GreatWest GMAC Real Estate

Real Estate Education

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:46:31 -0600

Real estate is considered to be the best investment in the life of an individual. Real estate includes real estate business purchases, sales and property rentals. An individual can reap all the benefits of real estate only by having proper knowledge and complete information about the business. Real estate investments yield a very good return when proper steps are taken and planned well. But people fail many times in spite of planning.

A proper education will prepare these investors and provide them with the needed skills to tackle problems along the way. This education will also teach innovative techniques that many investors might not have. This will give the students an advantage in the competitive industry.

Real estate education can be a part of the conventional college programs or online programs. This education can also be obtained by means like books, magazines or articles. Getting hold of most up-to-date information is crucial, irrespective of whether your area of interest is land survey, construction or running a real estate agency.

You are required to enroll in real estate schools to make a carrier in real estate. Courses are conducted at business schools to provide individuals with an opportunity to learn tricks of the trade in order to identify market trends and patterns.

A number of these diplomas and courses are now offered online. Those who take an online real estate course have the freedom to work and study at the same time. Enrolling for an online program is more practical and economical than entering a regular school. There is no limitation to what you can do along with learning and enhancing your skills through the use of a computer.

The well educated real estate investors now see a new era of green revolution coming their way. Companies like Green Real Estate Education are educating professionals like real estate agents on the future to spread news of going green while considering renovations and upgrades to save money.

The “green” revolution had its birth in California. Green building practices involve dealing with airborne pollutants that help you design and construct with a higher level of efficiency and sustainability. With the onset of economic recovery we are beginning to see emerging technologies leading the way to development of green building products and real estate practices.

Green homes are expected to make up 10 percent of our new construction projects for the next several years. The benefits of green homes like healthier indoor air to energy savings make home buyers opt for Green homes.

The building materials used in the construction of green homes are expected to be toxin-free, sustainable and energy efficient. Also a green home is more durable than standard homes because of its high quality building materials and construction processes, requiring fewer repairs.

The value of a green home is more than that of a standard home and the market demand for green homes are on a rise.

For additional resources and information please visit the following sites:

Resource Links:

http://www.gmacrealestate.com

Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net

GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com

GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com

T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com

Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com

GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com

GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens

Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens

Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale

MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens

MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest

Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens

GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com

Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com

Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com

ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens

ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac

Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com

Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com

Real Living http://www.realliving.com

Sacramento Region – Interesting Real Estate Trends

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:25:21 -0600

The real estate scenario in Sacramento has been in favour of the buyer this quarter. California Association of Realtors has predicted a slower home sales by 2.3% in the year 2010.Unemployment and tax incentive loss have also contributed to this downward trend.

Homes in surrounding regions

The one bedroom homes in Roseville/Rocklin have an average square footage of 750 sq. ft and around 700 rentals are estimated. Two bedroom houses have an average estimate of 1001 sq. ft and there are a thousand and odd rentals as estimated. The median price for a new home here is $380,300. There are more than four hundred homes available for sale (till date) and close to fifteen hundred (1500) foreclosures. Local market statistics indicate a rise in the home resale inventories, estimating a 3% rise since October 2009. Foreclosures and short sales decreased in November. Median listing prices recorded a downfall from October to November. Thirty one (31) price increases and a hundred and twenty four (124) price decreases were recorded.

Elk Grove is a little ahead of Roseville with one bedroom homes having an average square footage of 1090 sq. ft and an average of fifty (50) rentals. Two bedroom houses rentals is 1115sq. ft and there are around two hundred fifty (250) plus rentals. The median price here is $345,702 with around four hundred (400) homes available for sale and more than three thousand (3000) foreclosures.

The median price for a new home in Yuba City is $179,990. There are around one hundred sixty (160) houses for sale and almost seven hundred (700) foreclosures in this city.

The GreatWest real estate school is one of the esteemed institutions that offer services in mortgage, insurance and real estate training. Courses are offered on courses sales, lead generation, negotiation, and time management. One has an option of either to take up live classroom training or Distance Learning through the GMAC Real Estate Online University.

Looking for Green Homes?

Green homes are gaining popularity in the recent times owing to the increasing concern for our environment. They not only help protect the environment but also provide us with a better quality of living and helps in cost reduction. Real estate agents promote these homes heavily. But before buying a green home one should look into the aspects such as its location, construction material used, plumbing system, and landscape. Inadequate information on any of these aspects will lead to a poor quality home.

For additional resources and information please visit the following sites.

Resource Links:

http://www.gmacrealestate.com

Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net

GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com

GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com

T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com

Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com

GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com

GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens

Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens

Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale

MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens

MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest

Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens

GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com

Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com

Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com

ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens

ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac

Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com

Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com

Real Living http://www.realliving.com

Real Estate: Online Promotion Techniques

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:26:33 -0600

Almost everyone who is looking for a house today depends on internet for help. Real Estate Business has gone online and if you don’t want to be left behind then it’s high time that you guys keep pace with the technological revolution and get as much as possible from the various social media.

You can promote your real estate business with ease using real estate technology and that too free of cost. One needs to carefully choose from the many solutions available and keep the ones that are useful.

With lot of competition in the real estate market, it is very important that your real estate business is visible to more and more people online and this can be done via Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with the help of which you can get on top of various search engines.

In the past maintaining business secrets was the trend but today the scenario has changed. The more information you share, more people will trust you. Make sure you have content rich real estate website that gives complete authentic information about your company and the industry. This will drive lot of traffic to your website.

You should also actively participate in various real estate forums as many prospective clients exchange their views and opinions. You can answer their queries and help them in finding the house of their choice.

Blogging has also become very common and a powerful tool that helps realtors. Real estate blogs not only include write ups on real estate but also covers various other topics which are of interest to the readers.

Video marketing is a boon to the real estate industry. Sitting at home buyers will be able to get a peek at the property that they are looking to buy. You can get a lot of marketing exposure by putting up a video of your listings for free of cost on YouTube.

