Gina's Space

Answering your first time home buyer tax credit extension questions

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:20:32 -0800

Interview with Troy Babbitt, Knight Financial

Special Announcement from the Bendel & Beem Team with Re/Max Integrity

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:14:03 -0800

New Designations be of better service to our clients

Bendel & Beem Team with Re/Max Integrity Talks About Real Estate Myths

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:09:39 -0800

Myths - Part One

Myths - Part Two

FREE Real Estate Seminar Provided By The Bendel and Beem Team of RE/MAX Integrity

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:18:44 -0700

BE Heard. BE Helped. Have Fun!

Come and enjoy an informative and entertaining evening brought to you by the

Bendel & Beem Team of RE/MAX Integrity!

FREE REAL ESTATE EVENT: Open House and Special guest Speaker !

Special guest Toastmaster, Pam Hoepfl, will present The Art of Speaking. Pam's refreshing, engaging (and often hilarious) style easily offers valuable information that everyone can use in their lives - whether it be for job interviews, business transactions, client presentations, or just day-to-day communication.

An excellent panel of local business leaders will be available - all in one spot - to answer any, and all, questions relating to the home-buying process! Plus, a visit with our experts is also an opportunity to win door prizes from gift baskets to gift cards to piggy banks filled with real money!

Catering provided by the Brew Station!

Meet these local business leaders and Learn How To:

Kathy Ward (Credit Team). Increase credit scores and work toward your goals.
Will O'Hearn (Edward Jones). Invest and save for future home purchases.
Troy Babbitt (Knight Financial). Decipher all the changes within the mortgage industry and how they affect you as a buyer or seller.
Cynthia Combs (American Home Shield). Home warranties for existing home owners and those who plan to buy or sell a home in the future.
Kaylene Campbell (Re/creations). Improve the appeal of your home with home staging advice.
Bendel & Beem Team (RE/MAX Integrity). What's happening in the local Linn/Benton real estate markets and how we serve our buying and selling clients.

WHEN: Wednesday • October 21, 2009

TIME: 6:30pm-8:30pm

COST: FREE

WHERE: Holiday INN Express, Albany

Limited Seating! Please RSVP no later than OCTOBER 9, 2009

Gina Bendel (541) 905-7841 or Andrea Beem (541) 231-3109.

of RE/MAX Integrity

www.BendelBeemTeam.net

RE/MAX Integrity

2910 Santiam Hwy SE, Albany, OR 97322

Please RSVP to GinaBendel@remax.net or AndreaBeem@remax.net

Gina's June Newsletter

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:37:23 -0700

For many, school is just about out for the summer and it's glorious to be outside soaking up sunshine, doing some gardening, pulling out the camping equipment, heading to the lakes or rivers, barbeques and much more.

Enjoy the fresh air and mother nature this June ~ You'll be glad you did!

Click Here to Read My Newsletter

Looking for Homes in Albany, OR?

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:33:17 -0700

Albany Listings

Get this Widget

My Team Listings Gallery

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:35:53 -0700

I am excited to share that I have joined forces with Brian Oare, Andrea Beem, and Amy Farnes. As a team with Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers, we will strive to combine our strengths and to give our clients the best possible real estate services available. Please take a look at our current listings and give any of us a call to schedule a tour or discuss any of your real estate questions and concerns.

Our Gallery of Properties

Monthly Newsletter

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:08:40 -0700

Gina's Oregon Real Estate - Monthly Newsletter

April Newsletter

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:17:27 -0700

Gina's April Newsletter

Provided by FNHW Newsletter Service

A friend shared this with me - it's pretty cool!

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:19:41 -0700

Ok, you have to check this out:

http://www.chattotext.com/amember/go.php?r=15733&i=l0

It's a 5-minute video about a brand new tool you can add to your social network page (works now with MySpace, Facebook and Bebo) or any web page or blog or even email. You just add a link and your friends can send you a private text message to your cell phone, and you can reply with your cell phone and they'll get it while they're still on your chat window! This excites me because it opens the door to meeting the needs of so many people who communicate via text messaging and the internet.

It's called Chat To Text.

It's all explained in the video:

http://www.chattotext.com/amember/go.php?r=15733&i=l0

I've installed it already - look for the 'Text Me' button and send me a text message to my cell phone...too cool!

Let me know what you think!

Gina

Finding Common Ground - Knock Out or Dance?

