Idaho Real Estate >> ID Real Estate Specialist

Perceptual Blindness >> What does your perception tell you?

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:47:27 -0500

A friend of mine sent me this powerful video. Please view it and then look at my comments below.

We focus our attention on what the media tells us is reality. Most of us focus on what the media wants us to focus on and we fail to see the opportunity that exists. Today, many Realtors are focusing on fear and uncertainty. When we allow the fear and uncertainty to take control of us it is difficult for our creative minds to go to work and take advantages of the opportunities that exist.

When dealing with our spouses, significant others or co-workers how many times do we focus on ones faults or one event and fail to see the big picture that includes all the good traits of that person?

When someone tells us something many of us take it as gospel and then believe what we choose to believe based on what we have heard. The old saying that there are two sides to every story is oh so very true.

When we go to work in the morning or come home in the evening do we notice the incredible sunrises, sunsets or cloud formations or do we miss them because we are too busy focusing on traffic, our destination or talking on our cell phones?

Let us open our minds and look at the BIG PICTURE. Opportunities just may arise from this new way of thinking.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent- Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

I am the Greatest Realtor in the World!

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:56:31 -0500

Those that know me know that I love the game of golf for many reasons. Today I witnessed one of the most amazing feats in golf I have ever seen (sorry Tiger) and I have been watching professional and amateur golf since the early nineties.

One of my favorite current golfers is Vijay Singh from the island of Fiji. Vijay is known for his incredible work ethic. He practices his golf swing and exercises relentlessly. He is currently 45 years of age, an age when most professional golfers are thinking more about the champions tour, not competing against and winning tournaments against the top players in the world that are in their twenties.

Vijay is known as one of the best ball strikers on tour, second only to Tiger Woods in that category. The one thing that has plagued Vijay the last couple of years has been his putting which has been inconsistent. Inconsistent putting has kept Vijay from winning even more tournaments. Before the Deutsche Bank Championship started a few days ago Vijay said he was blocking out all the negative comments made about his putting over the past year and was repeating to himself "I am the greatest putter in the world". He kept telling himself and his caddie this each day of the tournament and repeated it many times today on the course.

Vijay became a putting machine! Today alone he sank breaking putts of 35 feet and 60 feet! Sergio Garcia who played with Vijay said it was the most amazing display of golf he had seen and that no one can ever know just how good Vijay played today. Vijay not only won the tournament but also broke the course record!

Vijay won his second tournament in two weeks and earned another $1,260,000 and became the leading money leader for the year and increased his lead in the Fed-Ex cup standings. He won today by an amazing 5 strokes over his nearest competitor, beating several world ranked players in their twenties.

Last week Reece Mack wrote the amazing blog Do You Want To Achieve Success? I'll Let You in on A Little Secret... which spoke about the power of visualization. I know of many cases in which Realtors and other individuals have used visualization to achieve amazing success. Elaine Northrop from Maryland used visualization in the nineties to surpass one million dollars in commissions in one year and buy a condo in Florida that had gone into contract with another buyer hours before Elaine decided to buy it. Elaine took pictures of the condo and "Saw her family having Thanksgiving Dinner" in that condo. A month or so after Elaine returned to Maryland she received a call that the sale fell apart. Elaine purchased the condo and her family had Thanksgiving dinner in their Florida condo that year!

Stop listening to all the negativity about the current housing market. Tell yourself "I am the Greatest Realtor in the World" and beleive it! Write it down and paste it on your bathroom mirror. Repeat it to yourself throughout the day. Convince yourself that you are the best Realtor and go get what is yours!

Conceive it, believe it, Achieve it!
Elaine Northrop

The 3 traits of all successful Realtors

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:40:00 -0500

I started my real estate career in 1980 and if ever I have seen history repeat itself it is now, nearly 30 years later. In 1983 I sold homes with interest rates of 17 1/2 %. Realtors dropped like flies because the attitude was "I can't sell homes with those kinds of interest rates". Fast forward to 2008 and again Realtors are dropping like flies. Same result as the 1980's.

What separates those that succeed in any market and what is the common denominator for those Realtors that hang up their spurs, leave the business and look for other ways to support themselves and their families? I have decided there are 3 traits common to all successful Realtors that allow them to weather any economic storm that causes real estate markets to change drastically.

The servant attitude

Every truly successful Realtor I have seen have all had what I call a "Servant Attitude". By this I mean that they truly desire to solve a problem or help someone in need. They thrive on finding solutions for any given situation whether it is finding the perfect home for a buyer or marketing a home no one else can market. They are driven by their desire to help someone in need. In contrast, we have all seen those agents that are self serving and are driven by the attitude of "What's in it for me?". They spend every commission before it is earned and all their advertising and actions are about them.

Vision - Every successful company has it

Ford motor and Toyota don't just manufacture automobiles and hope someone buys them. They must have a vision of what consumers will be buying 1, 2, 3 and more years down the road. They try to anticipate what consumers will be buying and why. When the stock market skyrocketed a few years ago there was no foundation for its record upward movement. 2005 was the same for real estate. It was an artificial upward swing with no foundation driven by stated loans and greed. I heard Realtors, lenders and builders make statements that the market of 2005 would last for 5, 10 and even 15 years! These statements had no statistics to back them up; they were all based on the euphoria that was prevalent at the time. These agents "lived for the moment" without any regard for what would follow. The handful of Realtors that recognized this false sense of security were busy preparing for what the next real estate market would bring. Idaho's upper end market is fueled by the California real estate market. When the California market is strong Idaho's upper end real estate market thrives. Through my friends here on Active Rain I kept hearing early in 2006 that the California real estate market was weakening. There were signs that our own market was changing. Whenever I suggested that our Idaho real estate market was changing and shared why I believed this I was told that I was wrong and that our real estate market was healthy and strong. All the signs were there that our real estate market was changing but only a handful had their eyes open enough to see it.