Social online networking is something that you should not really miss. Social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Orkut are very helpful. You can get lot of referrals for your real estate business as all it takes is a click of a mouse. It saves lot of time, effort and energy and earns big for you!!

Made in the USA

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:54:11 -0600

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American.
Good idea . . .. one light bulb at a time.

Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China. The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA . Start looking.

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value". I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.
So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets . .. . yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!

Made in the USA

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:51:47 -0600

Flu Vaccines

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:36:23 -0600

By Anna Tong
atong@sacbee.com

Published: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 - 7:16 am

Last Modified: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 - 2:20 pm

Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available at two more locations in the next few days.

Capital Public Radio will hold a vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at 7055 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento.

Travel Med Inc. will administer the shots, which cost $25. Of that cost, $5 will support Capital Public Radio.

Another clinic, hosted by the Yolo County Health Department, will be 2-6 p.m. Monday at the Bauer Health Building, 137 North Cottonwood Street in Woodland. The department has limited amounts of the nasal spray vaccine and shots. The flu vaccines are free but the health department is asking asking for a $10 donation.

The two clinics will not be administering the H1N1 vaccine.

Though the seasonal flu has not spread yet, a high demand has been seen for the vaccine. Throughout the United States, 91 million doses have been distributed and about 20 million more doses coming in.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned this week that there might not be enough seasonal flu vaccine to meet this season's demand.

http://www.gmacrealestate.com

Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net
GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com
GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com
Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com
GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com
GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens
Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens
Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale
MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens
MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest
Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com
Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com
Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com

ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens

ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac

Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com

Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com

Real Living http://www.realliving.com

GMAC Real Estate Merges with Real Living

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:59:34 -0600

Date: November 11, 2009

To: GMAC Real Estate Sales Associates

From: Graham Badun, Managing Partner & CEO, Brookfield Residential Property Services

Re: GMAC Real Estate to be Re-branded ‘Real Living’

I am very pleased to let you know that Brookfield Residential Property Services has acquired Real Living Network Services, and as a result will now rebrand GMAC Real Estate as Real Living.

Real Living is a national, award winning company known for its innovation, customer service and track record of attracting results-driven brokers and sales professionals, along with a culture of partnership and collaboration. It brings a suite of innovative marketing tools, relevant training and a technology platform that when brought together with key GMAC Real Estate services like Premier Service, will position us for success for many years to come.

I am also excited to let you know that as a result of this acquisition, we are welcoming an additional 2,000 Real Living brokers and sales associates into our North American real estate network of almost 30,000 real estate professionals. By merging GMAC Real Estate and Real Living, under the Real Living brand, we are creating a very solid real estate brand that will become the foundation for future growth opportunities across the U.S. and into new markets internationally.

The Real Living acquisition is the culmination of several months work and satisfies all that we were looking for through the rebranding process. We considered many options including developing a brand from scratch and the Brand and Transition Councils were instrumental in guiding our thinking and reflecting the broad interests of our entire company. As well, our research pointed us toward creating a company that has great services to help you be more successful and a differentiated culture and brand promise that positions us to stand out from, and above, the competition. With this acquisition, we can take the best from what we have in our existing business, such as Premier Service, and combine it with the best that Real Living has to offer; allowing us to take advantage of the opportunity identified in our research and deliver a brand that meets your needs.

I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Real Living’s Harley Rouda, Jr., a long-time real estate industry broker, owner, operator and franchisor, as President of the newly combined operations. We believe that under Harley’s leadership, and with our solid, combined management team, the guidance of our Advisory Board which is chaired by Dick Schlott, and strong, successful brokers and sales professionals on the frontlines delivering exceptional customer service, we have a winning team with a proven track record for success.

We realize that you may have a number of questions about the new brand and transition, and we want to make it easy for you to get the answers you need. Accordingly, we are making available in the News > Transition News section of gmacmembers.com, a number of informational pieces including the Press Release, Sales Associate Q&A, Talking Points, Real Living Fact Sheet and a biography on Harley Rouda. Also included will be materials, such as a new video, and client and vendor letter templates, that will help you to communicate this great news to your clients, prospects and vendors. If this information does not provide answers to all of your questions, please speak to your broker or manager, or alternatively, contact the Real Living Help Desk at 866-208-6050. And, as always, we will continue to communicate with you on a regular basis.

Kindly direct all media enquiries to Hugh Siler, Siler & Company PR at 949-646-6966 or hugh@silerpr.com.

On a final note, it has been my pleasure to serve you as Interim President of GMAC Real Estate over the last few months, and to get to know many of you personally. I will return to my role as CEO of Brookfield Residential Property Services (the parent company to our real estate and relocation operations) and will remain closely involved throughout the transition and integration of Real Living. Thank you all for your commitment to GMAC Real Estate and your untiring service to our industry and clients. I hope you join in my excitement about our future, as we begin this great, new chapter for our company.

Graham Badun,

Managing Partner & CEO

Brookfield Residential Property Services

http://www.gmacrealestate.com

ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens

ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac

Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com

Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com

Real Living http://www.realliving.com

What People are Saying About GreatWest GMAC Real Estate.

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:55:09 -0600

Below you will read from one of our valued partners, Cindy Holland of Costello and Sons Insurance Brokers. We are so Proud. Thanks Cindy!!

From: Cindy Holland [mailto:cholland@costelloandsons.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:33 AM
To: T. Sami Siddiqui
Subject: The difference between you and other brokers I have come to know or encountered

Is very simple;

Character, integrity, kindness, genuine concern for others....

I have a theory or personal conviction; We are all accountable for our own reputation.

With that said I for one hold you in the highest esteem, and just wanted you to know that!

And - you surround yourself with those that mirror those same qualities!!!

I am honored to serve your offices, but more important value the relationships I have had the privilege of developing!

With respect & gratitude - your friend & colleague,

Cindy

***Proudly serving the Real Estate Community as the:

"California Association of Realtors" endorsed Insurance Broker...

