used to be true. But economies don't sit still. They evolve rapidly. Maybe it's just time to stop imagining that California still represents the way forward for the U.S.
By Steven Malanga
A group of California legislators recently made headlines when they traveled to Texas to learn why the Lone Star State has lately been generating the kind of job growth that the Golden State was once known for, and even luring many companies that once made California their home.
But every politician in California of either party ought to know that the answer to the state's economic woes lies not in Texas, but in California. Job migration is a very sexy issue, and one blogger, relocation expert Joseph Vranich, is even keeping an online list of firms that have exited California. But migration makes up only a small part of the job gains or losses a state experiences. By contrast, job creation through expansion of businesses and the formation of new companies is far more responsible for job growth. California once knew how to create new jobs and new companies, and a few places in the state still do it fairly well. The answers to California's woes lie in those places, not in Texas.
Over the last 15 years, California ranks as the third worst state in the country in terms of job migration, with a net outflow of jobs that is 1 percent greater than the flow of jobs into the state, according to the National Establishment Time Series database. Texas, by contrast, is 10th best in the nation in that period, with a plus 1.3 percent inflow of jobs from other states. Based on Vranich's anecdotal list, Texas is the biggest beneficiary of jobs leaving California.
While those kinds of numbers won't make or break an economy, what the NETS database also tells us is that states that do a bad job attracting and holding onto businesses also generally do poorly in other areas of economic performance that matter more, especially in generating new businesses and in being home to firms that expand rapidly. California, for instance, ranks 34th in the country in the ratio of jobs created by new businesses compared to jobs eliminated by firms going under. The Golden State created just 3.3 percent more jobs than it lost through business births and deaths in the 15 years covered by NETS. By contrast, Texas created 9.3 percent more jobs that way. Texas also did better than California in jobs generated by local firms expanding compared to those contracting. The bottom line: Texas outpaced national job creation by 10 percentage points since the mid 1990s, while California underperformed the nation, according to NETS.
One theme is obvious and persistent when you peruse dozens of stories on California companies that have pulled up stakes in the past few years: Many are going somewhere else to lower costs, whether it's a shipping company moving HQ jobs from Oakland to Phoenix, or a software maker leaving North Hollywood for Austin, or a visual effects studio leaving Venice, Ca., for Port St. Lucie and Vancouver.
Some firms also say they are leaving because California's state and local budget crunch has made government voracious. LegalZoom, the online company, is leaving Los Angeles for Austin because of a lengthy dispute with city government over taxes. One thing that sealed the move: When the firm's 400 employees heard the company was contemplating leaving, some began asking to relocate. Meanwhile, Creators Syndicate, the media syndication company, has also contemplated leaving because of a dispute over taxes with the city of Los Angeles that prompted an official of the company to accuse the city of operating like a "banana republic" and its bureaucrats of acting like "Stalin's apparatchiks."
The greatest irony lies in the ‘green' companies exiting the Golden State, despite (or perhaps because of) the state's efforts to project itself as a leader in environmental legislation. CalStar Products Inc., a Newark, Ca. company, said shortly after receiving a federal clean energy subsidy that it expects to expand by building manufacturing plants in the Mississippi Valley. Cereplast Inc., an El Segundo, Ca., maker of renewable plastics, announced it was ‘reducing its footprint' in California to a mere 3,000 square feet and moving much of its operation to Indiana "to reduce drastically our costs compared to California from real estate to utilities," according to its CEO. Meanwhile CODA, an electric car and battery company based in Santa Monica, decided last year to build a new manufacturing facility in Ohio.
There are many reasons for the cost differences between the states, but government clearly plays a role. The chief executive of CKE Restaurants Inc., a California based owner of restaurant chains, told Bloomberg News that it takes only six weeks to get approvals to open a new eatery in Texas, but up to two years in California. Given those dynamics, is it any wonder that Texas has been generating more net jobs through start-ups and expansions than California?
