Open House....Sunday 4/27/08 from 1:00PM - 4:00PM

812 S. Langley Ave #103 Tucson, AZ 85710

This beautifully maintained 3 bedroom, 2 full bath condo sits on the ground floor near the pool and playground. Home features: private patio, open living room, breakfast bar, ceramic tile, all appliances, 1 covered parking space and more. Property features lush grounds, 2 pools, rec center & laundry facilities. HOA covers water, garbage, grounds & more. 3 large mirrors stay. $2000 towards buyers closing costs w/full price offer. Welcome Home!  $127,000

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Nora Adkins Realty Executives So. AZ

520-909-3323

This beautifully maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo sits on the ground floor near the pool and playground.  Home features:  private patio, open living room, breakfast bar, ceramic tile, all appliances, 1 covered space and more.  Property features lush grounds, 2 pools, rec center & laundry facilities.  HOA covers water, garbage, grounds & more.  $2000 towards buyers closing costs with full price offer.  $127,000

Nora Adkins Realty Executives So. AZ

520-909-3323

www.TucsonHomesByNora.com

The other day I was driving my daughter to a birthday party at a local skating rink.  She was excited, this was the first party (of many I'm sure) of the new school year.  My daughter is 9 years old and has never roller skated before.  She's a very good roller blader...but has never done the 4 wheel skates before and she was a little nervous. 

I told her that she would be fine and catch on quick.  She looked at me so seriously and said....

Mom,  what if I fall in front of everyone in my class?  I'd be so embarrassed, what do I do? 

I looked at her and told her............LAUGH!!  If you are laughing, then what does it matter if they laugh also?  She thought about this and seemed okay with it.

When I picked her up 2 hours later I asked her how she did.  She said she only fell once and laughed it off and no one said anything more about it.  She seemed happy with the outcome.

 I'm happy for her, she learned a small life lesson that day...

1.  If you don't make a big deal out of it, chances are...others will not either.

2.  It's okay to try something new.

3.  Don't take yourself so seriously.

4.  Every now and then, mom does know what she is talking about!

So, now I ask ...can you laugh at yourself??

If you never hear (or read) from me again, it means I won the lotto.  You see, today I spent 3 hours at our annual Realtor Expo.  The theme this year was Game Shows, so as you can imagine, there were lots of games and of course, where there are games, there are PRIZES!! 

I had the touch today.  Some of the stuff I won (not the free give-a-ways) was...a spice rack, a pair of binoculars, a stuffed teddy bear, a stuffed turtle, a gift card to McDonalds, $5 cash, a nice pen set and some other smaller stuff that I can't remember.

I love going to the expo each year.  I get a lot of new ideas and the networking there is really great. 

Now I think I'll play the lotto and go for the big stuff!!

Almost Five years ago when I was at Brodsky School of Real Estate I remember one of our instructors once told us..."If you haven't bought a refrigerator, you're probably not doing business" 

 At the time I didn't think much of this little quote, but over the last four years, I've thought about it a lot.  I can't say that I've bought any refrigerators, but I have paid for some home warranties, toilet tank lids, doorknobs, screens and I'm sure some other stuff that I can't remember.

I'm just wondering....what have you bought that you originally didn't bargain for?.....

Every summer just before school gets back session, school supplies go on sale.  Many places sell the spiral notebooks for just 10-cents each.  I usually load up on these for a couple of reasons.  First, I have three children and they usually do need them for school, but second...I use them for prayer journals. 

About 5-6 years ago, I was taking part in a bible study at church.  One of the things we did during that study was prayer journals.  I'v heard of journals before, but I guess I never thought of prayer journals.  I remember when I sat down to write that I didn't know what to say.  I just stared at the blank paper and thought....okay, now what?   Finally, I did get started writing and now you can't get me to stop!

What started out as little paragraphs to my Lord, has developed into pages and pages and now books on top of books of my prayers.

I love to randomly reach in my box and pull out a book, open it and read my past prayers to God.  Looking back through them I get to see what was on my mind at the time, my praises, my dreams and my worries.  The best part is now I know how God responded to each of those prayers.  I love it!! 

If you have never tried this, give it a month and see if you're hooked just as I was.

I've spent the last three days at the Rich Dad Education Basic Training seminars in Phoenix, AZ.    I have an investor client who signed up to go to the training and asked me to attend as her guest.  I have to admit, I was a little reluctant to attend.  I'm a motivated real estate agent, but not necessarily a motivated real estate investor. 

The first day of the seminar, I was impressed...    Wow!!! they have got some great stuff here, and I'm really learning some valuable information. 

The second day of the seminar, I was a little deflated....  What do you mean.... Advanced Training!!!  What's that??   It cost how much??!!! 

The last day of the seminar, I got over my shock and awe of Advanced Training prices ($9K - $43K), and accepted that this may just be basic training, but I really did learn a lot and I'm happy to say it was completely worth my time. 

