The 3 Foot Giant... How Tall Are You?

I just got back from a full morning of appointments and was all ready to write to you about the USDA/Rural Housing loan programs and how buyers can get ZERO down financing with NO M.I.

But first I checked my email... offer on listing (print), closing confirmation for Friday (put in calendar, 1pm), email from my friend Nick: Hmmmmm.... he usually has some great insight to share for my business... let's take a look! 

What I found was quite amazing, so I'm covering USDA next week, this week, I want you to meet Sean Stephenson. Author, Motivational Speaker, Therapist, and an amazing role model. If you've felt down AT ALL about where you are in life or about the hand you've been dealt, then WATCH THIS VIDEO right now.

It's about 3 minutes and might just give you a different outlook on your lot in life. Especially in real estate we've faced a few challenges over the last few years... watch the video and it might just kick you in the A$$ and start making the money you deserve again!

Don't forget to put 10pm Sunday in your schedule and turn on the Biography channel (or in my case I'll Tivo it!).  Sean needs to have 300,000 people watch the show on Sunday to get picked up for more episodes.  Let's get some positive stuff on TV instead of all the "who slept with who" reality TV shows out there.

Andy

p.s. if you want to get Nick's weekly business email tips, go to www.NickNanton.com and join the newsletter...

p.p.s. If the link didn't work, the video is at www.LivingAtCause.com/3fg  Enjoy!

Lessons I've Learned...

You might have read the poem by Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten... You know, share everything, play fair, clean up your own mess, etc.

Well lately I've been pondering where I learned some of my childhood lessons that have made me the person that I am today and I want to share some with you (who knows...maybe you'll get some ideas!)

This may come as a surprise, but I actually am a country farm girl. No, really. My family had farmland and cattle. My first job was selling watermelons out of the back of the truck at an intersection.

My sister and I got taken on some unconventional "field trips" as kids. We went to both a slaughterhouse and a milking facility to see where our food came from (tip: if you ever raise an animal for food, name it something like T-bone or burger so you don't get too attached) and an early visit to the landfill to see where your garbage goes (if you want to see bald eagles... Go to the dump. Not very regal, but they're always there!) We also worked at charities and fundraisers for as long as I can remember (I'm great at the concession stand and to this day can make change in my head!) I've learned that by helping others you can help yourself (maybe that's why I ended up specializing in short sales and teaching others)

As I got older I worked in the family retail business. We were in an industry that had a lot of competition from mail order so I learned to buy from local merchants whenever possible...even if it costs a few dollars more. I also learned payroll, advertising and accounting when it was all done by hand... which gives me a better understanding of how it works on the computer today.

My life has not been perfect. There have been definite highs and lows and I know that there always will be... But it's what you do with the lessons you've learned that show what kind of person you are.

I hope that some of the lessons that I’ve learned and shared with you through this newsletter have made a difference… both in your real estate and your outlook on life.

Andy

p.s. Thanks Mom!

A few weeks ago I wrote about the NEW streamlined process on short sales at Bank of America (If you missed it, CLICK HERE)  I also got lots of comments from people that just don't believe it!

Well, today it was confirmed.  We had a buyer fall out on one of my approved shorts and when I contacted BofA for resubmission they sent me a note that said we had to follow the new procedure and they sent me a "brochure" as they called it.

Here's the link to see the new Bank of America Short Sale Brochure... it's so new that this appears to be a proof that the mitigator sent me!

The client/seller will now call BofA directly, give them some info, and a file will be setup on REOTrans.com for the short sale.  Then you as the agent will be able to login to this online portal (if the seller authorizes you) and upload the documents needed such as HUD 1, contract, etc.

Supposedly you will be able to see status updates real time and know exactly what's going on... sounds like we're in a dream! (or a drug-induced coma!)

Can't wait to get this first one started under the new program!  It can't be any worse than their old method (knock on wood!)

Anyone involved in the new process yet? I'd love to hear how it's going!

Please Control Your Class!

I've been leading trainings for almost 10 years now, and the longer I do, the more "Bad Andy" rears her head (in case you didn't know, Bad Andy is my Mii Avatar when I play Wii) When I first started training, I hoped that everyone liked me, I hoped everyone learned something, and I hoped that everyone would give me a good review. After the class I always went straight to the reviews and read every single one, and 99% of them could be rave reviews, but if even 1 said anything negative at all, it would send me into a funk that would sometimes last for days...

At some point, Tim & Stacy (my husband and my assistant) realized this and forbid me from even reading them. You see, they reminded me that you can NEVER please everyone all of the time, and some people were only put on this Earth to complain (sound like anyone you know? maybe in your family or in your office). Don't get me wrong, the feedback is VERY important to me and Stacy would go through them and share any suggestions and we would find a way to implement the ones that made sense, but the "bashing" ones were filed away.

I also tried to be the "neutral reporter" that just stated the facts but didn't necessarily say one view was better than the other, for fear of offending someone. All that has changed over the last few years. I do take a stand. I do voice my opinion. I HOPE someone disagrees with me... at least that means they were paying attention! (by the way, to everyone that REALLY knows me, you know that this paragraph only refers to my CLASSES, in my personal and business life I have ALWAYS been very clear on where I stand and what I believe and have never been shy to make it known)

Now that you have a reference point, I want to tell you a story. I recently attended a training myself. I actually go to quite a few seminars every year, everything from communication styles to real estate techniques to how to be a better trainer... from $free to over $6,000! And don't get me wrong... this training was great, the mindset and techniques are very in line with my business beliefs and practices, so I have nothing bad at all to say about the content. I also enjoyed the teaching style of the instructor... it was very similar to mine (stories and humor, etc.)