Faced with the prospects of California Republicans heading to Texas for advice, Gov. Jerry Brown decided to send his lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom, along for the trip. But Brown also offered insight into his own thinking on the jobs gap between Texas and California by raising the issue of Proposition 13, the property tax cap which seems to be the default excuse for every California shortcoming these days. Brown pointed out that Texas' eight graders do much better on achievement tests than California students, then reminded a reporter that Prop 13 restricts property tax collections which finance the schools, thereby implying that California's problems are a matter of a lack of resources for public education.
What Brown failed to point out is that even with Prop 13's limitations California spends more per pupil in its K-through-12 public schools than Texas does, and that Texas' recent public school gains are a result of curriculum reform in the 1990s, not some great explosion of spending in its schools. By contrast, the whole education debate in California, controlled and shaped by the state's powerful teachers' union, has focused on ever more resources for the schools to lower class sizes and pay teachers more, which doesn't automatically raise student performance. Despite Brown's carping about the limitations imposed by Prop 13, California's teachers are the highest paid on average in the country, according to statistics from the National Education Association.
Trying to strike a conciliatory note after boasting about his own state's economic gains, Texas Gov. Rick Perry agreed to meet with the California economic development delegation because he said the Golden State's economic future is vital to the interests of the United States. That certainly used to be true. But economies don't sit still. They evolve rapidly. Maybe it's just time to stop imagining that California still represents the way forward for the U.S.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Thinking Outside the Box
Thinking Outside the Box
THE GREATEST HITTER
-Author Unknown
A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then, he tossed the ball in to the air, swung at it, and missed.
"Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down he swung again and missed. "Strike two!" he cried out.
The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap once more. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" he exclaimed. Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike three!"
"Wow!" he exclaimed... "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"
Your attitude determines how circumstances impact your life. The little boy's circumstances had not changed, but his optimistic attitude prompted him to give an encouraging meaning to what had happened.
Success is not measured by what you accomplish. It is measured by the opposition you encounter and the courage with which you maintain your struggle against all odds. You will find all things are difficult before they are easy. The greater the obstacles, the more glory in overcoming them. So, make up your mind before you start that sacrifice is part of the package.
At times we will be led to the edge of the cliff in struggles that we face. It is truly in those times that we are reminded to trust God completely. Whether it is our business, our finances, family issues, health issues – He is there to guide through the storm.
WORDS TO LIVE BY....
Today I will choose to be happy!
- Anne Frank
Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.
- Babe Ruth
It is not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life, it is how you handle what happens to you..
- Zig Ziglar
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
- Lou Holtz
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
- Theodore Roosevelt
THE GREATEST HITTER
-Author Unknown
A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then, he tossed the ball in to the air, swung at it, and missed.
"Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down he swung again and missed. "Strike two!" he cried out.
The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap once more. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" he exclaimed. Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike three!"
"Wow!" he exclaimed... "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"
Your attitude determines how circumstances impact your life. The little boy's circumstances had not changed, but his optimistic attitude prompted him to give an encouraging meaning to what had happened.
Success is not measured by what you accomplish. It is measured by the opposition you encounter and the courage with which you maintain your struggle against all odds. You will find all things are difficult before they are easy. The greater the obstacles, the more glory in overcoming them. So, make up your mind before you start that sacrifice is part of the package.
At times we will be led to the edge of the cliff in struggles that we face. It is truly in those times that we are reminded to trust God completely. Whether it is our business, our finances, family issues, health issues – He is there to guide through the storm.
WORDS TO LIVE BY....
Today I will choose to be happy!
- Anne Frank
Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.
- Babe Ruth
It is not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life, it is how you handle what happens to you..
- Zig Ziglar
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
- Lou Holtz
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
- Theodore Roosevelt
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Need a realtor in Dallas/Fort Worth?