Systems put into place

Because of my belief that the real estate market was changing and my belief that Idaho Short Sales and Idaho foreclosures would sky rocket I created short sales pages for my Idaho Real Estate site that would educate the public regarding short sales and foreclosures. By late 2007 my site was on the first page of Google for the term "Idaho Short Sales", "Short Sales in Idaho" and "Idaho Short Sales Assistance". By early 2008 my site was number one on Google for these same terms and remains number one today. I also have taken numerous short sales classes and in June of 2008 became a "Certified Short Sales Specialist". Early this year Realtors were really struggling and many came in to see me and asked what I was doing different. They asked why I was doing well when so many were struggling. Many of these Realtors had no systems in place and had taken no classes to take advantage of the current real estate market. In fact when I asked many to accompany me to short sales classes in the spring they denied my offer. They were "hanging on" and hoping that the real estate market would turn back around to what is was in 2005. They are still waiting but now many are waiting tables at local restaurants.

Our MLS has lost over 3,000 Realtors and our own office has lost over 30 Realtors from the peak year of 2005. All this is happening while a hand full of Realtors are having great years.

If you are still surviving in this market congratulations! If you are still in business but struggling look at your own market. What do you see happening and why? What trends are developing and why? What systems do you have in place to take advantage of your real estate market for the next two to three years and beyond? Are you investing in the right classes to take advantage of the real estate market in your area for the next 2-3 years?

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Karen George >> Goodbye to an Angel

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:10:40 -0500

Karen George lost her battle with cancer today but she will never loose the love and respect hundreds of Active Rain members from across the country that were touched by this incredible woman have for her.

When I joined Active Rain in May of 2007 I was a lost little puppy. Karen is one of those that wrote some awesome blogs that helped me grow my presence on Google both with my Active Rain Profile and my own web site.

When Karen was too sick last summer her husband Michael wrote a page for my site in an attempt to have it climb higher with the search engine rankings. I did not expect this at all and told Michael it was not necessary. He did it anyway. Many of you don't know but even when Karen was very, very ill and could hardly sit up she would write blogs here on Active Rain in an attempt to help us with the great advice she always gave.

If you have not read Karen's blogs I highly recommend you do. 99.9% of everything she wrote was to help you and I grow our business. I read many of Karen's blogs and put the recommendations into action which is one of the main reasons I have had so much success on the web.

Karen was a giver. When Karen was well she heard of an elderly man that was confined to his home due to an illness. Karen purchased this man a notebook computer with internet access so he could communicate with his family and friends.

This is the type of life Karen lived. She was a "giver" and cared so very much about others. When she gave Karen never wanted anything in return. She took many of my calls and patiently explained things to me in layman's terms. I hope we can all learn from Karen's giving soul. If someone needs help, lets reach out to them in a loving way just like Karen did and would want all of us to do.

We lost an Angel on earth here today but the heaven's are rejoicing and having a party. Everyone throws a party when someone so special is coming to join them.

Thank you Karen for everything you did for me and for holding my hand when I didn't understand. Thank you for your incredible knowledge and your desire to help.

You will be missed and I can assure you that this world was a better place because you were part of it. I will continue to pray for Michael and will do anything to help him.

I love you Karen, Thank you for everything but most of all for your beautiful soul!

Idaho Real Estate

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:49:50 -0500

For the past several years Boise Idaho and Idaho in general has been touted as a place that is great for families and businesses.

Early this year of 2008 Amy Bickers from the Kiplinger News Letter personally visited Boise Idaho and was very impressed asking the question "How do folks get any work done around here?" Amy was referring to the Skiing, Snow Boarding, Fishing, Biking and Kayaking all offered in and around Boise and in most parts of the state.

Idaho is one of the most diversified states anywhere in the nation. The northern part of the state has one of the most beautiful lakes and cities in the nation in Coeur d Alene and its natural lake all located near the Canadian border.

Central Idaho is an outdoorsman's dream come true. The Salmon River offers some of the most scenic and breathtaking tours avid water enthusiasts will ever find. If you like to kayak, fish, or take float trips you must put down the Salmon River on your list of places to visit.

South Central Idaho with it's vast farms that run for miles and miles are made even more beautiful with the massive Snake River that cuts through this vast farm country. This area is where the majority of the famous "Idaho Potatoes" are grown.

In the South West area of Idaho where Boise is located and where I was born and called home for my entire life the economy is one of the stongest in the nation. There is a diversification of agriculture, technology, medical and service industries. The Boise River runs through the middle of the city and the magnificent mountains located on the east side of Boise offer snow skiing, snow mobiling, cross country skiing and hiking just minutes from downtown.

Idaho Real Estate remains very affordable. In Ada County where Boise is located the median price of a home stands at $235,000. Homes in neighboring Canyon County just west of Boise are even more attractive with median prices well under $200,000. In many rural areas of Idaho that are less than an hour from major cities good housing can be found for prices under $100,000.

Take the same tour Amy Bickers took that impressed her so much, Tour Boise Idaho

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Boise Idaho one of the best cities to Live, Work and Play

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:26:18 -0500

Early this year in 2008 Amy Bickers from the Kiplinger news Letter wrote about the best cities in 2008 in which Boise Idaho was name the 4^th best city in the nation

In that article Bickers asked the question, "How do any folks get any work done around here? The skiing, snowboarding, fishing, biking and kayaking in Boise are an almost irresistible temptation to desert your desk".

Now Kiplinger News has written about "The Best Cities to Work and Play" and again the writers have named Boise the 4^th best city to work and play

The formula used to select the top 10 cities to work and play were based on not only past performance but with those cities that had all the right ingredients for future success. All the cities chosen had people in the creative classes such as scientists, engineers, architects, educators, writers, artists and entertainers.

