Will this be the year you finally acheive your New Year's Resolutions?

When I think of "New Years Resolutions" I have to giggle a little, because they've become kind of a joke "so, did you make it past the 2^nd of January? Ha ha ha!" But if you're SERIOUS about making a positive change in your life, it can be done… last January 1^st I was in a size 20 jeans and today I'm sitting here in 10's, so it CAN be done!  Here are a few tips to get there this time, whether it's weight loss, quitting smoking, getting your debt under control… whatever YOU want:

 

 

• Don't set an unrealistic goal that is impossible to achieve, you'll just get frustrated and quit
• Find someone that has already achieved what you want to do and follow what they did
• Find a friend that has the same goals as you and buddy up to tackle it together
• Tell the world what you're doing… Facebook, a blog, whatever!  Then you have some accountability (see www.AndysChallenge.com)
• Make sure it's something that you'll KNOW when you've achieved it, example: "I'll get in a size 10 by November" not "I'll lose weight"
• Plan a reward when you hit it… I've set a goal for January 31^st and I'm not buying any clothes until I hit it! (reward doesn't have to cost money… get creative!)
• "Burn your boats" as clothes got too big, I donated them so I can't put the weight back on (I wouldn't have anything to wear!)

 

Hope this sparks something in YOUR life this year!

 

 

It Is What It Is...

Lately I've been hearing this phrase a LOT.  I don't know if people are saying it more or if I'm just more cognizant of it because I'm more aware (I even saw it in a TV show over the weekend!), but what I DO know is that every time I hear it the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I want to hit something!

Here's the scenario: Somthing has just popped up in one of your deals, you call the other agent to try to brainstorm a solution and they say "It is what it is."  They basically just told you "I don't care enough to try to change it"

Where would our world be if that was our answer to every challenge?

Problem: Caveman #1 "Caveman Starving!"   Caveman #2 "ugg...Is what Is"  Both Cavemen DIE!  

Alternative Solution? Learn to hunt, fish, farm and gather berries!

Ancient Times Quote: "The World is Flat"  Everyone's response? "It Is What It Is"

Alternative Solution: Get on a boat anyway and discover America... where I live today!

Problem: Hitler's killing everyone he doesn't like... not just the Jews.  Can you imagine the world today if everyone had just said "It Is What It Is..."

YOUR ASSIGNMENT, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT:

The next time you hear someone say "It is what it is..."  I want you to correct them and say "It is what you make it" or even "It is what you let it be"

The real estate market's bad... "It is what it is"

OH YEAH?

Then why are some people doing just fine in this market... I personally closed 24 transaction sides last year WHILE running the office AND teaching CEU classes throughout Florida... all without an assistant!  So when people lay down and say "It is what it is" I GET MAD!!! And so should you!

Thanks for listening to my rant.

Weirdness is Running Rampant in Our Office...

Have you ever had one of those days...

I've been having one of those WEEKS in our office!

First, one of our owners (remember, we manage rental units too) has been foreclosed on.  Except... OOOPS... it was supposed to be the neighbor's unit, not his!  He's never missed a payment! Hmmm...

Second, my title company catches an issue on one of my short sales.  Seems that back in 2008 when my seller got divorced, the paralegal she hired to handle the documents accidentally left someone elses name in one of the spots on the deed, so now we have to track down Carlos, who is now part owner of the home, and who ALSO has a judgment against him that will now need to be paid to clear title.  Bad news... nobody knows who Carlos is and we can't find him.  Good news... the attorney that is foreclosing also didn't know about Carlos, so the foreclosure is filed wrong and they'll have to start all over on the foreclosure!  Yayyy! Delayed so I can close the short sale!

Third, one of my other files the title company found that the LAST FOUR DEED TRANSFERS have had the wrong legal description on them, so again... sale postponed, need to fix title, then close on the short sale!