Cindy Holland
Personal Insurance Sales Executive
4564 Stoney Ridge Rd
Placerville, CA 95667
p: 415.257.2126 | c: 916.919.3005 | f: 916.932.1105
cholland@costelloandsons.com
www.costelloandsons.com

Voted one of the 25 Most Innovative Agents in the United States.
The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research and The Rough Notes Magazine

This message originates from Costello & Sons Insurance Brokers license #0754591 and is intended for the use of the individual entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by calling 415-257-2100, and return the original message to us. Please note, email does not constitute authorization to bind coverage. Thank you.

http://www.gmacrealestate.com

Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens

ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac

Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com

Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com

More from Bill Fields- All Star Coaching

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:04:35 -0600

More from Bill Fields- All Star Coaching.

Good Friday Morning All Stars,

What are you afraid of?

Are you afraid of asserting yourself, making decisions, intimacy, being alone, losing a loved one, ending a relationship, or changing something about yourself or business?

Is it some of the above? All of the above? Perhaps you could add a few more to the list. Never mind...join the crowd! Fear seems to be epidemic in our society. We fear beginnings, we fear endings. We fear change, we fear staying the same. We fear success, we feel failure. We fear living, we fear dying.

You may be surprised and encouraged to learn that while the inability to deal with fear may look and feel like a psycholological problem, in most cases it isn't. Actually it's primarily an educational problem, and by reeducating the mind you can accept fear as simply a fact of life rather than a barrier to success.

Think about entering a new situation. To meet that new situation, imagine you received an extra burst of energy, your senses are heightened, and there is a tingling, an excitement in your body, and you become more sensitive and aware.

Doesn't that sound great? Receiving the very thing we would need to do our best in a new situation! Well, that's precisely what does happen each time we enter a new, unfamiliar situation. Most of the time, however, we call it "fear" and we don't like it.

Contrary to popular belief, your parents didn't teach you to feel fear. Our parents did teach us to use fear as a reason not to do something dangerous. But by eighteen or so, we should know the difference between that which is truly dangerous and what is merely new and uncomfortable. No one draws us aside and says, "That fear you've been using as a reason not to do things-it's actually part of the energy you need to get things done!"

Once you know something is not physically dangerous, push yourself to go ahead and tackle that thing. It may feel uncomfortable (count on that), but you must keep moving one step after another in the direction of your objective. As you move in the right direction the energy will transform itself from barrier to blessing. You'll have energy, not limitation.

Remember the five truths about fear:

1. The fear will never go away as long as you are growing as a person.

2. The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it.

3. The only way to get the confidence I need to feel better about myself is to do it.

4. Not only am I going to experience fear, but so is everyone else.

5. Pushing through the fear is less frightening than living with it and feeling helpless.

This process of feeling the fear but doing it anyway reprograms our attitude from, "Fear means don't" to "Fear means, all systems go!"

Thought for today: The only thing you have to fear is fear itself!

Have a productive day and an incredible weekend.

BF

President
Bill Fields Learning Systems
www.billfields.com
727-341-1962 727-341-1962

Articles above have been provided by the listed author immediately following the article. For additional resources and information to the authors, please visit the following sites.

Resource Links:
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net
GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com
GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com
Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com
GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com
GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens
Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens
Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale
MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens
MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest
Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com
Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com
Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com

New Tax Credit Bill for First Time Home Buyer

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:14:21 -0600

Let’s all hope this bill passes. It will continue to spur the economic and real estate recovery. WASHINGTON — Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers — $6,500 cheaper. First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package. But with that program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the Senate voted 98-0 Wednesday to extend and expand the tax credit to include buyers who already own homes. The House is expected to vote on the bill Thursday. Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers — or anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years — would still get up to $8,000. To qualify, buyers in both groups have to sign a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30. The credit is available for the purchase of principal homes costing $800,000 or less, meaning vacation homes are ineligible. The credit would be phased out for individuals with annual incomes above $125,000 and for joint filers with incomes above $225,000. The credit would be extended an additional year, until June 30, 2011, for members of the military serving outside the United States for at least 90 days. The bill is H.R. 3548. HOW THE HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT WOULD WORK Tax credit: 10% of the purchase price of a primary residence, up to a maximum of $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers. First-time homebuyers are defined as people who have not owned a home in the previous three years. Repeat buyers must have owned their current home at least five years. The credit cannot be used for houses costing more than $800,000. Deadline for qualifying: Purchase agreements must be signed by April 30, 2010, and closings must be final by June 30. Military deadline: The deadline is extended by a year for members of the military who have served outside the U.S. for at least 90 days from Jan. 1, 2009, to May 1, 2010. Income limits: Individuals with annual incomes up to $125,000 and joint filers with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full credit. Individuals with incomes up to $145,000 and joint filers with incomes up to $245,000 qualify for reduced credits. How to apply: Taxpayers can claim the credit on their federal income tax returns. If the credit exceeds their tax bill, the government will issue a payment. Taxpayers who want immediate refunds can amend their tax returns for 2008 to claim the credit. Cost: $10.8 billion. Source: Joint Committee on Taxation. Articles above have been provided by the listed author immediately following the article. For additional resources and information to the authors, please visit the following sites. Resource Links: Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com

Great Article from the Sac Bee- Did you miss it?

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:14:13 -0600

I enjoyed this article and thought you might as well. Tell me what you think.

Out of the 'Chicken Soup,' into wine for author-couple

By Chris Macias
cmacias@sacbee.com

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 3D
Last Modified: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 - 9:16 am

Source:Soup can soothe the soul, they say, but wine is fine as well.

Dahlynn and Ken McKowen of Orangevale have spent a good chunk of their literary lives writing inspirational vignettes for the 100 million-selling "Chicken Soup" book series, contributing to such titles as "Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul: Fish Tales to Hook Your Spirit and Snag Your Funny Bone" - and even "Chicken Soup for the Soul in Menopause: Living and Laughing Through Hot Flashes and Hormones."

Now they're toiling in new vineyards - specifically, in the burgeoning foothills wine country.

The McKowens last month released a brimming book about the region: "The Wine-OH! Guide to California's Sierra Foothills" (Wilderness Press, $17.95). Logging in at more than 300 pages, the guide reads like a travelogue as it winds through 83 regional wineries.