Boise Idaho has long been recognized for it's beauty and positive business and family atmosphere. Boise attracts the young at heart and the empty nesters as well. There is a nice blend of old and new housing which remains very affordable. The median price of a home in Boise Idaho stands at $235,000 and the cost of living is very attractive.

Boise Idaho is the home to Micron Technology, one of the largest computer chip manufacturers in the world and the home to the printer division of Hewlett-Packard.

The Boise River meanders through the center of the city with parks, restaurants, walking/bike baths and housing developments bordering the river for miles. One can float the Boise River in the summer months or hike the mountains that border the city on the east side. In the winter months Bogus Basin Ski Resort is less than an hour from Boise with many cross-country ski and snow mobile trails along the way.

Discover why so many people relocate to Boise Idaho every year. Go to Boise Idaho Real Estate to learn more about this fascinating city and start your Boise Idaho Real Estate Search.

Take a tour of beautiful downtown Boise: Tour Boise

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

A life changing day away from real estate

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:22:02 -0500

We have all had them. Moments in life that impact us in a way that we did not expect and it changes us in a way we never expected.

Real estate is a tough business and it just gets tougher all the time. It is very demanding indeed. There is so much to learn and so much to absorb. I have spoken to many AR friends over the past year and lately spoke to my friend Tracy Santrock. Tracy and I spoke for over an hour early last week sharing the latest and greatest real estate technology, Search Engine Optimization tools, marketing tools and much more.

With all the success in my career over the past years I always felt there was something else I wanted in my life other than this busy world of real estate and I always felt it would have something to do with children. In fact, when my broker asked me 2 years ago what I would do if I didn't sell real estate, I responded by telling him "I don't know but I know I want to work with children".

Over a month ago my sister asked if I would volunteer as a scorer for the Junior Golf Program my nephew is part of. It required that I take a day off in the middle of the week to walk 9 holes of golf with 4 young randomly selected kids that were 11 years of age. A the time I said "Sure" just thinking it would be a nice break from work and fun.

Well last Thursday was the day for me to be a scorer for 4 wonderful kids, Brandon, Chance, Michelle and Sky. My job was to keep score and to make sure they all followed the rules of golf.

Brandon hit his first drive on the first hole and I was in awe! This kid is a Tiger Woods in the making if I have ever seen one! This kid is averaging better scores than grown men on a very tough 9 hole course. His swing is one of the sweetest, purest I have ever seen and I watch a lot of golf. I told him to remember me when he goes on tour!

Chance had a smile and a happy go lucky attitude that just lit up the place. It didn't matter if he hit great shot or a bad shot, his attitude and smile remained constant. He pretty much guaranteed we all had a light hearted great time.

Michelle was a cute little blonde girl that seemed to just be out for a Sunday afternoon drive. She didn't take the game too seriously and she has a wonderful genuine smile that will light up any room. She just remained very consistent and just kept "smiling" and was just as agreeable and kind as anyone I have ever been around.

Sky was very reserved and her golf game was not real good and I just tried to pump her up with words of encouragement. It wasn't until the 7^th hole until I finally heard Sky say more than one word at a time when she said "Putt it, roll it, hole it" to Chance when he was getting ready to putt. As I mentioned, Sky didn't golf very good that day and finally, here we are on the last hole. Brandon, Michelle and Chance have all missed the last putt on the last hole which was about a 5 foot putt and would save par. I looked at Sky and said "Putt it, roll it, hole it". She just smiled at me and swung the putter. The ball went strait in the hole! Sky had a smile wider than Niagara Falls as she proceeded to get high fives from everyone!

I simply had the time of my life last Thursday and when it was all over I was kind of saddened that it had all come to an end. What I felt from all those kids is hard to put into words. They all had something special they brought to the course that day and they all touched me in a special way.

I hope that in the hustle and bustle of your real estate career you have something away from the business where you can leave the cell phone in the car and give your heart and soul to something or someone that brings a joy to your heart and allows you to give something back to this great world. The world will not end if you miss a few calls over a few hours. Trust me, it will give you a balance and a purpose that we all need.

I don't think Brandon, Chance, Michelle and Sky have any idea what they did for me that day.

Go out and Putt it, Roll it and hole it!

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

My #1 Lead Generation Tool

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:52:58 -0500

I continue to be amazed at what I have been told not once but several times over the years. In early 2005 a farmer contacted me and told me another farmer gave him my name. It turns out this farmer had some land listed with another Realtor in our office but was unhappy and wanted me to list his farms. After talking to my broker and the Realtor that had this farmers land listed I proceeded to list this farmers land.

A few months into our listing agreement my farmer client informed me the #1 reason he liked me is that I not only returned calls promptly but I would call him on a regular basis even if I had no new news. Many of you are probably thinking "Duh"! Get this...when I told the farmer I was just doing my job and doing what I was supposed to do he said "You don't get it George, I have worked with many Realtors over the years and you are the first Realtor that returns my calls promptly and calls me on a regular bases".

This farmer not only listed all his farms with me but referred me over 10 million dollars in new business from 2005 through 2007 and continues to refer me business today.

Just two weeks ago I had a home seller contact me. I had my first meeting with this seller and his wife and followed up with them a few days later to give them the market information for their home and a marketing plan. Over the past two weeks we made 3 different appointments to follow-up on getting their home listed but each time something came up with either him or me (my 1st granddaughter was born). I had to reschedule two times and made several phone calls to keep this seller informed.

