The more I wander around and talk with people (I talk with a LOT of people EVERY day), the more I am realizing that there are plenty of Home Buyers and Sellers out there who are:

"READY" - Interested in making a move as soon as the planets align for them

"ABLE" - Qualified and perhaps even fully approved for financing

but not quite "WILLING" to step into the market.

This simply makes no sense whatsoever for those of us in our industry (REALTORS and Lenders) because this is a PRIME market for Buyers to be Buying . . . and in many cases for Sellers to be selling (even at a loss so as to be able "buy right").

So what's holding them back?

Well, the plethora of negative media spin sure doesn't help much with consumer confidence . . . not to mention the reality of bank failures and complex "Bail-out" Legislation that even many experts are having difficulty getting a grasp on the meaning and/or impact . . .

As one lender told me yesterday: "It's the Real Estate Professional who figures out how to explain all of this in plain speak who will master the market of today." I have this notion that a great cartoonist could probably do it with pictures . . . but I 'm no cartoonist, so I defer to words . . . and am honing my scripts to "educate" everyone I encounter that there really is NOT a ban on transacting real estate business.

The problem is that the general public has heard all of this STUFF and truly believes that it is next to impossible (and even a stupid idea) to purchase or sell a house now. They all believe that all of this drama must play out completely before they will be willing to act . . . and I believe that by the time that happens, the PRIME time for buying will have passed.

Here's an idea . . .

To all of you Mortgage Originators:

How many files do you have on your desk that are Buyers who are fully capable of buying a house but have decided to wait out the storm?

How many of those Buyers are currently working with a REALTOR?

Who are these REALTORS?

Couldn't you go through these files and sort'm out and begin calling those REALTORS and suggesting that they re-connect with the clients while you, too, are calling them to educate them @ their buying potential in today's market?

Unless I'm misunderstanding something about the way Mortgage Originators get paid, you stand to make some income by closing loans . . . and loans don't close unless Buyers buy houses . . . so, let's work together and see how many Buyers we can get off the fence before the end of the year.

To all of you REALTORS:

Do you have a Mortgage Loan Originator you have sent a lot of business to through the years?

Perhaps those folks have some of your old leads cued up and ready to buy and you aren't in touch with them . . . or maybe those LOs have some files on their desk of Buyers who don't have a REALTOR.

For all of these years, Lenders have called on REALTORS for Buyer leads . . . It's been largely a "one way Street" . . . Let's work on making this street TWO way.

REALTORS . . . add LENDERS to your Lead Generation calls and vica versa . . . Let's co-lead-generate and educate each other and the home buying and selling public to get things MOVING.

I truly believe that if we begin transacting business in this way the "mess" we're all in will self-correct  . . . probably not over night . . . but it WILL self-correct . . . and if I'm wrong, the worst case scenario is that you generate some sales that would not have otherwise closed :-)

How's THAT for circular logic?

Now . . . Quit reading blogs and get out there and find an LO (or REALTOR) and teach each other how to effectively lead generate TOGETHER.

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP!

www.theowengroup.net - Developing a solid "Home Transaction Stimulus Program" for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee.

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

I cannot think of a SINGLE valid reason that your 4th quarter production of 2008 can't be your BEST quarter of the year.

This is your chance to show the real estate world what you're made of . . .

and it all begins with LEAD GENERATION.

If you will commit NOW to 3 solid hours of lead generation every day, I am certain you will have a STRONG year end and will have great momentum through the winter months.

Remember that October 31 marks the beginning of the 4 1/2 month "REALTOR Winter Vacation" - Most REALTORS can think of a thousand reasons not to work their businesses during this "Holiday Season" . . . Thanksgiving, Christmas (or other traditional holidays), New years, then the cold winter . . . all ending for the advent of the Spring market in mid March at which point the "average REALTOR" comes out of hibernation and re-opens the business.

YOU, my friend, are not the "Average REALTOR" . . . and so I suspect that you'll start showing up at the daily SPRINTS (Power Hour) sessions every morning at 8:30 so as to gobble up all of the "Orphaned" Buyers and Sellers in your city whose REALTORS have fallen into deep slumber.