And the list goes on... a seller that wants me to pre-approve a buyer THEN they'll list with me. (not sure how I find a buyer if I haven't listed the property yet... Hmmm...)

Some days I love my job... others I think about moving to a log cabin in the woods (actually, a beach cabana on a private island! :)

What craziness have YOU seen lately?

By the way... this just goes to show that consumers HAVE to have an experienced professional on their team in today's crazy market...

Another Loan Mod bites the dust!  My New Listing (again!)

Back in the summer of 2010 I listed a home.  It was a HAFA short sale deal where the bank had already given us the price and approved the seller, I just had to find the buyer.

We got a buyer within the first week, but before the seller could even sign the contract, an attorney contacted her and told her that he would be able to do a loan modification for her and let her keep her house at a payment she could afford. (remember she had already been turned down for a HAMP mod, that's why we were in the HAFA program!).

Well, guess what? Friday I got a call from her, and Monday evening I re-listed her home.  Want to know what the attorney was able to get for her?

Her old mortgage payment was $1,650 per month.  The Mod that the attorney negotiated?  If she sends the bank $3,200 down, they will lower her payment to $1,634.  Yes, you read that right.  She gives them $3,200 and they will lower her payment by $16 per month.  Wow, that's really a help to her budget I bet!

Don't get me wrong... I think that GOOD modifications are a great solution to what we're experiencing in our market, but some of these attorneys are feeding a line of crud to home owners and giving them false hope.  How much did this false hope cost her in this case? $2,500 to the attorney!!!  They take people's money and tell them "we'll try" and then when they get no results they say "we tried"

Use this example when you're talking to clients and share with them the success rates that you've personally seen clients have with modifications.

Please share with us what success you've seen in people getting loan mods, also, do you know of ANY non-owner occupied homes getting loan mods?

How Are You Doing On Your Goals So Far?

Here Are Some Tools To Help You Out!


OK.  It's 2 weeks into the new year.  Most people's resolutions (if they even bothered this year) are long-forgotten pipe-dreams already.  They're up to their neck in "life" and can't focus on improvement.  Sound familiar? Hit too close to home for you?  Here are some tools you might find useful to stay on track:

2011 Realtor Power Planner by Andy  This is a goal setting planner that I developed over 10 years ago and I've been using and sharing it ever since.  It takes a thorough look back at the last year's accomplishments in your real estate business and guides you into setting acheivable goals in the new year.  Make copies and share it around your office. (click on the "2011 Realtor" link for the download)

SWOT Assessment for your business  This is a simple planner that you'll want to spend some serious thought-energy on completing.  SWOT stands for Strenghts, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.  If you're in the Orange/Seminole/W. Volusia area, I'm offering you a NO COST 30 minute SWOT assessment appointment.  Together we'll pull up your data on transactions from 2009 and 2010 and take a good hard look at the SWOT in your business and help formulate a plan for 2011 and beyond.  This might be an eye-opener for you and the benefit of having an outside neutral party look at your business is priceless!

100 Day Challenge Program.  It's not too late to get started!  I'm currently using this program as well as my husband and several other agents here in our office.  Whatever goal you've set for yourself... financial, educational, fitness, business etc. this program is a tool to help you get there!  Use the code group97 to save $50 off the regular price of $147.  CLICK HERE for more info!

Between these 3 tools there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be able to reach your goals in 2011 and beyond.

I've heard people say "make this your best year ever" but that's too limiting, I like to say "make this your best year SO FAR!"

Andy

Are You Too Fat For Real Estate?

This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately.  Maybe it's because I'm getting up there in years and there's a zero at the end of my age now... or maybe it's because the business side of this is finally sinking in... either way, it's something I'm no longer willing to settle for in my life!

Think back to the last time you went to a networking event.  There's 30 people in the room that you don't know but are all potential clients.  You see 2 different people standing alone.  One is overweight, the other is not.  Who are you most likely to see as a viable business associate?