This seller and I finally connected last night and I got their home listed. When I was walking out the door after listing the home the husband followed me out and said you know why I decided to hire you George? I asked why? He went on to tell me that he loved the way I stayed in touch with him and called him regularly to let him know what was going on. He went on to say "I have worked with a lot of Realtors over the years through my construction business and you are the first to call me on a regular basis to let me know what was going on. I have never had that before".

We can have the greatest

Web site
Marketing Plan
Lead generation system

But if we don't communicate with our clients on the level they want us to all these tools mean nothing. I have written many blogs in the past that I have never sent out postcards or newsletters. I also do no print advertising.

I have always made a lot of phone calls to past and current clients/customers. The phone is the most powerful tool I have and nothing has ever replaced it. I am known for returning calls promptly even when callers don't leave a message. If I see I have a missed call I place the same importance on those calls as I do on the callers that leave messages. Many callers have been amazed when I do this. I continue to receive more referrals than anyone in our large 50 plus agent office and owe it all to my communication with my sphere.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Make 150 families remember you for $100!

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:24:27 -0500

REMAX Mainstreet just posted a blog about keeping in contact with past customers/clients. One REMAX agent, Jaqui Robbins offered this tip:

The day after Christmas she hits all the department and discount stores and purchases all the holiday dormats she can located. She said she spends about $100 and generally picks up about 150 doormats and adds them to her existing inventory.

The following year on the weekend following Thanksgiving she staples a Holiday/Christmas card to each doormat and drives to ALL of her local client/customers, leaving a doormat with the attached card on the front porch.

She said her phone rings off the hook with people saying "Thank You" and invariably will get a referral from a past client that has family visiting from out of town for the holidays.

The agent went on to say that her past clients/customers have become so accustomed to receiving the doormats that if she is late in delivering she always gets calls asking if she has stopped delivering the doormats.

Now that is thinking outside the box!

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Embracing Change and reaping the benefits

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:53:02 -0500

One thing that is a constant in our lives is change. The real estate business has changed dramatically at least four times in the past 28 years I have been in business. For many, change is a scary thing. It takes us out of our comfort zone and many have a very hard time dealing with it. Change is part of our personal lives and part of our business world and always will be.

Here are some things to think about when it comes to transitioning into all the changes of this lifetime.

Let go of the old What has worked in the past does not work today. A good example of this is that what worked just 2 years ago in the real estate market is not working today in many parts of the country. Can you think of anything in your personal life or business life that has not changed in some way over the past decade? Just because something worked 10 years ago does not mean it will work today.

Use your imagination and think of what can be. Those Realtors that started implementing ideas to take advantage of the Short Sale and Foreclosure market are doing quite well in this current market. In our area, those that sell commercial real estate and farm land are also having a banner year.

Anticipate changes before they happen. In our area, many Realtors, mortgage lenders, title company personnel, builders and developers failed because they did not anticipate the market. All the signs were there but many simply ignored the signs and have paid dearly for ignoring those signs.

Many will not change but say they embrace change. Yes, I know many people that will tell you they embrace change but if you look at their lives they don't practice what they are saying. We may say that we embrace change and are open to it but what do our results say?

Realize that nothing lasts forever and either does this current real estate market. The old saying "This too shall pass" is oh so very true. In my market Short Sales and Foreclosures will be a reality for at least the next 2-3 years. I positioned myself to take advantage of the current real estate market but I know it will change in 2-3 years and I am already planning for that change and have a plan to transition into the next market I am anticipating.

I cannot imagine a world without change. It gives us opportunity to grow and expand our minds and offers us opportunities that may never have existed in the past. I have a strong belief that "Opportunities exist in every market". I cannot look back on any phase of my real estate career where that has not been the case.

I can embrace change and know that it is real or close my mind to all the possibilities that exist.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

The greatest resource is you

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:47:33 -0500

When I was very young growing up in the sixties I remember seeing a movie about a man that that was confined to a room for several years. He could not leave the room but would be given anything he asked for. He went through many phases during those years. Sometimes he would sleep all the time. Other times he stayed up all the time drinking and getting drunk.

One day this man asked for and was given a grand piano. When he was given the grand piano he knew absolutely nothing about playing a piano of any kind. He asked for books and started to learn by teaching himself. After a few years he was playing beautifully and did not need any music sheets to play extraordinary music.

After he had spent all the time in this room (it was something like 5-7 years) the door to the room was open. He was so engrossed in his music and books that he did not bother to go out. He had no way of knowing the difference between night and day and spent every moment engrossed on his studies.

This simple but powerful little movie has caused me to think about our society as we have known it for the past several years.

As kids we are given televisions, cell phones, ipods, computers, game boys, and on and one and on. As young adults if someone took away our cell phones, televisions and computers many of us would become angry and many would become vicious.

Has all this worldly attraction been good for us or has it kept us from developing the skills that are inside each and every one of us? The man in the story I mention was only able to develop his skills when everything else was taken away from him. I doubt he would have developed his amazing skill if he had been given everything.

I am certainly not talking about taking everyone's cell phones, computers and televisions away from them and closing them up in a room. I am simply saying that the human mind is amazing.

There is a handful of Realtors that are flourishing in today's market because they had the vision to see a changing market and implemented systems to take advantage of it. Many others are locked up in their room just like the man in this story but have not opened their minds and looked for ways to take advantage of the market the way it is today.

These past few weeks I have had many Realtors call me or come into my office and asked me how it is that I am doing so well. How did you create that powerful site of yours? How are you drawing in so many clients? How did you create all your systems? How are you doing this? How are you doing that? What many of these Realtors don't realize is that the greatest resource is themselves. When we create something from nothing, rather than having it handed to us, we will value it more and take more pride in ourselves.

Many Realtors are truly waiting for the market to change back to the way it was prior to the market changing without doing anything to take advantage of the market the way it is today. They believe they will wake up tomorrow morning and "Short Sales" will be gone and "Foreclosures" will be a thing of the past.