Sure, bookstore shelves tend to be pretty well stocked with wine guides. But this "Wine-OH!" book reads a little differently, not only because of the especially bright spotlight it shines on our regional wine scene but also because of its "Chicken Soup"-style sensibility and focus on human interest stories.

Readers are introduced to the foothills' wine personalities and properties, and the guide offers day-trip ideas and contact information for those planning their own tasting adventures.

The McKowens have between them 50 years of writing experience. They specialize in travel writing and co-wrote a guide to California's missions, mansions and museums.

"Wine Buzz" caught up recently with Dahlynn

McKowen to chat about her new wine guide.

How did you two get from chicken soup to wine? What prompted you to write this book?

We love to go wine tastings at Dobra Zemlja (in Amador County). One time we were picking up some wine - we're in their wine club - and started talking to the owner. We travel so much and thought, "Maybe we can write this off somehow." Then we thought, "Hey, let's do a book!" We threw the idea out to the publisher and they loved it.

I have a background in rural tourism. At first, we were torn, like we didn't want to tell anyone about (the Sierra foothills wine country). It's like Napa was 25 years ago, when it wasn't so over the top and pretentious. The people here love what they do. They're not corporations.

There's plenty of wine in them thar hills. How did you decide which wineries to feature?

When we got the book contract, we sent surveys to all the wineries that had posted hours on their Web site. We asked some fun questions about any history they might have in the place, along with some general questions. We got the surveys back and thought about who was worthy of being included. Some places sounded big, but you'd show up, and it would be in someone's garage. Some places were also closing.

The book's full of stories and history, but not many notes about the wines themselves. Why?

We're not experts. We're wine lovers. The original subtitle was going to be, "A book for wine lovers, not wine snobs."

This isn't a best-of series. We don't say, "Go to this winery and try this cab franc" because it's the best in the region. We want to talk more about the wineries and what they're known for. We have mom-and-pop places, some bigger ones and others that are out of the way. It's not about how many medals you've won.

How long did you sip your way through the Sierra foothills to put this book together?

We spent about three or four months in wine country. All of our neighbors wanted to come with us. People ask if we tasted everywhere we went, but the book would still be in the galleys if we did.

It was very fun. It wasn't like running through a museum for an hour. We could just visit and get to know these people. Meeting and learning the people was the joy of doing the book.

Your wine guide has a pretty thorough Web site (www.wineohguide.com). It's almost like a book in itself.

It's so much fun as you go through the pages. You can see more interviews, and we've also got a monthly newsletter for our Wine-OH! club.

"The Wine-OH!" guide says it's the first in a series. What wine country are you off to next?

Our publisher was looking at a San Luis Obispo/ Santa Barbara County book, but there are too many wineries. We're leaning toward Monterey County next.

I would also love to do Lodi. That's an amazing grape-growing and wine region. It's just busting out of the seams and producing great wines.

Source:http://www.sacbee.com/books/story/2303072.html

Hospital bill stuns slain student's parents

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:11:27 -0600

Hospital bill stuns slain student's parents

By Sam Stanton
sstanton@sacbee.com

Published: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 - 7:53 am

On Saturday, 10 days after Scott Hawkins was beaten to death inside his dormitory at California State University, Sacramento, his parents got a letter in the mail.

It contained a bill from the UC Davis Medical Center for $29,186.50 along with a form letter addressed "Dear Patient" that implied they were indigent and stated that the hospital no longer could provide them services.

"UC Davis can no longer provide follow-up care or any other non-emergency care to you," it read. "Please go to a County clinic for all non-emergency care or to get a referral to another doctor."

For Gerald and Elizabeth Hawkins, it was just too much to bear.

"It was just devastating and insulting," Gerald Hawkins said Monday. "It's just hard to grasp for words. My wife and I were near collapse."

The couple said the mailing tore at the wounds opened by the loss of their 23-year-old son.

"We were just very upset on Saturday, it just all spiraled downward," Elizabeth Hawkins said. "We called a crisis counselor and he came over and spent several hours over here."

As a means of coping, the family made a copy of the letter, took it into the backyard of their Santa Clara home and burned it.

Monday morning, they picked up the phone to straighten things out.

Gerald Hawkins said he first called the UC Davis billing department, but was so distraught he lost his voice and handed the phone to his wife.

"It was just one more unpleasant process," she said. "I was crying through the whole thing."

The parents also sent a note to the billing department noting that their son was not indigent and that he carried full medical coverage through a Kaiser Permanente plan.

Contacted by The Bee on Monday, Carole Gan, a hospital spokeswoman, called the mailing "a mistake."

She said she was limited in what information she could provide about the medical care provided to Scott Hawkins, but said he arrived at the emergency room at 3:11 p.m. and was pronounced dead five minutes later.

"The trauma team did everything they could," Gan said.

She said the bill accurately reflects the services provided but that the hospital regrets that the bill and letter were mailed to the family. She said the matter would be resolved through Hawkins' insurance company.

The suspect in Hawkins' beating death, 19-year-old Quran Jones, remained hospitalized at UC Davis on Monday in fair condition.

Officers responding to reports of a disturbance in a CSUS dormitory on the afternoon of Oct. 21 shot Jones after he allegedly lunged at them with a knife.

Jones is expected to be booked on charges of murder and attempted murder when he recovers.

Authorities have not said what they believe might have sparked the attack. Hawkins and Jones shared a suite in the dorm, and a detailed timeline compiled by campus authorities indicates Hawkins may have walked in on Jones several minutes into his rampage. Police say Jones beat Hawkins to death using the baseball bat of another suite mate.

Hawkins, who had Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, had been attending CSUS since August, when his parents drove up to Sacramento with him and helped him move into his dorm. His parents describe him as a gentle, quiet son with a love of learning and fascination for history.

Gerald Hawkins said he was shaken by the description of services that, according to the billing, the hospital provided his son.