I'm looking forward to hearing your results as you track your numbers from and witnessing the most productive December that you've ever had . . . be sure to be standing here with us to celebrate our success in 2008 as you continue to lead generate your way into a highly successful 2009.

If you are REALLY committed to this high level of success, I will volunteer to be an accountability partner for you . . . Just email me @ barryo@comcast.net and I'll send you a couple of tracking forms for you to send me each week . . . Then JUST DO IT!

I'm committed to EVERYONE's success because I truly believe that all boats rise with the tide and It's time for us all to start ignoring the environment and get out there and transact business.

Lots' ROCK!

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP

www.theowengroup.net - Poised and ready for the best year-end in Middle Tennessee EVER!

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

After several years of coaching people and organizations, I know that the on-going enigma always seems to center around the "secret to success".

We all SAY we WANT to succeed. We invest countless hours, energy, money and angst in search of this grail. Some people forsake friends and family and even lose sight (sometimes) of social, ethical, and moral responsibilities . . . Just to find the elusive SUCCESS!

What IS the magic pill?

It does not appear that education, intelligence, inheritence, genetics, or talent have a lot to do with success. It just seems that some people or organizations"ROCK N'ROLL" while other struggle.

I call this "finding FLOW" . . . If you're a sports fan, you know what I'm talking about . . . like those times when the team CLICKS . . . Quarterbacks and receivers complete impossible passes while linemen build impenetrable barriers and running backs finesse their way to endzones with seemingless effortless ease.

We ALL experience moments of FLOW in our lives . . . It's those moments when you're feeling like you're havin' a great day and everything is going your way.

So . . . The REAL question is: "How can we find this FLOW and STAY IN THAT FLOW consistently?"

I believe we all have the innate capacity to be in FLOW for extended periods of time. The reality is that we probably cannot expect to find a perpetual state of FLOW - Even the highest performing engines falter occasionally and need regular tune ups.

Here's what I think . . . many of those folks who are "trying to succeed" and continue to fall short of the goal are actually stopping themselves . . . No-one else and no external circumstances are clogging the way. Why would ANYONE sabotage their pursuit for excellence/success?

FEAR OF SUCCESS!

We're each in our own "comfort zone" . . . We prove this to the world and ourselves constantly. Our tendency is to define our self by our surroundings and our past . . . and when we spread our wings and taste a different success, it doesn't feel comfortable. Sure, we are exhilarated, but we tend squash the energy and return to our comfort zone and relegate the whole experience to being an anomaly.

The Alchemist is a wonderful little book - a fable about following your dreams. I believe that if you want success, you've gotta start with acknowledging your dreams. Define your passion and LIVE this passion and success will appear.

Those people who "get" this are the ones who drive the rest of us bonkers. We're all trying to figure out what they are doing to achieve such a high level of success. We believe that they could write a book about what they do - what they eat - when they sleep - what books they read - when they go to the bathroom - which leg goes into the pants first each morning etc etc etc . . . and if we do all of that, we can duplicate their success.

If you've tried this, you know that this seldom bears fruit.

I say: "Quit getting the way of your own success!"

Define YOUR path and ENJOY the ride. Quit worrying about what other people will think of you (Because that's none of your business anyhow) and get out there and be YOU! Don't be afraid of being YOU.

I'll wind this one down simply by saying that my mind goes into contortions when I contemplate the simple truth that most people have some level of discomfort claiming their own unique self . . . and I believe that in many ways, our global Media/Marketing environment is in large part the culprit.

So . . .

I hereby grant you permission to be yourself :-)

Therein lies your success . . .

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP

www,theowengroup.net - Succeeding with Home Buyers and Sellers DAILY in Middle Tennessee

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!  

If you are REALLY interested in being the REALTOR of choice amongst the myriad choices Home Buyers and Sellers have in your community, you've simply GOTTA have a LOT of folks out there telling stories of fantastic feats you accomplished as you masterfully negotiated on their behalf.

The more people out there talking about you - The more people will see and know you as being the local "EXPERT" when it comes to real estate matters.

Why do you s'pose some REALTORS seem to leave in their wake a seemingly endless array of interesting stories? What is the magical ingredient that separates the mere mortals from the steadfast, heroic pillars of our industry?