But all was not perfect or I wouldn't be writing this. There were a few people in the class that felt like having their own conversations in the room during class. It is very distracting to have 3 conversations fighting for attention while the instructor is speaking. We also didn't always start and end on the times that were promised. As I was sitting there, I just kept thinking to myself "wow, I hope my classes aren't like that"

So I did some soul searching on the way home and here's my vow to you:

* I will do whatever I can to start and end all classes and breaks on time. You've paid to be in my course, you deserve it.

* I will be more aware of "side conversations" going on and politely get their attention back on the training. If that does not work, I will politely talk to those parties during break. You've paid to be in my course, you deserve it.

* I will continue to update the course materials, handouts, and presentations to reflect the latest data and will strive to make even the most confusing topics understandable. You've paid to be in my course, you deserve it.

* I will always be open to constructive suggestions. I am not perfect. Bad Andy is closer, but she is not perfect either. You've paid to be in my course, you deserve it.

* I will continue to monitor the market and the changes happening to continue to bring you the latest techniques and information. You've paid to be in my course, you deserve it.

* I will never lose sight of YOUR needs. You are the reason that I train. (well, you and all of the thousands of families that I can help by helping you!). You've paid to be in my course, you deserve it.

I hope anyone that reads this that ever conducts any classes, trainings, webinars... anything, wil realize what might be happening in their own classes and be more aware.

And if you come to a future class with me... thank you for trusting me as an advisor in your business.  I won't waste your time you've invested!

I just got off the phone doing my "status calls" on my short sales... and there might be hope!

First of all, "Michael" looked up my first loan number (the one we've been working on since December) and he said "can you hold on for a minute?"  then about 10 minutes later he came back and said "I had to double check because the notes didn't make sense... you've skipped phase 2 and we have investor (FannieMae) approval while you were still technically in phase 1! I've never seen that before!"

Now, I already knew we had "skipped" phase 2, but I didn't know that fannie had already come back with our approval.

This is the 2nd file since September that I've "skipped" phase 2. Don't know why or how, but I'll take it! YAYYY!

Then I gave him a new loan number... on a listing I just took.  He pulled it up, obviously there was no activity in the notes, and I told him that I was just giving him the heads up that I had taken the listing.  Then he proceeded to tell me that when I DO get an offer, as of last week there is a new procedure for submitting the file...

Are you sitting down?

Ready?

Fax in your contract and YOUR contact info. That's it.

Then a negotiator will send you an email with a link to the REOTrans website for your file where YOU will upload all of the other documents into their system.  No more faxing into La-La land and wondering if it got there! You'll be able to see INSTANTLY that the docs were uploaded!

My husband is a loan originator and they've been using a similar system for YEARS... and it's VERY easy!

Oh, and then he also said that website is where you'll go in the future to get status updates!

Could it be?

"Michael" also mentioned that he thinks they brought in a bunch more negotiators because he's been seeing a lot of new names lately in the notes...

IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!

Anyone else having a similar experience?

It's the 4th quarter and you're down by 14... what do you do?

Have you ever watched a football game and one team is losing for the entire game and then in the 4th quarter they come back and win? Isn't it exciting to watch? 

Well guess what... it's OUR 4th quarter. The 4th quarter of 2009!

If you've been struggling this year, here's your chance to come from behind and WIN! And if you've already been winning this year, here's your chance to run up the score and win BIG! What are YOU going to do in the 4th quarter of the real estate game? I'd love to hear your plans! Here are some ideas that I thought of:

-Master a new skill or niche: Short sales, REO, Blogging, Social Media... whatever it is you want to master, if you spend just one hour per day researching, reading, and learning... you'll have it down in no time! I've decided that I want to learn more about HUD homes. My first rehab deal I ever did was a HUD home, and I made about $14,000 profit on it... 10 years ago!!!

-Sit down and look back at the last 9 months and see what you've accomplished. But I want you to be BRUTALLY honest with yourself... did you REALLY work your business? Did you put in the time you should have? Did you go to networking meetings? Did you call your past clients? Did you do WHATEVER IT TAKES (on the right side of the law of course!)?

-Find a mentor in a niche you'd like to learn more about... John... you out there?

-Consider investing in the current market, it is DEFINITELY time to buy some of these crazy low priced houses and condos!

-Commit to a set amount of time for marketing each week, and stick to it! Whether it's blogging, social networking, or in person networking... calling past clients... getting a booth at your city arts festival... starting back up your newsletter... whatever it is, JUST DO IT!

PLEASE share your thoughts with the AR community... We'd really like to hear them (maybe I'll get some ideas too!)

Need the help of my AR buddies to find a quick buyer for this one...

Today we found out that our buyer's loan was turned down... HELP!

This is a beautiful 2 story townhouse in the amazing Northwest Village of Avalon Park.  2 big bedrooms plus a loft AND an office!  Awesome dark cherry cabinets with an island sink and granite countertops.  Oh yeah, don't forget the rear alley access to your 2 car garage!

Call me right now for a personal showing.  Open house this Sunday from 3-6pm!

2420 Formax Dr, Orlando/Avalon Park

Andy Tolbert, Broker-Associate, HD Realty, 407-842-7700 direct.

Here's a link to more info and lots of pictures!  Click Here