He said he was told by CSUS President Alexander Gonzales that his son died inside the dormitory suite.

But the billing indicates that his son lived longer than initially thought, Hawkins said. In addition to the emergency room services, the bill seeks payment for a "patient monitor," trauma rescue services, intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Gloria Moraga, a spokeswoman for CSUS, said she could not comment on the case because it is under investigation.

"The conversation the president and the family had was a private conversation and we cannot share it with you," she added.

The hospital bill is dated Thursday. Gerald Hawkins said he was confident his insurance company would handle the matter.

But that did nothing to allay how disturbing he finds it that the hospital sent the mailing at all.

"I can't believe this can happen in a civilized country," Hawkins said.

Source:http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2301084.html

More from All Star Coaching

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:33:58 -0600

Below is more from my friend Bill Fields of All Star Coaching. GreatWest GMAC believes so much in this coaching program that we put our agents through the program at no cost. For more information, please feel free to contact me. If you are a member of All Star Coaching, I would like to hear about your successes to share with GreatWest GMAC Agents. Thanks for reading.

Good Monday Morning All Stars,

5:45AM EST. Early start on a new month full of opportunities.

It's time to buckle your seat belt and get ready for a thrill ride as the real estate market takes off for a wild end of the year run. The momentum has already started. What is your plan to take advantage of this opportunity? Do you have your November plan in place? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Focus on building your listing inventory. If you have good listings it's like money in the bank. The buyers will come looking for you. The other agents will work to get your listings sold. What are you going to do in November to develop and maintain an inventory of good salable listings? Do you have a source of listing leads? Are you working expireds? FSBO's? Properties for rent unfurnished? Remember the rule of time allocation: One third of every day MUST be spend developing new business.

2. Get all of your listings positioned to sell. Price them right and keep adjusting them until they sell. You do not help your clients or yourself by denying the market reality of today. Buyers are all looking for the best value in their price range and they want a good buy on that! What about staging? Do your listings show as well as they possibly can? Let's get our inventory right and ready to sell.

3. Be a market detective. Spend a minimum of two hours each week looking for the hottest buys in the market. Search out deals. Look at foreclosures. Talk to other agents. Find the bargains that all buyers are looking for and get your buyers there first.

4. Work with prospects not suspects. You cannot service a buyer or seller into a sale. Either people are motivated to act TODAY or they are not. If you are working with a buyer who does not want to buy today, they are not a buyer! If you have a seller who doesn't care if they sell or not, they are not a seller! Your time is much too valuable to spend wasted trying to help someone who is not ready to act. Spend that time looking for and helping people who want your help to act TODAY!

5. Get your head in the game! Get both feet planted firmly in the right direction and take steps every day to move you in the direction of your goals and objectives. Don't play the blame game. Making excuses and blaming others for your lack of progress is the quickest route to failure. Do you have goals that motivate you or frustrate you? (Or no goals at all??)

Now is the time. TODAY is the day. Seize the day and make it happen. Your future is in your hands!

What are you going to do with it?

Have you completed your November goal worksheet and inputted October's productivity points? The system can't help you unless you use it!

Thought for today: Change is not a question of ability...Change is a question of motivation!

Go out and make today a productive start on a productive month.

President
Bill Fields Learning Systems
www.billfields.com
727-341-1962 727-341-1962

Congratulations to Linda Hess

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:35:31 -0500

LINDA HESS of GREATWEST GMAC REAL ESTATE, 2235 Douglas Blvd.#520, Roseville, Ca. has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by “distressed” homes in the foreclosure process.

Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.

In the Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado Counties, more homes are in danger of foreclosing. It is happening in all price ranges. Local experts say that even high-priced homes are not immune.

“This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales,” said REALTOR HESS. “It is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure.”

Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as LINDA HESS with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.

The Distressed Property Institute opened in January 2008 and provides training on-site and online. The CDPE is the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales.

“Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible,” Charfen said.

Linda can be reached at (916)709-1419 or visit www. ShortSellersHelpers.net

For more information about CDPE designation or to find a certified distressed Realtor in your area, please call 1-800-482-0335.Articles above have been provided by the listed author immediately following the article. For additional resources and information to the authors, please visit the following sites.

Resource Links:
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net
GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com
GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com
Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com
GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com
GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens
Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens
Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale
MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens
MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest
Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com
Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com
Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com

Green Tip of the Week

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:48:55 -0500

C.A.R. Green Tip of the Week: Shower power
To maximize showering efficiency, make sure you have installed a low-flow showerhead in all of your bathrooms. All showerheads manufactured in the U.S. must restrict flow to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) or less. Some models are designed to use even less water.

For more green real-estate-related tips and discussion, visit C.A.R.’s green blog (http://blogs.car.org) and C.A.R.’s Green Web site (http://green.car.org).

Let's start today by reviewing our day planner.

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:40:34 -0500

How many appointments will you have today with someone who has a need to buy or sell real estate? How much time will be dedicated to developing new business? How much of your time today will be spent servicing and crisis management?

How do you respond to the crisis that seem to be a part of every real estate professional's day?

In today's market of high maintenance buyers and sellers it seems we are forced to deal with one calamity after another. Just as your day is bringing good news you are plunged immediately into a vast maelstrom of bad news, and sometimes for days after endless days, you never get a breather. There's the property that didn't appraise. The transaction that is near collapse because of a bank who doesn't respond. The buyers who can't seem to pull the trigger on "the perfect home". And of course, the endless parade of sellers who want more for their property than the market will bring.

Are you a sure footed professional with a set of personal qualities that lend themselves to success in our business. Through all of your challenges will you be demonstrating the leadership traits clients are looking for such as poise and the willingness to make quick bold judgments and then not brood about them? Do you radiate a sense of calm, a sense of confidence, a penetrating intelligence and the ability to pick through potentially complex problems as well as the ability to bring others together for a common goal?

Being a professional real estate agent today does not just mean knowing how to find properties through the MLS! It requires the skills and dedication necessary to search out and solve the most difficult problems in an effective and efficient manner while continuing to search daily for others who have a need you can service.