Just like the man in this story learned to play the piano and started playing beautiful music, we too have an opportunity to adapt to our changing world and reap the benefits of opening up our creative minds and take advantage of all the opportunities that surround us.

Just like the saying goes: "I have seen the enemy and the enemy is me"

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Shoshone Falls of Idaho >> Higher than Niagara Falls

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:34:33 -0500

Yes, Shoshone Falls of Idaho is 36 feet higher than famous Niagara Falls but few have ever heard about it. It was 1973 and I had qualified for the Idaho State High School Rodeo Finals in Filer Idaho. While at the rodeo we had an off day and some friends said hey, want to go see Shoshone Falls? I said O.K. very unenthusiastically.

I remember we left Filer about 7:00 in the morning and within a half hour there we were starring at this massive wonder and my jaw just dropped! You see there was a rainbow in the falls and the morning sun came up from the backside of the falls and all three of us just stood there in awe and the only words out of our mouths I remember were Wow!, Amazing! and Unbelievable!

You see I had heard about Shoshone Falls for years but never had taken the time to see it. It is located about 2 hours from the Treasure Valley of Idaho where I live just west of the capital city of Boise. I have seen a lot of places in my life time. I saw Mount Rushmore in 1974, Lake Managua in Nicaragua in 1987 and the majestic Pyramids and rivers of Belize in 1987 but to have something like Shoshone Falls in our back yard is nothing short of amazing.

Shoshone Falls is 212 high which is 36" higher than Niagara Falls and flows over a rim 900 feet wide. The falls is part of the massive Snake River system which meanders through southern Idaho on it's journey to the Columbia River. It is best seen in the spring before the irrigation season draws water from the Snake River, diminishing the flow over Shoshone Falls. I was not able to see it but many reports said the spring 2006 season produced one of the most spectacular water shows over Shoshone Falls ever seen. The snow pack was very high that year and unbelievable amounts of water that flowed over the falls that year had people talking about it all across the state. People flowed in record numbers to the park owned by the city of Twin Falls that overlooks the park. That year the majestic beauty of Shoshone Falls was in the news for weeks.

It is estimated that Shoshone Falls has existed for 30,000 to 60,000 years. Early settlers commonly referred to Shoshone Falls as the "Niagara Falls of the west". The falls represents the upper limit of Sturgeon and spawning runs of salmon and steelhead which cannot pass the falls. Bald Eagles are a common site along the Snake River Canyon and the area surrounding Shoshone Falls. Those that have seen Shoshone Falls are amazed that the falls is not listed as one of the 7 wonders of the world.

When you take your trip to Idaho you can make your own decision as to where Shoshone Falls stands in the most amazing places you have visited.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Certified Short Sales Specialist

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:41:17 -0500

I recently had the privilege of taking an intense and full 2-day class regarding short sales and everything you could possibly know about the marketing of Idaho Short Sales. Having been a licensed Idaho Realtor for over 28 years and after selling short sales for the past 15 years here in Idaho I wasn't sure what else I could learn but the class seemed interesting so I decided to go.

After completing the class all I could say was "Wow"! It scared me that I had been selling short sale properties all these years without the knowledge offered in this class. The instructor has taught this class in 4 states including California which is one of the states hit the hardest when it comes to short sales and foreclosures.

The class was not inexpensive and the vast amount of knowledge gained is invaluable which included:

Learning what lenders are looking for in a short sales package
What sellers can and cannot do in a short sales transaction
How to negotiate with lenders
Ways to expedite a short sale
Ways to protect all parties to a short sale
What every seller must know about short sales and are rarely told
Why strong affiliations are so important

After the two day class attended by 32 people who included Realtors, investors and short sales companies we were all given the designation of being a Certified Short Sales Specialist.

Idaho Short sales are reality and will be with us for some time to come. Some experts predict that short sales in Idaho will be a main part of our real estate market for at least the next 2 years. Realtors can either fumble through the short sales process or get educated and become the short sales specialist the public needs and deserves.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

10 Tips to drive traffic to your website!

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:07:34 -0500

I wrote this title to get your attention and to prove a point. Lists get attention and get magazines and website articles read. No I don't have 10 tips but I have one good one that will certainly get more visitors to your site. I have already proven it this morning.

My favorite television show, Sunday Morning had a story this morning about how our society is obsessed with "Lists" ie: "10 places to visit before you die" "7 fruits to help you live longer". I know all the talk is about Google but I love Yahoo because it is consistently adding new and fresh stories about life, science, politics, sports, etc. A day does not go by that they don't have a new list about many different subjects.

Consider this:

Moses gave us the Ten Commandments (the first known list, LOL)
There is a book called "The Book of Lists"
Reader's Digest, Peoples Magazine, they all have "Lists to draw readers"

Lists are a "Call to Action". They encourage readers to read the article to find out the "Secret" that lies behind the headline. Everyone wants to read this new and fascinating news. I know they get my attention and they must work because lists continue to be used in every form of advertising and it attracts readers by the tens of thousands.

Why not use these lists or "Calls to Action" on our website blogs? About two months ago I started adding my website blogs to the home page of my website Search Idaho Homes. The number of visits to my site soon skyrocketed. Many visitors have told me they love my website blogs and have told their family and friends about them.

After viewing the Sunday Morning program, I was motivated to write the blog 7 Tips to make your next home purchase painless about three hours ago. Already this blog has been viewed 27 times inside those 3 hours!

If you don't have your blog on your home page give it some serious thought. You don't have to create these "Lists" all the time and you certainly don't want to overdo it but you can create other types of "Call to Action" type blogs and newsletters.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

What song impacted you the most and where were you?

