Invading Boundaries - No Big Deal? - 11/29/09 10:03 PM
A recent 20/20 revealed that Deal or No Deal star, comic, and actor Howie Mandel suffers from obsessive compulsive disease (OCD.)  For years he hid his fear of touching, while managing to have a successful career.  On occasions where someone succeeded in shaking his hand or otherwise invaded his boundaries, he receded into a frenzy of hand washing to make himself feel clean. 
For most people, simple touching does not provoke such an extreme reaction, yet we all feel irritated with our boundaries are invaded.  It can be physical invasion when people stand too close or make themselves too much at … (2 comments)

Real Estate - "Bloody Fantastic?" - 11/29/09 05:25 PM
A few months ago, an unknown dowdy Scottish woman named Susan Boyle was received with a lot of eye rolling on the United Kingdom's Britain's Got Talent until she opened her mouth.  Her beautiful rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream," stunned the judges and audience, and though she did not win the competition, she got a record deal.
It is easy to jump on this part of the Susan Boyle story to lead into a pep talk about how appearances are deceiving or about how it's never too late to pursue a dream.  Either of those tangents would be true.  She … (3 comments)

Season's Greetings. Agents Everywhere - 11/27/09 10:52 PM
Every year, real estate falls off when kids go back to school.  Families prefer to keep their children in the same school all year.  With the onset of the holidays, people get busy.  When it gets colder and then snowier in some parts of the country, people prefer not to move until it gets warmer.  The majority of people who move in the fall and winter are those who are transferred or have some financial or other pressure to brave the elements or the upset involved with having the kids change schools mid year. 
This year, things are different, as the … (0 comments)

Don't Let It All Hang Out on Facebook - 11/23/09 10:43 PM
Recently, a Canadian woman who was on disability due to depression lost her disability payment when an insurance adjuster noticed pictures of her on vacation and out with friends on Facebook.  He noticed she looked so happy that he cut off her check.  She protested that the pictures did not reflect her usual state of mind and is suing the company, but not before she lost her house.
This story points out the need to be careful about you post or say on social networks, a familiar warning that many people ignore.  Facebook posts or Tweets may quickly move out of … (20 comments)

Would Home Buyers Who Got the Credit Have Bought Anyway? - 11/22/09 07:39 PM
A recent NAR survey indicated only 6% of first time homebuyers took the plunge because of the credit, but claimed that interest rates and falling home prices were what made them buy.  Analyst Keith Gumbinger of HSH.com poo-pooed the credit indicating that we are rewarding people for doing what it take issue with they have done anyway. 
I take issue with this reaction.  Owning a home is an important part of fulfilling the American Dream for many people.  It's just a matter of time for those who see this in the best interest of themselves and their families. So, of course, … (5 comments)

Cookies and Clients - 11/19/09 09:44 AM

I recently got a survey from a cookie company that sells some delicious cookies and brownies by mail.  They are each individually wrapped so they are nice for business giving, plus are great portion controlled snacks that stay fresh.  I have been buying them regularly over the last couple years but in the last six months, I have noticed that the prices have gone up, the number of cookies in the assortments have decreased, and the number of items with free shipping have decreased too - a triple assault on my pocketbook.  This makes the cookies more expensive and has … (3 comments)

Survey Says 2: Economic Worries Cool Homebuying. Will the Credit Help? - 11/16/09 06:30 PM

The recent survey by move.com revealed some interesting results about how Americans view what's happening in housing.  As noted in a previous blog, Survey Says: Only 1 in 20 Respondents Say They Will Buy Next Year, at a time when the unemployment rate is over 10% nationwide, potential home buyers are concerned about the economy. 
•·   48% felt the government wasn't doing enough to help troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure, while 42% thought there was enough government action
•·   45% worry that they or someone they know will face foreclosure in the next year.
•·   38% had contacted their lender within the past year … (0 comments)

Survey Says: Only 1 in 20 Respondents Say They Will Buy Next Year - 11/16/09 02:54 PM
Before the home buyers tax credit was extended through April, 2010 and expanded to include more buyers, a survey by move.com indicated that only 1 in 20 people surveyed said they would buy a house next year.  Why?  The top reason was that they felt that home prices had hit bottom.  This was more important than bargain priced foreclosures, concerns about interest rates, and the pool of available homes.
This revelation feeds into our ongoing discussion of glass half empty/glass half full approach to real estate.  Of course, the number of people who might say they are planning to buy might … (19 comments)