If you will be moving to Dallas Fort Worth or know of someone selling or buying in this area, give them my information or give me their number and I will follow up. I work with my sister and we're a top producing team; D Magazine top rated realtor 2005,2006, 2007, 2009, & 2010. We are also a preferred local real estate provider for Dave Ramsey. We can help with questions like resale value, neighborhoods, school ratings, or any other pertinent information that you need to better educate yourself on the market.
Now is the time to buy, rates went back down!
Learn more about me here or visit my website.
Now is the time to buy, rates went back down!
Learn more about me here or visit my website.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Why buy a home now?
Buying a home can be the funnest yet most stressful thing you can do. But the end result, is that you find a house, that you can actually call home! If you find a successful realtor, they can assist you with finding the best value, best neighborhoods, schools, and resale value. Today could never be a better time to invest in your future. It is still a buyer's market and there is a lot of inventory to choose from! Not only that, interest rates have declined again, so take advantage before it's too late.
With the right purchase, you could position yourself for immediate equity. Don't delay; speak to a lender today, contact a realtor, and start your search today!
With the right purchase, you could position yourself for immediate equity. Don't delay; speak to a lender today, contact a realtor, and start your search today!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Encouraging Words From Kids
Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot
in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.
Jamie was trying out for a part in the
school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being
in it, though she feared he would not be chosen..
On the day the parts were awarded, I went
with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her,
eyes shining with pride and excitement.. 'Guess what, Mom,' he
shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to
me....'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.'
*********************************************
Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were
discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, 'I know all about Adoption, I was adopted..' 'What does it mean to be adopted?', asked another child. 'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'
************************ *********************
On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in a
park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was.
'Really,' I said. 'I have to say you don't look very discouraged.'
'Discouraged?', the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face...
'Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet.'
*********************** **********************
A five-year-old child lived next door to an
elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old
gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had said to
the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Pastor's Faith Endures After Cancerous Brain Tumor
Most people have had to deal with a loved one that is either battling cancer or has lost a loved one to this deadly disease. Here is a great story of faith and persistence with a Pastor in Flower Mound, Tx. He is the Pastor at The Village Church. Watch this video and share with others. You can't fight cancel or deal with other issues without FAITH.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
5 More Minutes
Just Five More Minutes - Author Unknown
While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.
"That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.
"He's a fine looking boy" the man said. "That's my daughter on the bike in the white dress."
Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. "What do you say we go, Melissa?"
Melissa pleaded, "Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes."
The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart's content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. "Time to go now?"
Again Melissa pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes."
The man smiled and said, "OK."
"My, you certainly are a patient father," the woman responded.
The man smiled and then said, "Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.
She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get five more minutes to watch her play."
Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities?
Give someone you love five more minutes of your time today!
SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.....
We all have things to do but aren't your kids more important? Spend 5 more minutes with them when you can.
While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.
"That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.
"He's a fine looking boy" the man said. "That's my daughter on the bike in the white dress."
Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. "What do you say we go, Melissa?"
Melissa pleaded, "Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes."
The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart's content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. "Time to go now?"
Again Melissa pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes."
The man smiled and said, "OK."
"My, you certainly are a patient father," the woman responded.
The man smiled and then said, "Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.
She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get five more minutes to watch her play."
Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities?
Give someone you love five more minutes of your time today!
SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.....
We all have things to do but aren't your kids more important? Spend 5 more minutes with them when you can.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Building a Personal Brand
Chances are, you already have a brand, whether you've made a conscious effort to create one or not. The question is: Is it the one you want?
Many professions market themselves as having “integrity” or being “the best.” But those qualities — while important — don’t necessarily differentiate them. What specific skills and knowledge do you offer, and how should you promote these characteristics?
What Is a Brand?
A brand is the sum total of the impressions that clients and prospects have of your business. These impressions are made through the words you say, the images and colors you use, and the ways in which you interact (or fail to interact) with your target market. Corporations spend billions of dollars each year on improving their brand images because they know that those images directly affect whether or not people buy from them.