I believe it has to do with a very finely tuned way of "Bullet-proofing" the client. Just imagine the buzz that ensues each time you are able to negotiate the "Mission Impossible" of all transactions.

This whole thing begins with expectations.

A few years ago, I discovered an interesting secret for Teflon coating my Buyers and Sellers . . . ALWAYS have a Plan B.

For buyers, I coach them to select a MINIMUM of TWO houses (rather than expecting to find THE ONE SINGLE PERFECT HOUSE). These most both be houses that meet the needs of the Buyer . . . such that the Buyer will be pleased with whichever one they "Win".

The real rub is that by always having a Plan B (and C or D or E), the Buyer is FAR less likely to get backed into a corner in the negotiation with the single option of accepting less than optimal terms in the purchase . . . thereby limiting the perception of having made a great investment. When the buyer has more than one acceptable option, the Buyer can "Draw a line in the sand"  during the negotiation . . . and if the Seller will not cooperate,the Buyer can move on to Plan B without reservation.

Sellers, Too, can bullet-proof themselves by positioning themselves optimally in the marketplace. Heck! Leave the convertible Mustang in the garage if that'll help . . . Price it perfectly . . . be staged and packed and ready to move  . . . This increases that possibility of "Multiple offers"

Bullet-proofing has the potential to make YOU a "Legend" :-)

Nowadays, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE . . . Our economic environment has become fluid enough that I am encouraging Buyers and Sellers to significantly compress the "Contract to close" time frame as much as possible. We must move more quickly than ever to get to the closing table once the deal is consummated. This often means handling inspection and repair issues more creatively and efficiently . . .  and preparing our clients on both sides of the transaction for fast action. Sellers must be pre-packed and ready to roll . . . Buyers pre-approved with enough liquidity to close quickly.

Why?

If you burn more than 2 weeks between contract and close, you  run the risk of the loan product whithering away . . . or the Buyer's job evaporating . . . or . . . or . . .

Part of bullet-proofing is being light on your feet and flexible enough to roll with the punches,

Whatever youdo, be SURE  that you ALWAYS have a plan B.

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green hills - The FLAGSHIP!

www.theowengroup.net - Bullet-Proofing Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee daily!

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

WOW Folks!

Hasn't THIS been an interesting day?

No Bail-out for Wall Street . . . and lots of interesting debate and contention . . . enough to make yer head spin.

Kinda makes me want to put on my blinders and stick my fingers in my ears to protect my feeble mind from all of that NOISE.

So . . .

What to do?

What d'ya say we just throw a big party?

There's no need for caterers or valets . . . I'm just talking about a couple of cases of burgers and kielbasa and a good, hot grill and a stack of paper plates and a few gallons of fruit tea . . . Yeah, that should be enough to get things rolling in the right direction.

Perhaps the party should have a theme . . . Oh . . . WAIT!

I have an idea!

Let's kill LOTS of birds with one stone. Does anyone out there have any listings they are having a tough time selling? Do any of these listings have nice yards and porches and grills? Do you s'pose inviting lots of people over to visit these listings might increase the possibility of the "right" Buyer learning about the house?

1ST BIRD - Marketing our "albatross listings" - So instead of the "old way" of "REALTOR LUNCHEON" we have the new way of "REALTOR PARTY - stop by any time this afternoon! The weather is beautiful! Bring a side dish or dessert to share. We'll be here from 11-3 . . . "

2ND BIRD - Networking venue . . . We REALTORS all get to mingle together and talk about the affairs of the day and perhaps there's a table on the patio for sharing information about other listings

3RD BIRD - Insulating ourselves from the "doom and Gloom" . . . The party atmosphere makes the media unseeable and unhearable for a wonderful slice of time.

4TH BIRD - Building COMMUNITY . . . Invite all of the neighbors and their children and have the party on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

5TH BIRD - LIVE MUSIC . . . In any such party, live music is always an attractor of interesting people. Perhaps the neighborhood kids could do a recital . . . or the local song-writer could do an acoustic set . . . Or the local teen age garage band could practice (next door)

and this list could continue to grow. This has the potential to become a delicious social "stone stew".

I believe it is time for us all to come together and build our communities, and I believe there are no better people positioned to champion this feat than the local REALTORS. Just decide TODAY to quit allowing the media hype and the political circus to drag you and your business down with it.