Homeowner Credit Great for Buyers and Agents - 11/13/09 09:22 PM

There may have been debate over whether homebuyers who wanted to take advantage of the tax credit could use it as a down payment but it is unquestionable that the credit will mean a payout for real estate agents everywhere.
Due to lobbying efforts by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and other groups, lawmakers have extended the homebuyer tax credit to April 30, 2010. And they've sweetened the deal: the law increases the limit for couples to $225,000 in annual income, roughly $55,000 more than the existing law.
Plus, it adds a nice $6,500 carrot for those who've lived … (2 comments)

I'm Packing - Hope to See You at NAR - 11/11/09 11:51 AM

As you read this, I am busily packing for National Association of Realtors (NAR) Conference in San Diego.  On Friday, November 13, I'll be speaking at 2:30, so please look me up.  My topic will focus on Becoming The CEO of your Real Estate Company, a timely topic for anyone on the move in real estate.  Once you discover the functions of a Real Estate CEO are and how you can implement these into your existing practice, you will notice your business take off if you put them into play.  Becoming a CEO is more a state of mind than a … (2 comments)

Face the Facts: Facebook Is In Your Future - 11/10/09 10:00 PM

For those of you who have shied away from Facebook and other social media because you don't see the connection between spending time chatting and ringing up sales on the real estate cash register, be forewarned:  it may be Facebook that delivers your website traffic, not Google searches.  According to a recent article in Copyblogger, Facebook is on the road to becoming a major source of information that may eliminate the need to be concerned with SEO. 
Rather that people searching Google to find information, they may ask a question on Facebook and get recommendations of people that their friends … (18 comments)

Not Too Light/ Not Too Heavy Client Response - 11/08/09 10:32 PM
Have you seen the Bud Light commercials?  They are all along the theme of not too heavy/ not too light, which, of course, the taste that beer is supposed to embody. Realtors should take heed of the message.
Scenario One:  Girl breaking up with her boyfriend
Too light:  She tries to sugar coat the break, he misses the point
Too heavy:  She tells him the news and then pushes him out of her speeding car. He stil doesn't get it and hopes they'll still be Facebook friends
Scenario Two:  Man is trying to show off his amazing wonder dog
Too light:  … (34 comments)

Joy in Mudville - 11/05/09 10:52 PM
If you're a New Yorker, there's joy in Mudville, so to speak, as the Yankees win another World Series. If you're a Realtor, you are rejoicing that the home buyer's credit was extended and expanded.  Now, even current homeowners have incentives to buy up or buy elsewhere.  This should help move housing stock not only at the lower end of the spectrum but higher price ranges as well.
If you follow me, you know that I maintain that good Realtors always find ways to sell houses even without a credit.  However, if NAR statistics are correct, 2 million people were helped … (0 comments)

The Company You Keep - 11/02/09 01:23 PM
There are a lot of sayings that come to mind when thinking about the people around us.
A man is known by the company he keeps...
Birds of a feather flock together...
One bad apple spoils the bunch...
We are not bound in our life by proverbs, but it is easy to pick up the attitudes od those around you.
Take a look at who is around you in your daily life. Are they positive or negative? Helpful or hurtful? Toxic or healthy? It's been said - via another  proverb - that you should fear an evil friend more than a beast … (5 comments)

4 Steps to Success - 11/01/09 02:39 PM

I've been in the real estate consulting game now for 15 years and it still amazes me that many agents simply don't operate like a business.  I often see starry-eyed agents who set grandiose goals only to trip on them and fall into a big pile of discouragement.
Many people have only a vague idea of what their goals are and have even less clue about how to reach them.   Few people stumble unto success; man who do are often "flash in the pan" successes because they don't really know what made then successful and, therefore, can't replicate it.
I … (5 comments)

Make Yourself More Positive - 11/01/09 02:15 PM
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner recently said that he is optimistic about the state of the U.S. economy, though recovery has been uneven.  Of course, the same page of the MSN homepage featured a story about why the U.S. is in decline.  Read both stories and you'll realize you have to make a choice.  You can accept things going on in our society as "proof" things are on the downslide or you can accentuate the positive.
You may be thinking, "Oh, that's what Bob always says."  If so, you are right. You choose how you feel.  I have built my coaching career … (1 comments)

 

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