Good Brands vs. Bad Brand
A good brand is something that inspires a positive emotional response. Either your prospects and clients can feel a sense of camaraderie and connection to it or they can feel safe and secure putting themselves in your hands. A bad brand is something that's entirely in your head — an intellectual exercise using words that sound good but don't make an emotional impact.
Classic Bad Brands
Here are a few of the classic bad brands that you see everywhere across the country:
•Honesty, integrity, and trust
•Because I know the market
•I'm a professional
The first one isn't something that you can advertise; it's something you have to demonstrate. Can this be your brand? Yes, but you have to demonstrate it through client testimonials and the ways in which you speak to your prospects and clients. You can never say it out loud or you diminish it. The last two are bad brands because either they are a given.
Good Brands
A good brand for your business will show how you differ from the competition. If you don't know how you differ, then you should look closer. Your personality alone is a differentiator. Your knowledge of transactions and how they work; your experience dealing with people; the types of people you like to work with; the number and extent of the testimonials you've received; how much of your business is by referral; what systems you have in place to market, promote, and close deals — all of these things make you unique. From there, it's a matter of turning your unique qualities into a workable brand.
A Personal Example
My own strengths were educating my clients, having a deep understanding of them and their needs, and being a true advocate for them. This included having a strong hand at guiding them through the transaction, a high level of integrity, and systems, and being a professional in the marketplace. I was also a top producer, but I chose not to call attention to it because I wanted my brand to be about the client, not about me.
A part of any presentation I gave was the phrase, "I won't always tell you what you want to hear, but I'll always tell you what you need to know." It said that I would tell the hard truths and also implied that I would put the clients' needs before my own. If I'm willing to tell someone the unvarnished truth, it says I'm also willing to take the risk that I'll upset them and lose them as a client. That's a risk of a loss to me in order to serve my client. That's one way of saying that you have integrity without speaking it out loud.
Consistency of Message and Experience
Your brand image isn't just what you market, it's also every experience a client or prospect has with you. Once you settle on a brand image that really reflects who you are, make sure that your client experience always reflects that. If you're going on high integrity, then make sure you follow through on promises. If you're emphasizing that you have systems, make sure you have them for every part of the process. If it's all about the clients, then be certain that you slow down enough to be fully present with your prospects and clients whether they are in front of you or on the phone, and don't take calls from other people when you are with someone. It's all about the consistency of the experience.
No Matter What, You Will Brand Yourself
The fact is that everything you're doing right now is creating a brand for you. Whether you are conscious of your choices or not, you'll create an image in the eyes of the public, your clients, and other practitioners. Wouldn't it be better if that image were consciously created rather than the result of a bunch of random choices that may or may not be consistent?
Kelle Sparta is the author of Get More Referrals, and Increase Your Sales(AMACOM, 2005). She is also the founder of Sparta Success Systems.
Many professions market themselves as having “integrity” or being “the best.” But those qualities — while important — don’t necessarily differentiate them. What specific skills and knowledge do you offer, and how should you promote these characteristics?
What Is a Brand?
A brand is the sum total of the impressions that clients and prospects have of your business. These impressions are made through the words you say, the images and colors you use, and the ways in which you interact (or fail to interact) with your target market. Corporations spend billions of dollars each year on improving their brand images because they know that those images directly affect whether or not people buy from them.
Good Brands vs. Bad Brand
A good brand is something that inspires a positive emotional response. Either your prospects and clients can feel a sense of camaraderie and connection to it or they can feel safe and secure putting themselves in your hands. A bad brand is something that's entirely in your head — an intellectual exercise using words that sound good but don't make an emotional impact.
Classic Bad Brands
Here are a few of the classic bad brands that you see everywhere across the country:
•Honesty, integrity, and trust
•Because I know the market
•I'm a professional
The first one isn't something that you can advertise; it's something you have to demonstrate. Can this be your brand? Yes, but you have to demonstrate it through client testimonials and the ways in which you speak to your prospects and clients. You can never say it out loud or you diminish it. The last two are bad brands because either they are a given.