Truth is . . . the real estate industry will survive whatever debacle comes along . . . and we can significantly reduce the "pain and suffering" by offering ourselves and others the welcome diversion of a great PARTY!

Have I totally lost my mind, or WHAT?

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP!

www.theowengroup.net - Throwing parties with Home Buyers and Sellers (& REALTORS) every chance we get here in Middle Tennessee!

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

I not sure why it's bothering me these days. Perhaps it's a sentimental, nostalgic, and foolhardy hallucination, but I have been noticing a scarcity of chivalry in our world relative to what I grew up knowing to be THE way.

My Mother was not into being being called "Maam" . . . yet she always commanded the utmost respect, She taught my siblings and I our pleases and thank yous - and we had continual "training" at the dinner table as to how to properly eat and "Pass the Peas Please."

Then I joined the military, and learned respect in SO many ways. First, I had to learn "Sir" and "Maam" . . . Then when I was commissioned, I had to get accustomed to being called "Sir" even by soldiers more than twice my age. I learned to offer a salute and to receive a salute.

I learned to honor other people.

What precipitated this blog post is a whole series of small and inconsequential occurrences that all point to a shift in (perhaps) the redefinition of chivalry.

Senator MCCain addresses Senator Obama as "Senator" while Senator Obama was talking to "John"

Instead of "President Bush", I often hear "George" or "Mr. Bush"

2 Ladies in my office had a flat tire on Friday . . . As they changed their tire in high heals on an 85 degree day, no fewer than 10 men passed by without even the slightest inclination to help.

I'm hearing more car horn honking than EVER here in Nashville.

When you are driving on the interstate, do you automatically shift one lane left to make room for merging traffic into the right lane?

Do you listen for emergency vehicles and go out of your way to get out of the way?

My roofer calls me "Mr. Owen" 

When you call a prospect, Is it "Sam" or "Mr. Jones?"

Do you children know to hold the door (or elevator) for their elders? 

Why is it OK for the media and the politicians to openly practice bias, chauvinism, and disrespect to women and other high ranking politicians? What does this teach our children?

Am I now an old fuddy-duddy at the age of 46?

I hope not. Perhaps what Iam seeing out there is an aberration and is not really a problem. I can't help but think though . . . If we're going to unite in the face of the strong challenges before us, we might want to consider pausing for a moment to do a quick check . . .

Will our Momma's approve of the way we're treating other people?

If you're looking for success, you might start with yourself and consider how you treat others. Are you deserving of the utmost respect?

I think so . . .

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP

www.theowengroup.net - Respecting Home Buyers and sellers throughout Middle Tennessee

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Here I sit having just begun my morning ritual which always includes preparing the first cup of coffee FIRST - then a quick check of the news feeds . . . and a bit of physical movement (light exercise) . . . all the while pondering what I might write in the daily blog. Some days, thoughts don't form, so the blog writing happens later in the day or not at all :-)

Today, the news is full of stories of "Bail-outs" and buy-outs and WaMu's failure and "bi-partisan efforts" etc etc etc . . . My first thought was: "We need another hurricane - and SOON!" I don't want the hurricane to actually do any damage or hurt any people, I just want him/her to swirl around in the Gulf and menace our coast . . . distractive entertainment.

2 years ago, I knew WaMu was going to go down - too big and "adventuresome" . . . and thedeals Idid with them were very unsteady. I thought they were too big, and I've always believed in the premise that "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." Frankly, I'm surprised they made it this long . . . anddid I read it right? 410 BILLION dollar snafu?

Niche - This could/should maybe be the new-fangled business sport. Seth Godin encourages niche.I've been promoting niche and community for years now. Every Empire, country, Region, culture, corporate conglomerate, organization, small business, educational institution, community, family, and PERSON represents a niche.

I believe it is those folks who got themselves caught up in the excitement of success fueled by a measure of greed and forgot their niche - their PURPOSE - Their BIG WHY - and "those who brung them here" are now facing the music.

It's time for us all to remember our niches. It's time to circle the wagons and focus on FAMILY and COMMUNITY ... and the well being of those in our respective "tribes" . . . and this notion of tribe has expanded quite a bit now (thanks to the internet and technology) . . . but don't let that keep you from developing strong personal, "in the flesh" relationships within your physical community. One day, you could wake up and find the internet is DOWN.