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:19:14 -0500

I don't have a very good memory at all and forget names and important dates very easily. This is why this amazes me. I remember where I was, what day of the week it was, and what time it was when I heard this song. It was 1974 on a Satuday night and it was around 6:30 p.m. when I heard this song. I don't know why it impacted me the way it did but it did. When the song came on I parked my car in front of my friends home where I was headed and waited for the song to end. After the song ended I just sat there in silence.

Do you remember what song impacted you the most and where you were when you heard it? I would love to hear what song impacted you the most and where you were. Please share your song and your story.

Nampa ID Home Listing - 4200 E. Wisteria Ave.

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:23:19 -0500

Owners are relocating to Southeast Idaho and say "Sell" this wonderful family home with no neighbors directly behind it and a wonderful view of the Boise Mountains. You can buy new but you will not get the deck, privacy fencing and above ground pool which all come with this outstanding home. Listed at only $174,900 this home has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 1,632 square feet. Built in 2003 and located only 10 minutes from the Interstate. This is a wonderful and affordable family home

To continue your home search go to Search Idaho Homes

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Professional Realtor or "Control Freak"?

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:08:52 -0500

Yesterday I called Realtor that had a home listed because there was no phone number for the sellers on the MLS listing form. I have seen more and more Realtors submitting listings like this with no contact numbers for the sellers. Mostly "Discount Brokers" are doing this in our area. Our MLS listings have sections for all of the sellers contact numbers. 99% of all owner occupied listings have this information posted.

My buyer only had last evening to look at homes and was making a decision on one of the homes she was planning on looking at. I did not hear back from this Realtor I called until nearly 10:00 p.m. last night and he apologized by saying he was out of cell range all afternoon and early evening. My buyer had already made an offer on another home.

This action of his cost his sellers a showing and a possible offer. With all the properties on the market offered at great prices the last thing any buyer or buyers agent needs is for these kind of games to be played. I understand there are certain situations in which the listing agent needs to take all showing calls but the vast majority of situations like these are when Realtors are just "Control Freaks" that are costing their sellers dearly.

Sellers hire us to market their homes to a ready, willing and able buyer. When a ready, willing and able buyer raises his/her hand and wants to see your home Mr. or Mrs. Seller please think twice about allowing a Realtor to take control of the showing of your home.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

O.K. I give! Here is my Super 8 MeMe all about me!

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:25:56 -0500

Yes, many AR members have invited me to write my Super 8 MeMe all about me, most recently Mirela Monte and Jessica Horton so here you have it. Sorry I can't remember the names of everyone else that invited me and sorry it took so long but here it is at long last.

Some Super 8 MeMe's had more questions than others so I combined some of the questions from other posts with questions from others and this is what I came up with.

Who is your favorite musical artist? (post a utube video)

That's a hard question. You see I agree with Ray Charles when he was once asked by a reporter what his favorite music was. He looked at the young man and said "I love the good and hate the bad". I could not have said it any better. I can listen to country, pop, opera, jazz and much more all in the same day! Whenever I have had a hard day and am really stressed out I listen to Andrea Bocelli and specifically a song named "Sogno" which is "Dream" in Italian and this song is a love song. The passion and emotion Andrea displays in this song gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. If you wonder if this song is any good just look at the lady at the end of the video. You don't have to know Italian to feel this song in your soul!

Who is your favorite artist? (post a flickr photo)

I have never seen anything like the paintings of William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) I own this painting of his called "The Young Shepherdess" (1895). This painting faces me in my office and to me represents all that is important in life: "To be content and at peace with our life and all of our surroundings." I sometimes shut the door of my office and simply take a deep breath and stare at this painting for a long time. It takes me back to a time and place that touches my soul.

Who is your favorite blogger?

That is a hard one. I could pick dozens and dozens of blogs that I read on a regular basis but I will answer this question by saying which bloggers influenced me and helped me the most when I joined Active Rain in February of 2007. Member Chris Elizabeth Griffith not only got me excited about improving my writing skills but spent a long time on the phone explaining anchor text, photo naming, etc. Member Karen George simply wrote some amazing SEO blogs and helped me get my Active Rain profile and blogs recognized by Google in amazing speed. I am indebted to Chris Elizabeth and Karen and include them in my prayers constantly.

If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them?

Without hesitation it would be Pope John Paul II who is by far one of the most intriguing individuals of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. If you have never read his life story it will really blow you away. He overcame a lot of obstacles in his life and not only became a huge spiritual leader but learned 14 languages fluently and had the gift of bringing people of all religions and political beliefs together. I have a young friend that once saw Pope John Paul II in person and she said her legs got weak and she felt a feeling in her body that she had never felt before and has never felt since. My friend told me that it was like there was a super natural spirit there that day. P.S. And I struggle with 2 languages!

Who has been the person in your life that has had the greatest impact on you?

Very simply my mom and dad. My Dad taught me a hard work ethic and my mom taught me love and compassion. What two better things to learn in life?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I envisioned me following my parent's footsteps and continuing on with the family farm. I would not trade my youthful days on the farm and I could write a book about all that I learned and the impact of the hard work ethic. My father instilled in me that hard work ethic and he accomplished an amazing feat with only a 3^rd grade education. I believe this is why I attack anything with a passion if I am truly interested in it. I also think this is why I was so successful with Active Rain so quickly. I read every valuable post and called many AR members in an attempt to learn all I could learn. Thank you Dad, I love you and miss you.

What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know?

When we talk about someone who is strong in a certain area such as a good writer we usually say their "forte" is writing with an emphasis over the "E". The correct pronunciation is actually "FORT" as in a fort in ancient Greece. I know everyone would look at us weird but I guarantee you I am right.

If you could do anything what would you do?

