The past few days have been nothing short of absolutely phenomenal. I spent 4 days in Las Vegas at the Mike Ferry Superstar Retreat.

It really is amazing how negative the news media is about the real estate market nationwide. You always hear how "bad" the market is. This week, I was networking with agents from all over the country who are selling HUNDREDS of homes each year.

It's not the market, it's about hiring the right agent that is going to do the things that need to be done to get your home sold, or help you find the best home for your needs.

It's about making sure that you listen to the expert, and hire an agent that is trained by the best out there, the Mike Ferry Organization.

10 Reasons you should hire me as your Real Estate agent...

1. I will always tell you the truth regarding the market and pricing comparables.

2. I am an expert in our marketplace and I study the market statistics everyday.

3. I aggressively look for sellers and buyers for my listings 2-3 hours per day.

4. I deliver strong customer service and customer communication.

5. I follow a defined plan of action to get your home sold ... I keep a rigorous schedule and track my results.

6. I have the power to protect your equity by negotiating the best price for your home.

7. I am in a network of the most highly trained Real Estate agents in North America to attract relocation buyers for your home.

8. I work with my Coach weekly strategizing how to sell your home for top market value in the shortest amount of time.

9. I constantly improve my skills by attending at least 4 intense training seminars each year taught by the #1 Real Estate Coaching Company, The Mike Ferry Organization.

10. I am committed to becoming a great salesperson ... I invest $12,000 each year for a Mike Ferry Coach to help me develop my skills and hold me accountable to selling your home.

The government's First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit expires December 1, 2009.

If you expect to use the program in conjunction with a home purchase, you may want to consider yourself officially "on the clock".

Assuming a 60-day window between contract and closing, there are now 77 days left to find a home and go under contract for it.

The First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit refunds up to $8,000 at Tax Time for qualified home buyers. A few of the program's qualification criteria include:

1. Home buyer must not have owned a primary residence in the past 36 months

2. The home may not be purchased from a family member.

3. The household adjusted gross income must be below $95,000 for single tax filers and $170,000 for joint tax filers. To receive the full credit, it's $75,000 and $150,000 for singles and joint filers, respectively.

4. The tax credit itself is limited to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less.

Remember, though: The refund is a true tax credit - not a deduction. This means that a taxpayer owing $8,000 to the IRS and claiming the $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit would owe the IRS nothing on April 15, 2010.

The complete list of qualifying criteria is posted on the IRS website, click the link below to download it.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5405.pdf

We had a tragic loss in our company over the weekend.  One of our agents died tragically.  He was a well-liked person, a family man, and an overall good soul.

One thing I've learned is not to take life for granted or too seriously.  We have to enjoy every minute of it, and be the best person we can be.

Nothing matters more than providing for yourself, your family, and those that matter most to you.

Just a quick thought for the day!  Make it a great one!

So, it's been since February since I posted, and now I've posted three times today.

ActiveRain makes sense...take advantage of everything FREE in this industry.  What a great way to reach even more people by spending 5 or 10 minutes a day blogging.

It really doesn't matter what you blog about, as long as it provides value to someone out there.

Hoping to get back into this thing.  If only they could create an AR blackberry app to easily post to our blogs...

They can't re-possess your future...

Think about it...as "bad" as things are today, they can't take away the goals you set, and the life you deserve. Don't let them take away your future, don't let the negativity in the media take away your dreams.

Think positive, get up and get motivated!

Well it looks like the Senate & House have come to a compromise on the HUGE economic stimulus package with the grand total working out to be $789 Billion. Included in this package is the homebuyer tax credit that we have been hearing about for the past couple of weeks. It appears that the tax credit is going to be available to ALL home buyers and it is going to be capped at 10% or $8,000 which ever is lower. Now unlike the first time home buyer tax refund that has been in place since last July 2008 it looks like this $8000 COULD be a tax credit, and there were some serious differences between what the House and the Senate proposed. SO what is the difference?

The $7500 first time home buyer program that is in place now is a dollar for dollar refund. This means if a first time home buyer owes $0 in taxes they will get a $7500 check when they file taxes. If they owe $8000 in taxes they will only have to pay $500. Under this program the $7500 will have to be paid back, starting in the 3rd year they are in the home.

Under the proposal that was made by the HOUSE the $7500 tax credit would still be available to first time home buyers, under the same terms, BUT it would NOT have to be paid back essentially becoming a true $7500 refund paid by the government

The $15,000 home buyer tax credit proposed by the SENATE was basically going to allow home buyers to recoup up to $15,000 in Federal taxes that have either been withheld during the year(for W2'd employees) or are due come April. The most significant difference, FROM WHAT HAS BEEN RELEASED SO FAR, is that if a home buyer only paid $4000 in taxes this year they would ONLY get back that $4000, not the full $15,000. If a home buyer has enough deductions where they pay $0 in federal taxes they would get $0 of the $15,000. This credit could be used over a 2 year period.

So where we are now is some middle ground between the House and Senate proposals. We DO know that the amount is going to be $8000 but at the time of this email it hasn't been released if this is going to be a true refund like what first time home buyers have now, if it is going to have to be paid back or if it is going to be a tax credit like the senate proposed. Once we have some more info I will be sure to pass it on. Here are links to 2 articles that I used to get some of this information. 

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/09/real_estate/tax_credit_near/index.htm?postversion=2009021007  (Senate Proposal) 

http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aiM_rr98lSVk&refer=home (Lawmakers agree on stimulus plan)

I want to make it a goal to start writing, or "blogging" on a daily basis...which will probably last about a week.

The point of today's note is to attempt to help start the correction of the economy.  Yes, I believe I have the entire solution for everyone.  You know, it's interesting, they say the most NEW millionares are created during times of recession and depression.  Yes, that's right.  More millionaires emerge in our great country during econonomic slowdown.

They also say that the best salespeople make the most money during the worst markets...

Why is that, you ask?  It can't possibly be more than good timing, or shear luck, can it?  Well, I believe it's more than just "shear luck".  I know for a fact it is.

It's a little thing called mindset.  What we are THINKING at the moment.  Right now, the reason folks are afraid to spend money, or are scared of what's supposedly happening right now, is simply their mindset.  The mindset that they don't have enough money to pay their bills, the mindset that they might not have a job next week, or might not be able to find a new one.

It's simple, correct your mindset, and everything else will start to fall into place, and things will get better.

I need to correct my mindset starting today.  In 2008, my second year in Real Estate, I closed 27 transactions.  My goal is 40 this year.  I just pended my first deal yesterday for the year.  Time to correct my mindset, and focus on  my goals...

How do you correct your mindset?  Very simple, keep yourself around positive thoughts all the time.  Surround yourself with those more successful than you are.  Stay away from the water cooler at work.  Keep your news watching to a minimum, and I'm talking, weather, sports, and nothing else.  You'll hear what's going on from everyone else anyway...

Have a good one, hope this note has helped you start to correct your mindset.