"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you." Nelson Mandela

Boe Lindgren's solution to the economy  

Here is the solution to:

•·         Saving the United States Banking system

•·         Keeping the American homeowner in their home

•·         Boosting the U.S. economy

•·         Establishing better neighborhoods

•·         Keeping rents down

•·         Fixing the housing market

I know that is a lot of stuff to solve, but here you go. Instead of the U.S. government bailing out banks by giving them cash, the government should give it to the people. The homeowners in America would be able to refinance their mortgage loan with the government, regardless of their situation.

How would this work?

The government would let anyone who owns a home (or many homes) refinance at 1%, 40 year fixed. It is strictly rate and term (no cash out). Whatever is owed on the property gets paid off with this new mortgage (late fees, penalties, etc...). Now there is one lien on the property, and the owner cannot get a second behind it (or use the home for any type of collateral). The interest paid on this loan is NOT tax deductible. This is a onetime deal. Rental properties are fine too, let's keep the rents down.

Who wins?

•1)      Banks - they get all their bad debt off the books and are solvent (government refinanced them out of it, instead of handing over cash).

•2)      Homeowners - they get a lower payment and can stay in their home.

•3)      Government - they make tax dollars by getting rid of the single largest deduction & they make 0.5% margin on the money (borrow from the fed at .5%). Oh yea, they also get paid back over the next 40 years.

•4)      The economy - there will be an increase in consumer confidence and people will begin to buy things again. Homeowners will also have more disposable income (lower house payment).

•5)      Renters - the rents can stay lower because landlords have a smaller mortgage payment.

•6)      The housing market - less people will want to sell their home and give up the 1% mortgage. There will then be less supply. Prices will then stabilize.

•7)      Neighborhoods - with more homeownership and less population mobility (no one wants to give up their 1% mortgage) neighborhoods will get established and people will begin to know their neighbors and take more pride in where they live since they will plan on being there longer.

This could all be implemented by the hundreds of loan officers that are struggling. With no underwriting & no appraisal, just title, escrow, and record. This could be accomplished for under $1,500 a home.

By Boe Lindgren, Owner / Broker Ashlar Realty & Licensed Loan Originator, Seattle, WA

boe@lindgren.com www.boeanddebbie.com

There is a company known as botext. They give you an extension for your listings that a prospective buyer can text to and then get a response with details about the house. Me (the agent) then gets the prospective buyers cell phone number to follow up.

Give it a try... text 1024 to 425-344-3873, it takes about 15 seconds to get a response. I think it is great and has a lot of possibilities. We are all looking for buyers and it works anywhere in the USA.

Enjoy,

Boe Lindgren

Broker - Ashlar Realty

P.S. I am the founder of botext

"...sometimes when you go live with God in heaven you can still talk to people down here.."

"...but you have to yell really loud, I mean, think about it..."

Words of wisdom from a 5 year old

Things are looking up for King County. The average median price is looking better. With interest rates low and inventory up, there has never been a better time to buy a home since the early 1970's. As some in the industy are saying, "it is the opportuinty of this generation".

The weather north of Seattle was strange today. Just 6 days ago it was 73 degrees and the tulips were bloomng. Today the snow fell (and still is). The first shot is the Ashlar Realty office at 5pm, the second is my backyard at 7pm. I guess we'll be getting the sleds back out for tomorrow. My oldest son asked when Santa is coming?

Some here in Seattle can't wait for a little global warming... OK Northwest warming 

Have a great weekend!

Boe Lindgren

Broker / Owner Ashlar Realty

Here is the team. We have a team that cross markets our services. What is the consumers perception and do other agents like working with a team of complimentary services?

We have had great success. From the lending approval (we know it is real) to getting the insurance binder. We can see if there have been any claims on a house before we list it (make sure it is insurable) and have the lenders give us thier opinion of value.

We are also updated with changes in the market, and with daily changes in lending Hometown Lending provides great value.

I think the key it good people. David Haley with Hometown lending and Sean Riley with Farmers insurance are both upstanding and credible people. They are also experts in their field.

How is your in-house lender and do you use them? Also, do you have an in-house insurance agency?

One last note... see the sun does shine in Seattle once in awhile;)

 Boe Lindgren

Ashlar Realty

Lynnwood, Washington

I have always "hung my license" with a small independent broker (until I opened my own shop). I thought the idea of paying between $200 - $300 a month and getting 100% commission was a great deal. Over the years I paid for my own advertising and branded me. I could change companies and my clients didn't care, they are my clients, they work with Boe and they refer their friends to Boe (not some huge real estate company).

As I build Ashlar Realty, I meet with agents that are with the big companies. Those agents don't mind a split and house money. They don't mind paying $25,000 a year plus a percentage of their commission. I am sure there are some advantages to being with a large recognized company. But is it worth it?

If I did 12 sides in a year and the average commission was $9,000 gross, then the 100% shop would get me $108,000 in Gross commissions. Subtract out a processing fee and E&O (say $100 each) and also take out the monthly desk fee of $300 a month, which would net me $102,000 (before taxes). In a traditional $25,000 to the house and 70/30, that would get me $58,100. Does the large company spend $44,000 a year on me that helps my business? Or is it better for me to spend the $3,500 a month on marketing?

I suppose there are a lot of factors to consider. Does the large company spend the marketing money locally or nationally? Do I get leads from the company? What is a lead worth? If you spend $3,500 a month and get a deal out of it, that's not bad.

I am really curious since I have never been associated with a large firm, what do large companies offer? What are the splits like? If you could change one thing at your current brokerage what would it be?

Another thought, are small 100% shops on the rise due to the internet? Meaning that with large real estate broker website statistics falling (peaked in spring 2006, go to www.alexa.com), the consumer is trending toward having a personal relationship with an agent or "google-ing" agents by name to find them. If I was a consumer, I would search the net, blogs, etc... to find an agent, not a company.

I look forward to your response, here is your chance to brag about your company...

Boe Lindgren,

Broker / Owner

Ashlar Realty, Lynnwood Washington