It would be easy to say we are too busy solving problems to develop new business, but that would just be a reason we would use to excuse our lack of real problem solving and crisis management skills. And what client wants to hire someone without those very important skills?

Thought for today: We do not grow unless we force ourselves to grow.

Have a productive day!

Being Positive Will Get You Far

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:39:47 -0500

People who work with me know that my persona of being incredibly positive and enthusiastic isn't just a facade I put on for our members. I am really that way-from the inside out. I am excited to face each new day with a sense of adventure. I try to have big ideas and a big resource of energy to get those ideas implemented into action steps.

I try to see problems as just opportunities disguised as challenges.

What about you? Are you going to start today filled with a sense of excitement and enthusiasm? Are you going to be a problem solver that takes life's lemons and turns them into lemonade? Do you see your business as a job you have to do or a business you get to do?

How will that excitement and enthusiasm manifest itself in your business TODAY? Will you push yourself self-confidently past your comfort zones and work to reach the goals and objectives you have set for yourself?

Enthusiasm and excitement about your business are contagious in the best sense of the word. Clients will be attracted to you. Other agents and vendors will want to do transactions with you. And you will be filled with the vision, courage and discipline necessary to realize the possibilities that are always available for those who approach life in that manner.

Ask yourself this question. How will my attitude effect my life today? Am I controlling it or am I going to allow it to control me?

The choice is up to you!

Thought for today: Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail!

Have a productive week.

If you have any questions or comments contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at info@greatwestgmac.com or (916) 481-3400 and mention this blog post!

Would you describe yourself as "self-confident"?

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:02:46 -0500

Do you believe you have the ability to do special things?

Do you demonstrate self-confidence to others?

Unless you have confidence in yourself, you are keeping others from having confidence in you.

Everyone wants to hire, buy from, depend on, be friends with, invest in, and trust people who have confidence in themselves.

The reverse is also just as true. No one wants to hire, buy from, depend on, be friends with, invest in, or trust anyone who lacks confidence in themselves. People realize that everyone knows themselves better than anyone else does. So if the person who knows them the best has no faith in their ability and trustworthiness, why should they have any?

This attitude is universal, so the first barrier that must be knocked over on your way to a more productive business and life is lack of self-confidence in yourself.

How do you build your self-confidence?

By making sure you are winning enough to believe you can.

How do you "win" more? By increasing your preparations and decreasing your challenges until they cross and you start winning regularly. You will accomplish this best if you come up with an effective understanding of what winning and success are. It's not realistic to run against a group of five hundred experienced runners and believe you're a loser if you don't come in first.

For a lot of people just being able to compete in a race is a victory in itself. Others have wonderful reasons for taking considerable pride in simply completing the race. Even the great ones don't win all of the races.

So, set up your day to have little "wins" that make you feel good about you. Set a goal to make a certain number of prospecting calls and make them. Plan to meet 5 new people each day, and don't quit until you meet them. Each goal set and then met gives you the confidence necessary to set bigger goals and then reach them.

Don't blame! Don't make excuses! And don't quit until you reach them.

Unless you have confidence in yourself, you are keeping others from having confidence in you.

Thought for today: If it's to be...It's up to ME!

Have a productive day.

GreatWest GMAC

If you have any questions please contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at www.localhomelink.com

Source Bill Fields Learning Systems

Why do so many people reach their potential in life while others who seem just as willing FAIL to do so?

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:19:17 -0500

Do you know what four of the biggest obstacles are that stand in the way of people reaching their true potential?

If I share them with you, will you promise to work as hard as you can to avoid them?

Will you move each day in the opposite direction of these obstacles?

If you notice any of these characteristics in yourself will you work to eliminate them? Let's examine these four obstacles and you can decide:

Fear of small defeats: Fear of small defeats makes us avoid what can be potentially small, but rewarding opportunities. When we avoid small opportunities, we don't have any chance at winning small victories. Since every large success must be assembled out of many smaller successes, the price of avoiding all risk of small defeats is predetermining your failure.

Apathy: Apathy grips us when we realize that reaching our potential takes hard work, commitment, sacrifice and time because we have preprogrammed ourselves that the only success we want is the instant kind.

Indecision: Indecision robs us of opportunities to reach our true potential when we are not focused and confident about our daily direction and decisions. Changing course or waiting for the "perfect" opportunity only delays the action necessary to reach your potential.

Lack of purpose: Lack of purpose destroys our resolve and leaves us willing to accept less than what we are capable of. Lack of purpose creates an atmosphere of excuses and blame for our lack of progress when we don't know what we really want out of life.

Put these all together and what do you spell? FAIL!

Fear of small defeats.
Apathy.

Indecision.

Lack of purpose.

Don't be a willing participant in your own failure! What will you do TODAY to help YOU reach your true potential?

New electronic productivity points and goal tracking forms are live! Hear about it in your session.

Thought for today: If you stop thinking, "If only" you won't need to!

Have a Productive Day!

GreatWest GMAC

If you have any questions please contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at www.localhomelink.com

Source Bill Fields Learning Systems

Don't delay. Don't wait for things to happen for you. Get out there and make things happen.

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:23:49 -0500

October is heating up and now is the time to position yourself to take advantage of the opportunities available in the market.

What do you need to do to make things happen? Do just one thing different than you did last week. JUST ONE THING! Come on, you can do it. Push yourself a little bit and you'll be pleasantly surprised with rewards you'll receive.

What is our motto for the month of October? "NO EXCUSE IS A GOOD EXCUSE." So, let's not try to find excuses for why we can't do something and instead let's find ways to get the things done that need to be done for us to reach our goals and objectives. Results or excuses, the choice is up to you!

We had a fantastic idea sharing session in one of our Gold sessions last week. Craig Duran one of our All Stars from Panama City Beach, FL. shared a great resource for quickly and effectively executing paperwork even when all parties are hundreds of miles apart. Check out docusign.com. This is a fantastic program. Thanks Craig for sharing this great idea.