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:50:41 -0700

Don't you just love it when your clients and the buyer or seller just automatically come to an agreement? No counter offer or an immediate acceptance of the first and only counter? As real estate agents, we all love that!

But what happens when things aren't so cut and dried? Too often the agent takes a rejection from the other side personally - as if he or she is the one suffering a loss. How does this affect the clients when agents battle each other and it's obvious?

I can envision it now... Round one - Ding, Ding!!!

"The listing agent, Furious Fred, and the selling agent, Peeved Patty are at it again!!" Their clients wait on the sidelines and TRY to cheer their agents on. The fight goes on and on and on...... Ugh! After several rounds (counters) they both get knocked out and the clients walk away furious for even bothering.

I've been fortunate enough that kind of scenario hasn't happened to me personally - unless you want to bring up the short sale incident of course (okay not really). Unfortunately, however, I have witnessed it with other agents on occasion.

It's very easy to become sort-of 'emotionally charged' in protecting your client's best interests, however both parties win when the agents use diplomacy and try to keep peace while striving for the same goal - a closed transaction with happy clients.

So rather than take things to a personal level and"knock out" the other agent - why not try dancing with him or her instead? :)

March is fast approaching!

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:07:55 -0800

Gina's March Newsletter

Provided by FNHW Newsletter Service

Dear Diary... My Passion Is...

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:52:49 -0800

To choose just one passion... Wow, I have so many, some related to being a Realtor, some very physical, some very spiritual. Truth be told though, I am most compelled to share one passion (or perhaps I should say 4) that is so deeply profound within me since becoming a mother 23 years ago.

My life's passion is wrapped completely around 4 souls who are attached by an invisible cord. They are each a piece of my heart out there in the world, wherever they may be at any time. I could never have imagined that these very unique, individual people, my kids who are now adults themselves, would have such an impact on me!

Each decision I have made in all these years has revolved around how they might be affected. These four amazing individuals who look to me for guidance are the people who have inspired me to grow into the person I am today - literally! If not for each of them, I believe I would not be as strong and as compelled to make a difference as I am.

It is and will always be my passion to inspire, teach, encourage and love unconditionally each of these people who have impacted me in ways I never expected. It is equally my passion to be inspired by, learn from and become a better human being because of them. I am humbled and blessed to have had some small part in the creation of Angela, Brandon, Alicia, and Mandi. They are my greatest accomplishment, my true heroes and my life's passion.

Considering Relocating to Oregon?

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:54:55 -0800

Our beautiful state of Oregon is turning 150 this winter & celebrating a sesquicentennial birthday with a flurry of activity. I am very proud to be an Oregonian - the state is absolutely gorgeous and filled with so much diversity and opportunity!

I invite you to take a look at http://www.oregon.gov/ to learn more about our great state and all it has to offer.

For those interested in places to go and things to do in Oregon visit: www.TravelOregon.com and www.GoSeeOregon.com

Check Out Photos: www.oregonscenics.com

And of course I invite you to look at Oregon Homes For Sale, get your real estate questions answered & request my Free Reports @ www.AJ-GinaRBrokers4U.com

What is success? Find yours - Beginning with YOU

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:30:10 -0800

Do you ever feel like you can never accomplish all the things you want to accomplish in a day? Wow, sometimes I would give anything not to HAVE to take time out to sleep or eat or anything else that takes me away from my many tasks at hand! If only I could divide myself into several people so I can just "Get 'er done"!

Well, that train of thought has not been a good one for me. I recently experienced a major life-changing crisis because of this need to do it all and do it now. This was both on the job and in my personal life. Amazing that I could actually fall apart at the seams because I neglected to do the one thing I should have been prioritizing all along... taking care of ME. I guess you could call it a 'total, life- changing "Burn-Out". Mine was serious. It took a wonderful, true friend to help me realize I needed to find help.

It wasn't until I literally ended up a basket case, put on medication and bedrest (Doctors orders) that I had the time to really think about the important things. My work was always going to be there, and I could accomplish whatever else I needed to when the time was right. I had to look deeper to remember that I have a life outside of being a real estate agent and outside of being a wife & mother. There was one major player in my life plan to be successful and that player needed my attention; That player was ME. I had become so focused on my work and on taking care of everybody else that I couldn't sleep, wasn't hungry (losing weight I couldn't afford to lose) and couldn't understand why I was trembling and on the verge of tears all the time. Then it happened. BOOM! I was not able to function. I had shut down completely.