SO . . .

I'm going to continue to keep up with the matters in the news . . .

I'm going to spend more quality time with my family (and less time staring at the computer)

I'm going to refine my niche and define my "Tribe" of the 200 people I can MOST depend on for loyalty and support and whom I will support without judgement.

I will focus on fostering a strong COMMUNITY beginning at my own house's front door.

I'm all done with partisan and bi-partisan thought . . . I don't think our political environment is as simple as "2 kinds of people" and I fully believe that we're all in this thing together - Yes, I will be voting . . . and yes, I have a favorite candidate (whose candidacy did not survive the primary election) . . . so I will vote for my 2nd choice even though I don't agree with all of his positions . . . because I know that one of the two contenders in the race will be president next year . . . My love for this country and feelings of personal obligation (12 year Army Officer) "keep me honest"

so . . . This is as vague as it gets in terms of being a real estate related blog post . . . so I feel compelled to add a taste of relevance.

I believe that if you want to SURVIVE in this business in the coming months - and likely the coming YEARS . . . You must . . .

NICHE NOW!

Circle your wagons and tighten up your operation. Lead generation must become an absolute requirement each day and must be VERY focused and intense. More than ANY time in our lives, the people in our communities NEED us REALTORS to be the quintessential professionals. We MUST focus on the communities we live in and take care of our families, friends and neighbors.

If this blog post is read by 100 people, I know that it has the potential to provide a lift (albeit small nudge) to positively influence 100 communities. Historically, REALTORS are the hubs of the communities.

So quit whining about the business (or lack thereof), and get yourself out there in your community and make a substantial difference in the lives of the people around you . . .

What you'll find is that you'll awaken a sleeping giant - and that you WILL make a difference - and that as more people "Get" this, the overall picture in our nation will improve.

SO . . .

I'm not personally attached to ANYTHING the national politicians cook up because I know that most of that is beyond my direct influence . . . but I DO keep myself informed of those happenings ONLY because I know that they affect my COMMUNITY ... and my commitment is to my niche.

WHEW!

I wish you a great day of community building . . . and oh yeah . . . do all of this and you'll not be hungry for business - Themore active you are in your community and the more defined your niche, the more effective you'll be as a real estate professional . . . all of that means more market share for YOU!

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP!

www.theowengroup.net - Building community with home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

I had 3 different calls yesterday from clients of 3 of our associates. Each of the clients was initially complimentary of the service they had received thus far . . . and each one made sure I knew that they LIKE our agent. These folks all seemed to be nice and rational people.

All 3 of them were equally frustrated with their experiences and were calling me to see what I could do to get them out of their agency agreements with their agent. What interested me about the whole thing was that none of these people were angry - no yelling and screaming whatsoever. In each call, I simply asked what the issues are and then let them vent for as long as they felt they needed. These were not short conversations.

I listened carefully and took good notes throughout each monolog . . . I asked each one if there could be an opportunity for the agent to "Make things right" . . . any 2nd chances? I concluded each call with the simple question: "Where from here?"

In all 3 cases, the "Where from here?" answer was the same . . . "I want out of this agreement!"

How could this be? What possibly could happen with 3 unrelated scenarios in which perfectly rational people have reached an irreversable level of frustration with their agents?

The most common phrase?

"I've lost confidence in my REALTOR!"

The bottom line for me is that each of these agents definitely did their job. They are all high performing agents in our Market Center and are well trained. I could assure myself that they were not procedurally deficient . . . but this undertone of client dissatisfaction and frustration was downright disturbing to me - especially THREE independent cases in the period of 3 hours.

So I went back to my notes, and here's what I found:

"We made an offer on a foreclosure and did not hear anything for a week. Our offer was OVER list price. We have now learned that house actually sold for less than we offered to someone else. We don't understand and believe that our agent dropped the ball."

"The lender wouldn't give us the financing (VA) we asked for, and then the financing he arranged changed at the last minute." I talked with the lender who had found a loan that would save this buyer THOUSANDS of dollars at closing AND was 3/4 point less interest . . . the cheese moved, and that loan went bye-bye before the closing.