Got a good idea that you can share with your All Star Coaching team? Let us know. It takes a village! :)

Day three of the All Star Coaching trip to Italy. Day two was spent tasting wine and having lunch at the Castle Varanzano. Wish you all were here.

Take care of yourself. Work hard. Stay positive. Believe in yourself and MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!

Thought for today: Success is opportunity meeting preparation.

Have a productive day!

If you have any questions please contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at www.localhomelink.com

Source Bill Fields Learning Systems

Watchdog doubts goals of Obama loan relief plan

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:50:52 -0500

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration's effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure may not achieve its goal of helping 3 million to 4 million borrowers and may simply delay mortgage defaults for many, a government watchdog group says.

The Congressional Oversight Panel, charged with making regular assessments of the $700 billion financial rescue fund enacted last year, said the Treasury Department should consider whether to improve the current $50 billion program or adopt new programs to meet an expected rise in foreclosures fed by increased unemployment.

The panel's report is scheduled to be made public Friday.

It comes a day after the Treasury said its mortgage relief effort has helped 500,000 homeowners and that it was still on track to help up to 4 million homeowners within three years.

"We've put significant pressure on servicers to ramp up their efforts," said Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan. "We're holding them to higher performance standards."

But the oversight panel, chaired by Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren, concluded that the foreclosure crisis has now moved beyond the subprime mortgage market that ensnared many homeowners, particularly low-income families. The program, the report states, was not designed to deal with foreclosures caused by unemployment.

"Serious concerns remain about the program's scope, scale and permanence," Warren told reporters in a conference call. "In particular it isn't clear that 500,000 modifications will be enough to put a serious dent in the foreclosure crisis or to dampen the impact of foreclosure on the broader economy."

Foreclosures, the report said, are now stalking families who took out conventional, fixed-rate mortgages and put down payments of 10 to 20 percent on homes that would have been within their means in a normal market.

Treasury's program, known as the Home Affordable Modification Program, "is targeted at the housing crisis as it existed six months ago, rather than as it exists right now," the report says.

Treasury spokeswoman Meg Reilly said Thursday that while the mortgage relief program is available to the jobless, "we continue to study further ways to help unemployed homeowners."

The oversight panel accepted the report by a vote of 3-2, with the committee's two Republican members voting against it.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, one of the two dissenters, described the foreclosure mitigation program as a failure and rejected suggestions in the report that the program should be expanded.

"Regardless of whether one believes foreclosure mitigation can truly work, taxpayers who are struggling to pay their own mortgage should not be forced to bail out their neighbors through such an inefficient and transparency-deficient program," he said.

The majority's report, however, said that rather than abandon the program, Treasury should improve it. Rising foreclosures, the report asserted, could have devastating effects not only on families, but also on local communities and the economy in general. The benefits of avoiding foreclosure would likely outweigh the cost to taxpayers, the report said.

The report's underlying theme was that foreclosures were bound to take a turn for the worse and that Treasury did not appear prepared to confront a rise in defaults.

Many housing advocates have been disappointed with the plan's progress and say that getting a loan modification is still a battle. Most lenders, they say, are still unwilling to reduce a borrower's principal balance, a key concern in areas like California, Florida and Nevada where prices have been cut in half in some areas.

"It's not working fast enough and it's not working broadly enough," said Kevin Stein, associate director of the California Reinvestment Coalition, based in San Francisco. "There are no obvious consequences to the servicers for not doing what they're supposed to be doing."

Lenders have their own criticisms. Since the report card released by the government excludes modifications made outside the government guidelines, some say they're not getting enough credit.

"The American public has a right to know that there are other modifications that are being done that are equally as compelling," said Teri Schrettenbrunner, a Wells Fargo spokeswoman.

To speed up the application process, the Treasury Department on Thursday launched a round of changes, including standardized forms.

At the end of last month, about 16 percent of those eligible were enrolled in the program. Offers had been extended to nearly 770,000 homeowners, or about one in four eligible borrowers.

Nearly all the borrowers who have signed up so far are in an initial three-month trial phase. They are supposed to be extended for five years if the homeowners make their payments on time and return the necessary documents.

"While reaching half a million trial modifications nearly a month ahead of schedule is an important milestone, we recognize that the next challenge is converting borrowers from trial to permanent modifications," Reilly said.

Source Sac Bee

What book are you reading right now? (If you can't answer this question please close this email, immediately invest in a library card and start using it!)

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:44:53 -0500

One of the most important ingredients for success in business and life is a high level of self-confidence. And we can all use a little help developing a stronger sense of self-confidence.

To help you develop a stronger sense of self-confidence I would like to share with you the Steps to Self-Confidence from one of the greatest motivational sales books of all time, "Think and Grow Rich" from Napolean Hill. If you have not read this book you owe it to yourself to read it.

1. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose in life; therefore I demand of myself persistent, continuous action towards attainment, and I here and now promise such action.

2. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality; therefore I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture.

3. I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of self-confidence.

4. I have written down a clear description of my definite aim in life and I will never stop trying, until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

Don't forget our webinar Friday.

Thought for today: A person is only as big as the measure of their thinking.

Have a productive day!

GreatWest GMAC

If you have any question please contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at www.localhomelink.com

Also if you have a chance check out our new podcast at www.housetalkonline.com

Source Bill Fields Learning Systems

Lessons

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:59:16 -0500

Several years ago, two guys, Bernard and Jimmy, were driving in the South Alabama foothills. It was hot and they were thirsty so they drove behind an abandoned farmhouse with an old water pump in the yard. Bernard grabbed the pump handle and started pumping. After a few minutes he asked Jimmy to get a bucket and dip some water out of a nearby stream to "prime" the pump.

Lesson one: Before you can get anything out, you've got to put something in! Unfortunetly, many people stand in front of the fireplace and say "Fireplace, give me some heat and then I'll put some wood in you." But, that's not the way it works. You must put something in before you can expect to get anything out.