No I didn't sign up for the Advanced Training, as I mentioned above, I'm not a motivated real estate investor. My client who is very much a motivated real estate investor did sign up and I really think that she will gain a lot from the additional training and run with it.  I foresee her in 5 years laying on a beach somewhere, with not a care in the world.  (if that's what she wants)

Before attending the Rich Dad seminars, I did a little research about it on-line.  I found a lot negative comments and began to worry about what I was getting myself into.  I'm sure those negative comments stem from people who attended the 3-day training expecting to learn all there is to know about real estate investing.  I'm also sure they were a little shocked when they found out about the additional training costs felt a probably felt a little jaded.  I have to admit, I was very much taken back by the costs involved.  I didn't know the training I attended was a pre-cursor to more expensive training. 

In the middle of the third day, I began to realize that there is no way to learn everything in 3 days!!  I truly learned a lot and I learned that there is so much more that I don't know.  I appreciate how our trainer spoke about doing everything within the letter of the law and that he was very interested in helping the people he worked with.  I felt that he cared about the people, not just the money to be made.  He stressed honesty and integrity in all deals.

As I was leaving on my third day, I knew that the program was good and that if a person was motivated enough to follow it, they would realize large profits quickly. 

So if any of you are debating on going, my advice is definitely attend the 3-day basic training.  If you like what you hear and feel motivated, go ahead and take that leap into Advanced Training.  They will give you the knowledge, you just need to bring the gumption!!!

Today was my first day of a three day seminar for Rich Dad Education.  It was a pretty long day, 8:30AM - 7:00PM.  I still don't know how I will come out of this.  As I mentioned once before, I am going because a great investor client of mine is going and wanted me to go with her.  So my motivation for going is a lot different then most in the class.  I must say that I am enjoying myself.  The instructor is keeping up on our toes and the day actually went by pretty fast.

We went over so much information today and we still have so much more to cover.  Now I'm worried that 3 days isn't enough!!!  Anyway,  I must admit that I am enjoying myself so far and I definitely see myself learning a lot over the next few days, even if it is knowledge that I just use to make myself a better agent.

I hope to fill you all in once the seminar is complete.

This may come off as a bit of an rant and I'm sorry.  I was speaking with another agent today, who seems to think he knows it all. 

There is a common misconception that an As-Is addendum to a property means that the sellers will make no repairs.  This is simply not true.  If you read the contact (at least here in AZ) all an as-is addendum does is voids the section in the contacts that hold warranties on the property. It also makes no warranties as to the zoning and other uses of the premises.  No where in the contract does it state that the buyer gives up their right to negotiate repairs or credits for repairs on the property.

I got a call from an agent today who represents the bank of a foreclosed property that one of my clients has an offer on.  Right off the bat we knew of several issues with the property..(holes is walls, pet soiled flooring, painting, cleaning etc.)  We elected to do an inspection and found several other issues with the property that we were not expecting (the house is only 3 years old).   We sent notice to the bank asking for repairs or credits for these unexpected items.  The agent called me back and acted like I didn't know what I was doing, because the property was sold As-Is.

I informed him that I have been doing this for a while and knew the contract and the As-Is addendum well.  I explained that signing the addendum did not take away our right for inspection negotiation.  Obviously the bank is welcome to deny our requests, but nonetheless, we have the right to make them.  He told me that he strongly disagreed with my way of thinking.  I then replied...you don't have to agree with me, just read the contract and the addendum.  Well, he hung up in a huff and I have not yet heard back from him.

My problem is this, we are the professionals in this business.  We should know what our documents say.  This agent should have stated in the contract....."Seller will not make or negotiate any repairs to property" along with the As-Is addendum.  But he didn't and obviously he's never read the addendum.

I feel much better now that I've gotten that off my chest!!

Thank you.

People keep asking me..."so...how's business?, I hear it's pretty rough out there"  I always smile and say its going well thank you.  Then of course they go on about what a terrible market it is.  I'm always baffled by this.  It is not a terrible market...if your buying a home!!   If you are in the market right now as a home-buyer, you are in a great market!

On Wednesday I sent out a bunch of letters to apartment complexes that are near some of my listings.  My letter was all about what a great market this is for anyone looking to buy a home.  I also went into to the rent vs. buy scenario...but the gist of my letter was "WOW.....Now is the time!!!"  I'm happy to say that I have already gotten phone calls from these letters.    Only time will tell if any of these leads turn to closings, but still, calls are good.

Are we failing to get the word out that this is a great market to buy a home?  Why is it when it is a Seller's Market, we consider the market to be great, but when it flips to a buyer's market, we complain????

The media is destroying everyone's perception of real estate today.  We as an industry need to take back control.  Get on the bullhorn, let everyone know....

...."Right now is a wonderful time to buy a home!!!!!!"