I would work with underprivileged children and help them in some way. I hate to see pain and suffering in the world but when it comes to children it breaks my heart to see them hurting or suffering in any way. I would love to work with children either with the Tiger Woods First Tee foundation or in some other way.

If you could live in any point of history, what would it be and why?

I would go back to the 70's in a heartbeat! I was still on the family farm and even though there was some tough times due to mother nature I never felt so content and at peace. The economy was great, gas was an average of 75 cents a gallon and Disco was on fire! Yes, just like Tracy Santrock, I was the Disco King west of the Mississippi! Well that may be taking it a little far but you should have seen me in my polyester bell-bottom pants, silk colorful shirt and elevator shoes! I was a sight to behold! My sister and I took disco lessons and a photo of us on the dance floor even came out on the front page of the local newspaper in 1978!

What's your favorite game?

I love Sherades and it is a great game for all ages. I used to like Pictionary but I very simply suck at drawing! I stopped playing Pictionary when everyone started laughing at me when they looked at the sketch of a dog I attempted to draw!

What is your biggest missed opportunity?

Lord, I could write a book about this subject! The amount of real estate investments that I should have, could have made would make me cry if I thought about it too much. It never ceases to amaze me how many great real estate investments are passed up due to fear.

What is the most interesting job you have ever held?

I have never had a 9 to 5 job. I went directly from the family farm to real estate and began my real estate career in February of 1980. I think real estate has to be the most interesting. You see by starting in 1980 it wasn't long until mortgage rates hit 17 1/2 % and the prime rate hit 20%. I had the good fortune to be working for an amazing broker that closed all our closings himself. He taught me to use an HP 12c like no other and taught me a lot about all-inclusive deeds of trusts, 2^nd deeds of trust, wrap-around contracts and personal finance. I have used all my broker taught me over the years that have helped me to be very successful. Without starting my career at the toughest time in the past 30 years I doubt I would have seen the success I have seen.

Now here are 8 friends I would like to tag:

Boise Idaho >> Ranked 4th best city in 2008 by Kiplinger

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:38:14 -0500

Boise Idaho recognized as 4th best in 2008

Something takes place every year like clockwork. What I am referring to is Boise Idaho. Yes, every year some national publication or organization writes something wonderful about the little city of Boise Idaho tucked away at the base of beautiful majestic mountains with the Boise River running through the heart of the city.

Amy Bicker from the Kiplinger news letter visited Idaho and came away amazed. Amy ranked Boise Idaho as the 4^th best city in the Nation for 2008. Amy wrote she doesn't understand how anyone gets any work done in Boise with the skiing, snowboarding, fishing, biking and kayaking which is all available in and around Boise.

Susan Thayer, who relocated to Boise four years ago from Albany Oregon states "Boise Idaho has evolved into a magnet for the arts." She and her spouse, Terry, frequent the theater, as well as Boise's own symphony, opera and dance companies.

Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard are the Boise Valley's two largest employers. Micron is one of the largest computer chip manufacturers in the world with their headquarters in Boise. Hewlett-Packards printer division is headquartered in Boise and has grown beyond anyone's expectations over the past 15-20 years. When not casting a fishing line, skiing down a hill or floating down a river or stream most people return to work at one of these two companies or one of the many health-care or service industries located in Boise Idaho.

Employers like that fact they will find a high proportion of college graduates in Boise (37%, compared with the national average of 27%) and that new hires will find plenty of affordable housing. Boise Idaho real estate is amazingly affordable and wonderful with an eclectic mix of old and new neighborhoods and homes can be found at a median price of $235,000. And for those living in Los Angeles or New York, get this: The average commute to work is 18 minutes!

It is no wonder that the USA Today wrote the article "No end in site for Idaho's growth" in September of 2007. Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, it seems every year some publication or organization is writing something wonderful about the Idaho Gem known as Boise Idaho.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Caldwell Idaho >> What a little city can become

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sat, 24 May 2008 13:18:25 -0500

Some little bedroom communities close to a major capital city wither away and die a slow death. Others rise above the challenges and create a wonderful little city that gets everyone's attention and attracts those seeking an attractive and prosperous environment away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

I was raised in the small town of Caldwell Idaho and in the 50's and 60's it was the envy of many residents of the Treasure Valley which included the capital city of Boise. Caldwell had a large Sears store, Idaho Department Store, a wonderful men's store and other thriving businesses.

Along came the progression of neighboring Nampa Idaho and the Capital of Boise Idaho and Caldwell soon started to drop off of the map. Businesses closed right and left in search of greener pastures. By the mid 80's Caldwell Idaho had more vacant buildings than people living in the community it seemed.

Caldwell had one of two choices. Be content with being a ghost town or take advantage of sound leadership and be all it can be. Mayor Garrett Nancolas took control of the city and embarked on a vision that would transform a city. A dream was born and the rest is history.

Indian Creek runs right smack through the middle of Caldwell and 50 plus or minus years ago was covered up with concrete and pavement. Mayor Nancolas introduced his vision to uncover this magnificent waterway treasure and just this spring the Indian Creek Restoration Project was officially declared a completed project with its pedestrian bridges, walking paths and water wheel. There are a lot of park-like areas where one can lay and soak up the sun as well. Trout have been planted as well in the creek and one can see a Dad and his son out once in while trying their luck.

The Franklin Road Interchange east of Caldwell is also due to be completed the fall of 2008. This will transform a two lane overpass into a much needed four lane overpass which will help Caldwell immensily. The multi-million dollar project will allow traffic to flow freely between the downtown core and the growing residential/commercial area located off of highway 20-26.

Also, this week of the 19^th of May, 2008 I announced that AFI Packaging had selected Caldwell Idaho as the site for it's new start-up company. This is a company that will produce allergen free foods, primarily bread and cake mixes and already has a national contract in place. I was fortunate to be selected as the Realtor to represent AFI Packaging and am excited about adding yet another wonderful company to the little city of Caldwell.