Bernard pumped a few more minutes and then said, "You know Jimmy, I don't believe there is any water in this well." Jimmy replied, "yes there is Bernard, but the South Alabama wells are deep and that's good because the deep wells contain pure, sweet, good tasting water."

Lesson Two: Things that have real value generally require lots of effort to acquire. This is true whether we are seeking a successful relationship or excel in your real estate career.

It was a hot, August day, but Bernard continued to pump. Then he did what many people are guilty of doing. He couldn't see the water so he threw up his arms and said, "There just isn't any water in this well."

Lesson three: It doesn't matter who you are or what you do, the temptation to quit when the going gets tough is always there. This is especially true if you cannot see immediate results of your efforts. You are even encouraged to quit by many sideline spectators who can't make the list of top producers themselves and don't want you to make it either.

As Bernard started to quit, Jimmy quickly said, "Bernard, don't quit! If you do the water goes all the way back down the well and you will have to start pumping all over."

Lesson four: That's the way it is in life. Much good work is lost because we don't do a little more. You simply can't look at the outside of the pump and determine how much more pumping needs to be done to get the water the rest of the way to the top. Maybe it's a few more seconds or one more good push.

Bernard kept at it and with a little more hard, enthusiastic pumping the water burst forth. Then, just as it happens in the game of life, a steady consistent effort brought more water than Bernard and Jimmy could possibly use.

I love this story because it is the story of life and the way the real estate business works. it has nothing to do with age, education, religious beliefs, skin color, sex, weight, or any of the superficial qualities people look at. Success has to do with enthusiasm, persistence and a dedicated effort. It's character in action and it takes character to continue when you can't immediately see the results.

Don't forget our webinar this Friday, "Proper Pricing Techniques" 1:00PM EST.

Thought for today: Winners never quit and quitters never win.

Have a productive day!

GreatWest GMAC

If you have any questions please contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at www.localhomelink.com

Check out our new podcast at www.housetalkonline.com

Source Bill Fields Learning Systems

Do you have knowledge or know-how?

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:19:41 -0500

Do you know the difference? You should. It can frequently be the difference between success and failure!

The word know-how does not mean knowing how to do something-that's activity knowledge. There are lot's of people in our industry who have knowledge but are starving to death. Know-how is doing that activity the right way, with skill and effectiveness, and with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. When you have know-how, you can do that activity successfully again and again. It's becomes a habit, and it comes naturally from experience. Know-how is one of the essential ingredients in building yourself a success system that never fails.

Know-how is the quality that enables you to do something at will, to accomplish what you set out to accomplish. Know-how gets things done while other people are wondering if it can be done. Know-how built the pyramids of Egypt and the great cathedrals of the world; it harnessed electricity, split the atom; and put a man on the moon. And it can bring you all of the success and happiness you desire.

But how do you get know-how? You don't! You must develop know-how? How you you develop know-how?

Only by doing. Know-how is something you accumulate from experience.

That's the way every consistent peak performer develops the know-how necessary to successfully sell real estate. In fact, that's the way everyone develops know-how. The experience must be your own. When you have it, you'll know it-and you'll be able to feel the power.

A friendly reminder that the All Star Coaching team and I are going to Italy from October 10th to the 18th. Your session will be posted on-line in the All Star Coaching session library at http://www.allstarcoaching.net/. We will be communicating via email and I will be working each day, so feel free to contact me with items I can assist you with.

Don't forget to remind yourself everyday, "No excuse is a good excuse!"

Thought for today: It's not what you know...it's what you do that makes a difference! (Know-how versus Knowledge)

Have a productive day!

GreatWest GMAC

If you have any questions please contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at www.localhomelink.com and check out our new pod cast at www.housetalkonline.com

Source Bill Fields Learning Systems

"It's not how much time you spend but how you spend your time that matters".

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:12:30 -0500

Time is life. It is irreversible and irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life, but to master your time is to master your life and make the most of it. To make the most of your time you need to become an effectiveness expert. Effectiveness means selecting the best task to do from all the possibilities available and then doing it the best way. Making the right choices about how you'll use your time is more important than doing efficiently whatever task you find urgent.

Here are 15 steps to help you become an effectiveness expert:

1. Count all of your time as "On-Time" and try to get satisfaction out of every minute.
2. Don't waste time regretting disappointments and setbacks.

3. Don't waste time feeling guilty about what you don't do.

4. Remind yourself, "there is always enough time to do the important things." If it's important, there's time.

5. Look for new techniques each day to gain time.

6. Go to bed earlier so you can get up earlier and get started earlier.

7. Don't read unimportant email or return un-important phone calls until after important tasks are completed.

8. Give up "waiting time" and turn all time into a "gift of time" to use to plan, practice or perfect.

9. Review your primary goals and objectives daily and identify activities to do each day to reach them.

10. Always plan first thing in the morning and set priorities for the day.

11. Keep a list of "things to do" each day, prioritized, and start each day with the most important.

12. Give yourself time off and special rewards when you've done the important things.

13. Do first things first.

14. Work smarter not necessarily harder.

15. Don't procrastinate, ask yourself, "What am I avoiding" and then confront it head on.

Do you want to be more effective when dealing with your sellers on the issue of price? Want to take more listings and have them sell faster? Then don't miss our webinar this Friday at 1:00PM EST, "Proper Pricing Techniques". Here's the link to register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/271804931 DO NOT MISS THIS PROGRAM!

We all do better when we have structure and organization in our daily activities. Please be sure you are following your All Star Coaching Action Plan. If you are not sure where you are in your Action Plan, let me know and we'll work together to get you back on track.

Next week is the All Star Coaching trip to Italy. 27 people are making the journey with us. If you are not going this year, hopefully you will join us next year. We will still be available by email daily and by phone if there are any real estate emergencies. You will still have a coaching session and I will explain to you how during this week's session.

Thought for today: If you want to be effective, spend at least as much time on the important as you do on the urgent.

Have a productive day!

GreatWest GMAC

If you have any questions please contact Brodie Stephens or Sami Siddiqui at www.localhomelink.com

Source Bill Fields Learning Systems