I send out inspirational cards to my past clients. It seems that in this real estate market everybody is in need of a good encouraging word or two. This client purchased a 300,000 home from me! I am thankful but I wanted to make sure that I really showed her how thankful I was for being her Agent.  The inspirational card was the key..........she loved the card...... it was a card  using the word BeLieve'' as a focus point..........

I also gave her a visa gift card! My client was Happy and so am I....  My client was a Hurricane victim and she had been through alot.  She had lost everything in the flood.  My heart goes out to all victims!  The inspirational card that  I gave her was encouragement to continue on .........and to believe that she deserves better and to keep pressing on!........It's always good when you can give you clients hope for the future and the little things that you do as their realtor will help them move on to great things. 

My client didnot have a car.......i picked her up for every showing! I made her a list of furniture stores, utility companies, resturants.......just the little things that count in a persons life when they have had no choice but to relocate.

Read this article below......I found this to be shocking.....the Mortgage Industry should be helping home owners keep their homes and not paying them to Leave..... 

Daily Real Estate News  |  March 28, 2008Foreclosed Owners Paid to Leave
About half of foreclosed properties are trashed by homeowners on their way out, according to a recent survey of real estate professionals by Campbell Communications, a marketing and research firm.

Banks rarely pursue charges against destructive home owners; it's not worth the cost and trouble. Instead, many are trying to prevent home rage by giving the real estate professionals who take on the sales listing authorization to offer somewhere between $300 and $1,000 to occupants to get them to leave the property intact and broom clean.

A bribe? "Yeah, somewhat," says John Carver, an agent specializing in foreclosed homes for Prudential Americana Group in Las Vegas. But "you lose a house, and then you get some financial help - it's a good thing ... It's a win-win for both parties."

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Michael M. Phillips (03/28/08

Hey realtors look what I found in the Realtor book.......its make alot of sense to follow these steps

Leave your comments and let me know what you think

BY G.M. FILISKO

A realistic budget that includes all of your monthly expenses is the first step to a stronger financial footing. As you create your budget for the year ahead, be on the lookout for areas where you can easily save money - you'll find that every little thing counts.

For help on your path to budgeting success, read these savings tips and download this budget worksheet from Buffini & Co., a Carlsbad, Calif., coaching organization.


7 Savings Tips

• Take note of extra income. If you receive regular income from other sources - such as referrals, teaching, or broker price opinions - add line items so can track these income sources and grow them. For example, realizing you've earned $4,000 by teaching a homeownership course at a local college may encourage you to look for additional teaching opportunities.

• Make smart car decisions. Use online calculators at sites such as LeaseGuide.com or Bankrate.com to determine if it's more cost-effective to own or lease a car. Hint: In a lease, car price is the most negotiable item.

• Buy in bulk. Many vendors offer a discount for buying in bulk. If you find a closing gift you like, buy all your closing gifts for the year at once to save money, as well as the time for last-minute shopping trips.

• Change the bulbs! This is an easy one. Reduce your energy costs at home and at work (if you rent space) by using compact fluorescent light bulbs. Each CFL bulb will save you $30 over the life of the bulb, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• Factor in depreciation at tax time. Based on IRS calculations, most computers and office equipment should be depreciated over a five-year period. However, office furniture is depreciated over seven years.

• Rethink your insurance deductibles. If you have a $250 or even $500 auto deductible but haven't made a claim in several years, you'll probably save money by raising your deductible.

• Stow away money for retirement. If you earn less than $110,000, or you and your spouse earn less than $160,000 annually, you can contribute to a Roth IRA. For the 2007 tax year, each spouse under 49 can contribute $4,000; spouses 50 or over can contribute $5,000.

I found this on the internet and it may be useful to some of you.  Tell me what do you think about his article I want to know your comments on these real estate issues.

Help on the way in free-falling markets

Homeowners in the hardest-hit cities hope for some relief from the Bush administration's recent foreclosure initiative -- but they'll still have to cope with dramatically declining home-sale prices.