"Our agent was sending us properties that were perfect but not in the school zone we want" - I asked if the agent knew which school zone they wanted and they replied that they weren't certain it was ever discussed.

"I listed my house at a fair price, but it needed some work. It didn't sell in 3 months, so we reduced it below market . . . Still no buyers, so we fixed what was broken and now we just want to SELL. Our agent has stopped calling us." I asked: "What is your motivation for moving? Do you have a personal reason to move on quickly?" ... "YES! My family is in crisis and lives in my home town. I MUST get there to be with them." When I counseled my agent, I learned that the client had never whispered a hint of this urgent personal need.

This post could get VERY long if I don't sum things up :-)

These are all good people attempting to transact real estate in what is proving to be a VERY challenging market. Even the people who are supposed to know what they are doing (Seasoned agents) are being blindsided . . . and our clients who are looking to us for iron-clad guidance lose faith when things don't happen as we set them up to expect. 

COMMUNICATION in this murky cess-pool of monsters will go a LONG way.

Be careful what you set your clients up to expect. Lean toward the pessimistic side. I ALWAYS advise my clients that bank owned properties are unpredictable at best. All the rules are out the window. These are NOT normal transactions, and these asset managers can do weird stuff . . . and it's not the listing agent's fault.

Communicate with your clients EVERY day while in a transaction and let them know what you are doing on their behalf. They MUST know every step of the way that you are doing your best. Confidence wanes quickly when there are periods of lapses of communication.

For Heaven's sake, PLEASE ON THE FRONT END learn the client's PERSONAL motivation for diving into the real estate market. There are many people in many scary life moments right now. Most will not tell you what's going on in their personal lives until you demonstrate that you care . . . Just ASK! They'll tell you.

More often than not - ESPECIALLY in this time when the entire media empire is screaming doom and gloom and scaring and confusing the bejesus out of everyone who is even contemplating a move, the folks deciding to move have a REAL reason for doing so.

Effective Communication builds confidence and loyalty . . . and leads to the realisation of everyone's goals.

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP

www.theowengroup.net Communicating daily with home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.comBarry's other blog

Simply & BOLDLY living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

If you've read many (any) of my blog posts, you're likely aware that I am a big Seth Godin Reader. I get his daily blog via email, and his insights hit the nail on the head for me virtually 100% of the time. This guy just makes sense. His thinking is directly in alignment with mine . . . as is Gary Keller's albeit in a slightly different way.

The bottom line for me is that "bottom line thinking" is a large part of my world view. I connect best with authentic people who don't wander around shooting off at the mouth. Your words are more powerful than you might give them credit to be. There are people all around you who are very interested in your thoughts and opinions. What you say literally changes other people's lives because they are filtering everything they hear through their own unique worldview. SO . . .

SPEAK RESPONSIBLY!

I say this to everyone. There is absolutely ZERO benefit to alarmist, conspiracy theorist, finger pointing malarkey . . . This level of banter damages the reputation of human communication. Some folks might counter my monologue here by saying that there are times when when it seems that they have great ideas but no-one seems to be LISTENING or "getting it" so they feel the need to shake things up a bit by throwing a tantrum or two.

That can be effective sometimes (My 7 year old daughter can certainly get attention when she REALLY wants it) . . . but don't bank on this working consistently over time. At some point, the folks around the rampager will abandon ship . . . "Crying wolf" . . . or "Energy Sucker" . . . This just ain't good PR (Personal Relations).

COMMUNICATE!

When you encounter other folks around you "crazy-making" step back and consider your OWN way of communicating without judging the actions of others. What/how can you communicate/educate your ideas more effectively?

I STRONGLY encourage you to follow this link to get the rest of the story - Seth Godin's blog this morning turned this stream of thought on in my head :-)

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/09/probably-not-st.html

Of course, the possibility does exist that the crazy-makers just enjoy making crazy and therefore are not open minded enough to hear anything but their own ideas . . . These are the folks who often find themselves in solitude while others reconcile and learn from each other and continue forth.