The Caldwell Idaho real estate market has also been imune to the subprime mortgage meldown. Foreclosures and short sale have not affected the area as much as other parts of the country and housing has remained very affordable. As of April 30, 2008 the average selling price of a home in Caldwell was $146,146 and the average asking price of a home was $181,312. There are developments for everyone from seniors to Idaho first time home buyers to those seekig exclusive home sites.

Congratulations major Nancolas. You have taken a sad little town and transformed into a thriving little city that has raised eyebrows across the valley. It seems everyone is talking about the transformation of the "Little City that Could", Caldwell, Idaho.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Why High Gas Prices are a good thing

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:38:56 -0500

A lot has been written about the rising cost of gas, groceries and other goods and services that are related to the cost of gas. With all due respect I see some good things coming from all of this.

I can't tell you how many sports cars and hummers that showed up in our community in 2005, a result of the "easy money" Realtors were making. I saw young Realtors in their early 20's buying hummers, sports cars and expensive toys. Many people told me they know bartenders that witnessed Realtors throwing around money like it was candy and boasting of their wealth.

We have lost many Realtors in our market over the past year that were once on top of the financial world but were not in touch with the true values that have meaning. I truly believe we are seeing some positive results from the current economic crunch.

We are less wasteful when it comes to gas. We don't take it for granted like we used to.
We are more innovative. The high price of gas has got inventors and layman looking for ideas to improve gas mileage and efficiency. This creativity would never have taken place if things had remained the way they were.
Less and less people are eating out in restaurants and actually cooking at home and having more family meals. Imagine that novelty! Can eating together be that bad?
More and more families are budgeting their money and looking at every possible way to save a few dollars here and there.
Our children are seeing our example. They are seeing us get rid of our gas guzzling trucks and cars, seeing us work on our budgets, seeing us be less wasteful and are witnessing us eating together more.
We have become a more compassionate society. I have seen church groups and other private organizations raising money for the elderly and the less fortunate that have been hurt by the rising cost of goods and services.

I hope we will all embrace these positive changes and never forget these positive changes caused by the economic crunch. Good things come from trials and tribulations and only trials and tribulations cause man to use his God given mind and talent.

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Boise ID home listings – 2186 Panama Street, Boise Idaho

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:21:14 -0500

A Diamond in the Ruff!
2186 Panama St., Boise, ID 83705 Click to View Show Newer furnace & AC, gas fireplace with tile hearth & mantle, built in China Hutch, newer gas water heater, new roof in 2007, 10' x 25' covered patio, insulated storage room in garage, full gutters, view of Boise Mtns. from patio, great access to I-84. Ceiling fans in living room, kitchen and all bedrooms. "Solar Shades" in all bedrooms to keep home cool. This home has a lot of extras including extensive landscaping which includes rose bushes, flowers and shrubs.

Details Asking Price: $164,900 MLS: 98359978 Sq. Feet: 1144 Lot Size: .19 acres Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 # of Floors: 1 Garage Size: 2-car Subdivision: Gavins Sunrise Rim Add #2 Year Built: 1972		Contact Info George Tallabas Associate Broker Cell 208-880-2333 Dir 208-466-0002 ext 104 Email \| Website Other Shows

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Another Active Rain Blog goes International with Re/Max

George Tallabas - Idaho Real Estate (RE/MAX Advantage) — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:11:42 -0500

Just last September of 2007 I was contacted by Amanda Okker of RE/MAX International and asked if RE/MAX could publish my blog If I Knew Then What I Know Now in the RE/MAX Times for the December, 2007 issue. I gave my blessing and the article was printed and distributed to 64 countries.

It was amazing how many postcards, letters and calls I received from across the country. In addition, I was approached by many RE/MAX Agents at the International Convetion in Las Vegas this past March of 2008 which was a big surpise. So many agents recognized me from Active Rain and then commented on my article in the RE/MAX Times.

Just a couple of weeks ago Amanda Okker contacted me again and this time asked for permission to run my Active Rain blog Why Some Realtors Are Flourishing. Again I gave my blessing and today I was informed that my blog was posted on the front page RE/MAX Times Online. RE/MAX Agents can logg on to RE/MAX.net and click the bar at the top to access RE/MAX Times. Right there on the front page of RE/MAX Times Online is my Active Rain Blog.

Thank you Active Rain for the opportunity you give all of us and thank you RE/MAX International for the exposure you have given my blogs that has led to so many good wishes and all the referrals I have received!

Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

Idaho Real Estate >> ID Real Estate Specialist

Perceptual Blindness >> What does your perception tell you?

I am the Greatest Realtor in the World!

Conceive it, believe it, Achieve it!Elaine Northrop

The 3 traits of all successful Realtors

Karen George >> Goodbye to an Angel

Idaho Real Estate

Boise Idaho one of the best cities to Live, Work and Play

A life changing day away from real estate

My #1 Lead Generation Tool

Make 150 families remember you for $100!

Embracing Change and reaping the benefits

The greatest resource is you

Shoshone Falls of Idaho >> Higher than Niagara Falls

Certified Short Sales Specialist

10 Tips to drive traffic to your website!

What song impacted you the most and where were you?

Nampa ID Home Listing - 4200 E. Wisteria Ave.

Professional Realtor or "Control Freak"?

O.K. I give! Here is my Super 8 MeMe all about me!

Boise Idaho >> Ranked 4th best city in 2008 by Kiplinger

Caldwell Idaho >> What a little city can become

Why High Gas Prices are a good thing

Boise ID home listings – 2186 Panama Street, Boise Idaho

Another Active Rain Blog goes International with Re/Max

Conceive it, believe it, Achieve it!
Elaine Northrop