Good Brands
A good brand for your business will show how you differ from the competition. If you don't know how you differ, then you should look closer. Your personality alone is a differentiator. Your knowledge of transactions and how they work; your experience dealing with people; the types of people you like to work with; the number and extent of the testimonials you've received; how much of your business is by referral; what systems you have in place to market, promote, and close deals — all of these things make you unique. From there, it's a matter of turning your unique qualities into a workable brand.
A Personal Example
My own strengths were educating my clients, having a deep understanding of them and their needs, and being a true advocate for them. This included having a strong hand at guiding them through the transaction, a high level of integrity, and systems, and being a professional in the marketplace. I was also a top producer, but I chose not to call attention to it because I wanted my brand to be about the client, not about me.
A part of any presentation I gave was the phrase, "I won't always tell you what you want to hear, but I'll always tell you what you need to know." It said that I would tell the hard truths and also implied that I would put the clients' needs before my own. If I'm willing to tell someone the unvarnished truth, it says I'm also willing to take the risk that I'll upset them and lose them as a client. That's a risk of a loss to me in order to serve my client. That's one way of saying that you have integrity without speaking it out loud.
Consistency of Message and Experience
Your brand image isn't just what you market, it's also every experience a client or prospect has with you. Once you settle on a brand image that really reflects who you are, make sure that your client experience always reflects that. If you're going on high integrity, then make sure you follow through on promises. If you're emphasizing that you have systems, make sure you have them for every part of the process. If it's all about the clients, then be certain that you slow down enough to be fully present with your prospects and clients whether they are in front of you or on the phone, and don't take calls from other people when you are with someone. It's all about the consistency of the experience.
No Matter What, You Will Brand Yourself
The fact is that everything you're doing right now is creating a brand for you. Whether you are conscious of your choices or not, you'll create an image in the eyes of the public, your clients, and other practitioners. Wouldn't it be better if that image were consciously created rather than the result of a bunch of random choices that may or may not be consistent?
Kelle Sparta is the author of Get More Referrals, and Increase Your Sales(AMACOM, 2005). She is also the founder of Sparta Success Systems.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
12 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your REALTOR®
Make sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.
1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job.
2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS®, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held only by about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.
3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has.
4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison.
5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market.
6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it’s important that your REALTOR® is responsive.
7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.
8. Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.
9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.
10. What’s your business philosophy? While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.
11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but how you judge the response will reflect your own desires. Do you want updates twice a week or do you prefer not to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?
12. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients? Ask recent clients if they would work with this REALTOR® again. Find out whether they were pleased with the communication style, follow-up, and work ethic of the REALTOR®.
1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job.
2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS®, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held only by about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.
3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has.
4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison.
5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market.
6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it’s important that your REALTOR® is responsive.
7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.
8. Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.
9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.
10. What’s your business philosophy? While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.
11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but how you judge the response will reflect your own desires. Do you want updates twice a week or do you prefer not to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?
12. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients? Ask recent clients if they would work with this REALTOR® again. Find out whether they were pleased with the communication style, follow-up, and work ethic of the REALTOR®.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Real Estate Needs
Here at RE/MAX, we work for you! If you need to list your home or need help looking for a home, please don't hesitate to call me!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Homes in Flower Mound
If you need help with listing your home in Flower Mound or any North Dallas areas please let me know. I work at RE/MAX DFW Associates and look forward to being your Realtor of choice
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Image by slimmer_jimmer via Flickr
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
PIcs of family
Here is Ethan and Lisa
after his baseball game
holding his homerun
ball. Here is Tyler back
when he had long hair.
when he had long hair.
Why you should use a Realtor
When buying a home, it is important to know what to look for, what to ask for, how to negotiate, and what to expect. If you do this on your own, you can fall into many pitfalls and can lose more than you would save by not using a Realtor.
Ola!
Welcome to my new blog. As a North Dallas Realtor, I am here to serve you! If you need help with buying or selling in north DFW, give us a call!
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