You can't judge a book by it's cover!

But we do every day!  When you walk into Books-A-Million to find a book on a  subject, you go to that section and there are probably hundreds of books available to choose from.  How do you pick one? Based on the title and the cover design... yes, by it's cover.  The best book in the world might be sitting there on the shelf, but if it's plain, un-interesting, disheveled and torn, you're not even going to look, are you?

Same thing with business.  When we first meet with a potential client, vendor, employee or employer, some kind of opinion is formed on them in the first few seconds.

(let me now make a big disclaimer: this article is NOT intended to hurt anyone's feelings... I am trying to let it sink in... and I'm coming from a place of realizing that I need to work on this as well)

A while back I was interviewing for a managerial/supervisory job opening.  On paper the person was perfect.  When the person actually came in for a chat though, they were extremely overweight.  The first thing that crossed my mind was "will other people respect and follow this person?"

What does it take to lose weight? 

We all know the answer... eat less, move more!  So if you KNOW what to do, why don't you do it?  So maybe our clients are thinking "they may KNOW how to do short sales but maybe they don't do it or do it well!"  These are subconscious thoughts that go through their head the minute they meet you and then you are in a hole you have to immediately dig out of with your brilliance and knowledge.  Wouldn't it just be easier to start NOT in a hole?

If all else was equal between you and another agent the client is considering working with, they will pick the not overweight choice each time because they are perceived as more professional and more disciplined.

We pick the cutest puppy out of the litter at the pet store, we pick the healthiest looking lobster out of the aquarium at the seafood restaurant, we pick the most attractive person at a speed dating event, and we pick the "in shape" person to do business with over the "out of shape" person every single time!

How seriously will YOU be taken?

Some of you will read this and say "I don't care what people think" and that's ok.  Over the years I've had many friends in many different industries see their income go up as the lose weight.  Is it a real phenomenon? Is it all in their head? I don't care either way... but I've made the conscious decision to change this one part of my life that I have complete control over.

If you're ready to make a change too, check out www.fitwithtim.myvi.net

If you're in the Central Florida area... email me about our walking, weight loss and fitness groups we've started.  Accountability leads to success!

Why Should a Real Estate Professional Write a Book?

I'm getting ready to write a book and maybe you can be a part of it! I've been thinking about it for a while and it's time. I know it will make a huge boost in my business in more ways than one:

• Huge boost in "expert" credibility. If you've written a best selling book the public perceives you as THE expert (imagine THAT as a closing tool at your next listing presentation!)
• More referrals from professionals like attorneys and CPA's
• Interviews with local and national media outlets AS a best selling author on the topic
• The coolest "business card" in the world
• And way more!

Join Nick Nanton with Celebrity Press Publishing on November 4th as he tells us how to be a best selling author in the FASTEST, EASIEST, CHEAPEST way possible (if you can't make the live webinar put in your name/email anyway and ther may be a recorded replay)

go to http:www.celebritypresspublishing.com/andy_webinar.html to register and get more details.

The book will be aimed at consumers (read that: CLIENTS) with tips on how to successfully sell their home in this market. Great listing tool!

Andy's Foreclosure Interview Reunites a Family After Years & Years!

Wow, this is a story you probably don't hear every day.  Yesterday I was contacted by email by someone stating she was a relative of someone I had interviewed about losing her house.  Through some back searching I found the article she was referring to, and it wasn't me that had interviewed the lady, I just happened to be interviewed in the same article.  I never met her relative.  In several emails back and forth though, I explained that I had never met her, but did a quick Google search and sent her a link with some local contact info including an email address and place of employment (all public records here... not disclosing any secret info!).

Well, today I just got this email:

"Andy

You have just been used by God to help two sisters fine each other and to discover that there are two more sisters My daughter and her sister are so happy right now it is unbelievable. They are both Managers and have two children thanks thanks and more thanks

My The Lord bless your life and family

Pastor Nissi"

Isn't that unbelievable?