That was a wake up call for me. So now the question I had to ask myself was this... What did I expect to accomplish in the long run by going full speed to get things done and cramming my days & nights with tasks that always seemed so important? A quicker way to what I called success, or so I reasoned. Problem was I really didn't think about what 'success' truly meant to me. My priorities were skewed and my life was crumbling because of my desire to be 'successful' - whatever that meant.

Healing has been quite the journey and one that is still ongoing, but I am back to remembering that I can only be successful if I take care of myself. Success is not just a measure of the things I do to make a living or in being a great mom, wife or other role. It is in being true to myself and stopping to absorb all that LIFE has to offer. It's in living each moment fully, being strong & healthy in body & mind, and in spending quality time with the people and things that bring true happiness. It is finding a true balance of the priorities in your life. This may always be a work in progress for me, but I am thankful to have that opportunity and to have been given a wake-up call before it was too late for me.

So stop to ask yourself... Am I taking the time, above all else, for myself? Am I where I want to be in my relationships with the people who care the most about me? If you have to ponder that for even a moment - perhaps it's time to slow down and take the time to assess and measure your well-being and happiness. Take the time to find your True Success.

Fresh New Perspective To Be Me

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:31:09 -0800

Well we begin a whole new year and I, for one, am excited to begin with a fresh new perspective, a new personal growth and a new business plan! It always feels good to me when I can put the last year behind me with expectations that the new year will bring new promise and growth as an individual, as a wife, as a mom and as a Realtor.

Like with a new baby, a new venture, a new goal... there is excitement, anticipation, hopes, dreams, and the occasional 'Oops, let's try this again!' or AHA moment!

This year I plan to live, laugh and love more. I want each new day for me to begin with a conscious decision. Whatever that decision will be, I have chosen it and will live with the joys or consequences. The decision is mine and no one can take that away.

We should all look to ourselves for inspiration and truths that only we possess as unique individuals. Isn't that exciting? Wow, how terribly boring would it be if each of us were exactly alike in our thoughts or deeds?! Let's relish those differences and be thankful that there is so much we can learn from eachother and so many wonderful opportunities to explore the possibilities of 'what if?'.

Find your fresh new perspectives from within and have an incredibly Happy New Year!

Fresh New Perspective To Be Me

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:18:02 -0800

Like with a new baby, a new venture, a new goal... there is excitement, anticipation, hopes, dreams, and the occasional 'Oops, let's try this again!' or AHA moment!

Find your fresh new perspectives from within and have an incredibly Happy New Year!

Perfect Storm of Opportunity

Gina Bendel (Realty Associates) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:09:35 -0800

The interesting thing about real estate today, from a real estate broker's perspective, is that so many potential buyers are as reluctant as they are about purchasing a home right now! Let's take a real look at the housing market as it stands.

The buyers today have SO MANY HOMES to choose from these days. With the economy being what it is, there are many sellers out there sitting on wonderful homes for longer periods of time and most are highly motivated to sell. Now is truly the prime time to take advantage of the opportunity of a life time for investing in property. What better time is there for savvy buyers to get an incredible deal on the home of their dreams? Inventory is high and housing values have fallen - but as history tells us, they WILL increase in value again! The buyers today could have an incredible return for their investment when the economy bounces back.

And have you seen the incredible rates that lenders are offering on mortgages right now? Rates are the lowest we've seen in years - just amazing really! That means a buyer can jump in at a prime time to keep their mortgage payments more affordable, and reap the rewards BIG TIME in the long run!

Think about this too... Many real estate agents, like myself, are looking for serious buyers and will jump at the opportunity to help buyers find that perfect home and negotiate for the best possible price - at no cost to their clients. Many buyers don't realize that there are real estate agents who do not get paid to show homes, assist their clients in writing up an offer or any other services provided to their buyers... The seller (unless negotiated otherwise) is generally the one to pay agent commissions. So that means a buyer can take advantage of a professional to take care of the whole buying process for them at no cost to the buyer for these services!

There has never been a better time to purchase real estate. With inventories here in Oregon at a higher than average level and extremely low interest rates (slightly under 5.125% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage as of the writing of this blog 5.322% APR) this truly is a perfect time to move-up or purchase a vacation home, and for first time home buyers there is a window of opportunity that has never before existed to take advantage of a $7500 tax credit! Talk to your tax consultant today about whether or not you are eligible for this opportunity.

Happy New Year & Happy House Buying!