My bottom line IS the bottom line in every post I write: I simply and BOLDLY live by the principle that I strive to show up and be present in the NOW always. I follow what has heart for me and always tell the truth to myself and others . . . I know that whoever steps into my life is the right people and whenever Spirit moves my life forward is the right time and that whatever happens is the only thing that could . . . and I know that When it's over, it's over and I must let it go and move on. I know that if at any time I am in a place where I am neither contributing nor receiving, I bear personal responsibility for choosing to use my 2 feet to take myself to a place where I can contribute and/or receive . . . As long as I am following my passion and taking responsibility for my own worldview, I am LIVING.

Google "The FourFold Way" Angeles Arien and "Open Space Technology" Harrison Owen to learn more about this way of thinking.

Add Seth Godin's and Gary Keller's bottom line thinking to the mix, and discover a world without limits :-)

(sorry about the random ramblings of this post - Seth's post seems to have fired me up a bit :-)

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP!

www.theowengroup.net - The Owen Group is consulting with and educating home buyers and sellers in middle Tennessee daily.

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open  Space!

All these years, we have been selling houses and enjoying flourishing markets . . . When folks talked about "Creative Financing", they usually were finagling "difficult" to finance Buyers into loans that turned out to be (in many cases) more curses than blessings . . . Many of those creative loans led to financial mayhem and a disproportionate level of foreclosures.

That word "creative" got a bad name for itself . . .

hmmmmm

As I was reading "SHIFT", I realized that the word "Creative" appears throughout the book. It is very clear to me that Gary Keller sees creativity as being a good and necessary thing in a shifted market . . . but he's talking about a slightly different flavor of  the word.

You see? Creativity does not have to mean "working around or on the fringes" of the rules/guidelines . . . This is something that we must learn to add to our repertoir such that a ready, able, and willing Buyer and a motivated Seller can come together with mutually agreeable terms.

For sure, this task has become slightly more difficult. Many of the loan products that were out there lulling us into complacency have now all but disappeared . . . and our real estate environment does not feel nearly as safe and secure . . . It's as if we're dancing in a mine field . . . and the rules seem to be ever-changing.

Creativity no longer means finding a way for an insolvent Buyer to buy a house. It now means finding ways for a motivated Seller to either generate cash flow from their property or facilitate a sensible sale. Gary Keller is clear that this is the time when the "Real" REALTORS show up . . . We've got to open our minds to creativity and begin thinking out of the box.

This is VERY uncomfortable for most of us because these creative deals seldom "Fit" into the standard form templates we are accustomed to using in a deal. Somehow someway we have got to learn to structure deals on a napkin and then figure out how to solidify it in a legally binding way. I can actually envision the advent of the custom of Title Attorneys specializing in contract construction for creative deals.

In a brainstorming session last week, we came up with the following notions as to how to creatively sell our albatross listings:

- Lease the property

- Lease Purchase

- Lease Option

- Seller does full owner financing

- Seller carries a 2nd mortgage

- Contract for Deed

- Seller agrees to trade the property for the Buyers house of lower value

and there are certainly many others . . .

Our conclusions were that in our marketing of these listings, we would best serve our Sellers by promoting "Creative scenarios for acquiring this property" rather than specifically limiting the possibilities by advertising "Will consider Lease Purchase"

We want to communicate willingness to think out of the box to help the Buyers and their agents discover alternative ways to move the Buyer into the House.

One final thought . . . Many REALTORS shy away from creative deals out of fear for not getting PAID . . . or having to face the reality of delayed gratification . . . as in the lease purchase when the purchase part might not happen for 12-24 months.

Here's our plan:

Develop a "Menu" of creative options each seller would be willing to entertain. Each of these options would have provision for a portion of the REALTOR commissions to be paid on the front end with the balance being paid at the conclusion. Don't market the whole plan to the general public . . . Just hold it in reserve and advertise "Creative ways to move into this home" . . . When an interested Buyer shows up, match their needs and abilities to the appropriate menu choice and move forward.

The bottom line is that in a "Buyer's Market" with an overwhelming inventory of choices and a limited array of financing options, Many well qualified Buyers are in a "Catch 22" either because their financial scenario doesn't fit the box or they are tied down by a house they are having difficulty selling.

Darned ole shifted market . . . forcing us to THINK!

Creatively yours,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP

www.theowengroup.net - Structuring creative deals with home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee!

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!