Out of the tragedy of this young lady losing her home, a single mom and her 2 kids are now reunited with their family because of the story that was written about her.

And I had the honor of bringing them all back together.

Wow.

That's all I can say right now.  Wow.

Is it safe to buy a foreclosed home?

Right now that is what's on most of America's minds... Is it safe to buy a foreclosure home?  Several of the large lenders have frozen foreclosure proceedings because of possible mis-steps in the filing of the foreclosure case file.  Some people argue that the entire foreclosure might be invalid, even on some homes that have already been resold to a new homeowner!

Last week I was interviewed by the New York Times for an article on this very topic!  Writer Ron Lieber asked me what were some of the things that someone thinking of buying a home needs to be aware of when buying a bank owned home.  Here's some things to watch out for:

• Right now in Central Florida there are about 400 homes that were recently pulled and coded as "temporarily off the market" in our MLS system.  I can't say they were all a part of the freeze, but it's probably a good guess!  If the home you're interested in was NOT pulled off the market, it's most likely not one that is affected.
• There is often a lot of damage to the homes, both from neglect and being vacant for so long and from vandalism and even sabotage.  Some people take their anger out on the house and you might be buying the result of their anger.  Make sure you hire a good home inspector to check the property out thoroughly before closing.
• If you are getting a mortgage to buy a home, a bank owned home may have challenges in the condition of the house.  If it needs repairs it may not be financeable by a traditional loan and you may need an FHA 203K rehab loan that allows for the repair money to be included.
• The seller, in this case the bank, has the right to dictate the terms under which they will sell you their house.  The banks are taking this to the extreme and will put numerous restrictions on you such as:
  • You can't resell or refinance YOUR house within a certain time frame
  • They won't pay certain closing costs that a seller normally pays.  This means you will pay more to buy the house
  • If you don't close on time they will charge you $50-100/day for an extension
  • If you don't close they can keep your deposit (which by the way THEIR attorney will be holding)
  • They won't even give you a written contract... you will need to start your inspections and other costs based on a verbal acceptance... the written will follow in a week or two.
  • With your written acceptance, they will send you the "bank addendum" which changes all of the terms of the original offer.  These can be a few pages to over 20 pages long.  You must review this very carefully before signing.  Once you've signed it you've accepted it.
• Often the properties are priced very low to drive competition and after you put in an offer you'll be told that there are "multiple offers" and they are asking you to come back with your "highest and best" offer.  Often these properties will sell at or above the asking price, sometimes even 20-30% OVER asking price!
• Make sure you buy title insurance to cover any possible mistakes in the title.

I don't want these things to scare you from buying a foreclosed home.  Many of my clients AND myself have bought foreclosed homes and have had no problems with them.  It is intended to just make you aware of some of the things to watch out for before buying a bank owned home.

As you can see it is very important to have a Realtor® working for you that knows the ins and outs of buying a foreclosure home.  Ask them how many buyers they've worked with and how many years they've been buying foreclosures.

If you're in the Central Florida area, I'd love to answer any questions you have about buying a bank owned home, either as a home to live in or as an investment property.  Call me at 407-260-8800 ext. 107 right now!

About a week ago I stumbled across the new site, www.BankofAmerica.com/realestateagent and wanted to share it with you.  Today, I got an "official" email announcement from Equator.

On it they have:

• videos
• webcasts (both future and replays)
• education guides
• reference guides
• links to other sites (like equator and your local BofA loan officer)
• HAFA guidelines
• and more

They also talk about the new "Bank of America Cooperative Short Sale Pilot" (although this kind of sounds like they admit their old process was un-cooperative! :)

Hey, any help they can give both experienced AND inexperienced agents crawl through their process a little easier and quicker is ok with me... I just hope it's real not just propaganda to make the media and borrowers THINK they're working towards a solution.

Are any of you in the "Cooperative Pilot"?