By Matt Woolsey, Forbes.com

More from MSN and Forbes.com

• Forbes.com: Slide show of free-falling housing markets
• Who's responsible for 'orphaned' properties?
• MSN Money: Home prices take a record fall

Residents of Sacramento, Calif., where home sale prices for November 2007 fell a startling 18.6% from the year before, are likely breathing a sigh of relief.

That's because homeowners there stand to benefit from the Bush administration's initiative, announced Feb. 12, aimed at helping homeowners facing foreclosure. The "Project Lifeline" program -- assembled by six of the nation's largest financial institutions, which service almost half of the country's mortgages -- allows qualified homeowners to suspend proceedings for 30 days while providing them with rewriting and refinancing assistance.

The lenders involved -- JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Countrywide Financial, Citigroup, Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo -- say they will contact homeowners who are 90 days or more overdue on mortgage payments and work with them on ways to make their mortgages more affordable.

"There'll be homeowners who still take no action, and some will still walk away," said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson at a news conference. "But some borrowers facing immediate foreclosures may find solutions."

Alabama is a great place to relocate to the market is great....... you can afford alot of house for a little amount of money. Just think about how much yard you can get with a home in Alabama. Do you like to Golf or fish? There are plenty of communities that offer what would fit your taste.  Are you tired from a long day at work and do not feel like cooking? there are tons of nice resturants for example The Fish Market is a great family place with fresh and hot food. If you are looking for something quick well there is an Apple Bee's or O'charleys on every corner...... Alabama is rich in what i called secret locations and area that would not know exist..It's like a mini Paradise or a diamond mine! or should I say more like Islands that are surrond by land instead of water!

I moved out west to Texas for a while but I could not adjust so I had to migrate back to sweet Alabama. I love looking a the Blue Jays (birds) its amazing at the different color coats of blue they are! Have  you ever seen a so many humming birds at once? its amazing......those little birds are so fast and pretty their wings flopp in harmony!  Its no better place to live than in Alabama.

Totally Virtual Realty can help you make your next move to Alabama. Buying a home will be a great investment.

Do you like Jazz Clubs ? Somewhere to get your thoughts together after a hard days work or just to get out and socialize with other business professionals.  Birmingham is the next condo city, there are tons of condos in the downtown area with the lastest techonology and property service. Some of the condos put  you in mind of having a city within a city.....they are private and some are gated in but you will have your own codes to enter in and out of your condo community. They are located in the heart of the city near hospitals about 5 miles from the nearest mall. Dont get me wrong but it's not like Atlanta and the traffic. Birmingham is still growing but without all traffic and fast life.

What ever you life style may be .......Totally Virtual Realty is here to help you!

Realtors Alabama is a great place to send your referrals and to put them in good hands.

Totally virtual Realty

Cotina Mayes, Broker

www.TotallyVirtualRealty.com

Here is some great information from the local Association in Birmingham. The market here is just coasting along it's a great market for buyers and motivated sellers. Looking at these numbers are great compared to some other states. Leave your comments and let me know what you think of the Birmingham Market!

These statistics compare residential sales for January 2008 vs. January 2007 as compiled by the Birmingham Area Multiple Listing Service, Inc. of the Birmingham Association of Realtors®.

TOTAL SOLD

January 2008: 877

January 2007: 1074

Total residential sales are off by 18%.

  AVERAGE PRICE 

January 2008: $192,152

January 2007: $205,438

Average prices of homes are off by 6.5%.

 MEDIAN PRICE 

January 2008: $152,500

January 2007: $160,000

Median prices of homes are off by 4.7%.

DAYS ON MARKET:

January 2008: 121    

January 2007: 107

RESIDENTIAL INVENTORY IN MLS:

YEAR/MONTH:    TOTALS FOR SALE:

2008:

January            11,757* lowest since February 2007

2007:

December         12,642