How to ensure that all parties involved in the process of short sales are aware of all the aspects involved. As the lenders are becoming more and more responsive to Short Sales,we as agents must become more educated about the Short Sale process One aspect of short sales  that has proven to be very troublesome is the agents copensation. Some MLSs have rules requiring listing agents to let their colleagues know if a listing is potentially a short sale and subject to last minute changes in comissions by the lender. I would like to invite anyone interested in an on going discussion about short sales.

The Jersey Shore is not just a vacation destination,it could become your year round residence as well.  Either way I am certain you will enjoy the Life style at the Jersey Shore as much as we do.If for some reason the beach is not your cup to tea , the options besides the beach are nearly endless.  We have a multitude of other attractions that are sure to peak your interests.  Such as ; for the thrill seekers in you Great Adventure in Jackson is a short ride from most areas of the Jersey Shore . If you don't seek to be rocketed around on the many roller coasters the water park,There is always the safari park.Also they have some excellent Concerts with many top name performers.  In order to check the schedule go to six flags.com and you will see posted all of the information you seek.  Another attraction for the Horse Racing Fan is Monmouth Park . Monmouth Park is one of the Crown Jewels of the Jersey Shore.Everyone can have a fun day at the Park. Monmouth Park was rated one of the best Family Attractions in Monmouth county according to Asbury Park Press readers.Some of the things to do for kids include the free pony rides face painters and clowns , live music and much more. Children under 12 years old are always admitted for free.Check Monmouth Park.com for schedule and pricing or you can call 732-222-5100  When visiting the Jersey Shore please set aside time for shopping as most of us know from experience no visit to the shore is never complete without some browsing and some type purchase of that hard to find one a kind item that we all seek . It would be nearly impossible to list every single store , but I will try to describe some of them here.   We have a vast selection of shops, from the larger indoor shopping malls with many high end retailers to the small mom&pop stores that dot most of our coastal communities.   At the Jersey Shore we have many many fine clothes stores and shoe stores.  We also have many sporting goods outlets for the fitness buff or the sports player in you , whether you golf or play tennis, also we supply all of the hunters and fisherman with some of the finest equipment. I am sure that you will be able to find some surf and skateboard shops in many of our coastal resort towns. I am glad to report to you all that the Jersey Shore is alive and kicking and I am 100% sure that if you come here you will have a lifelong memory.

James J White Crossroads Realty Inc 732-528-6800 Office 732-581-1682 Cell

First time Home Buyers

In this current real estate market how do we find and keep in touch with our precious first time home buyers? Most of the first time home buyers seem to be recent college graduates,or recently discharged military personal.So how can we generate interest in these people and hopefully keep them inside of our client base long enough to fill their home ownership needs? Favorable interest rates and lower asking prices should be enough to lure the first time home buyer into the purchase of a new home, but that does not seem to be the case. So in order to know what they need and how to stay ready when they call on you we must hone our skills. We must also stay on top of all current Price changes and make the buyer aware of any and all interest rate changes. In this challenging marketplace we all must do our best to keep in touch with our perspective clients weekly or even more almost daily. Many first time home buyers want a home in the best and newest development in their favorite area of town they want the best possible school systems, so in order to keep them interested in using your services you must stay current in all aspects of your target areas including schools ,shopping ,churches etc... We must also consider the clients actual affordable price range. Sometimes we must dig a little bit into their lifestyle in order to realistically find ways to come up with the clients wants needs and expectations out of life , in the past people just had to buy the biggest best home even if it was priced considerably over what they knew to be the correct price range for them. Sub Prime lending also lured them into similar situations, using teaser rates with interest rates that would reset over time . So what if any input will change the mindset created by these conditions ?         

James J White Crossroads Realty Inc 732*-528-6800

The Jersey shore features some of the Nicest Beaches in the tri-state area , from Sandy Hook down to Long Beach Island. Some of the best childhood memories and on through my teen years and into my adult years have been right here at the Jersey shore. Many hours of sunset walks and sunrises have only added to my personal enjoyment of the Jersey shore. Sometimes we forget how close we are to the ocean due to the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.Then we come to the beach and its like an instant later we come back to our senses , the calming effect of the waves and the winds and the ever present seagulls bantering to each other  it put my mind to rest every time. Some people come down for the day or the weekend, and others plan week long or month long vacations, or even the season long beachfront rentals are still very popular. Eventually some people wind up purchasing a home either for seasonal use or for year round residence.In any case no matter what the end use becomes I still see many families that stay here for many many generations,therefore in my own opinion that fact says allot for the lure of the Jersey Shore and its many interesting facets.From the boardwalks to the many Restaurants and nite clubs to the party boats  and surf fishing, there always seems to be an area of interest for everyone.

James J White Crossroads Realty Inc 732-528-6800

Timing Your Stock Picks

By Scott Carter
Financial Correspondent 
Here are tips for timing your stock picks perfectly
There is a constant debate within the financial community as to whether or not it is possible to time the market and beat the S&P 500 along with the other major indexes over the long run. Many people side with the "efficient market theory," which concludes that stock prices always reflect the most up-to-date information available to the public. This theory compares buying individual stocks to gambling in a casino.
 
However, one of the greatest investors of all time, Warren Buffett, has singlehandedly rebuked this theory. Recent studies have shown that Buffett¹s yearly earnings have consistently trounced that of the S&P 500. This is due to his patience and his willingness to keep lots of cash on the side until the time is right to swoop into the market and pick up some great deals. You can be sure that in the current market conditions, with commodities soaring and financial sectors sinking, Buffett is silently picking away. 
 
Here are a few tips for timing the market and building your own Berkshire Hathaway by timing your stock picks.

Follow the major indexes

Some of the most relevant timing information to keep track of while timing your stock picks is the current values of the three major indexes: the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ. It's easier and more effective to use technical statistics such as historical charts and trading volume when trying to spot upward and downward trends in these major gauges than it is to track individual stocks. Since, in general, stocks trade within the flow of these indexes, when there is an upward spike in the market you can bet that most stocks will follow suit.
 
You don't need to pick an absolute bottom to make timing your stock picks pay off. Early in March the major indexes hit their lowest point of the year. At that same time Boeing (BA) hit a new 52-week low. Since then, BA has steadily risen in tune with the overall market. If you only take into account BA as an individual stock this may seem like a random occurrence, but when you compare it with the S&P 500 you can see that the stock has followed the overall market during its peaks and dips. Keep this information in mind the next time the S&P 500 drops near its low for 2008. It is almost certain that BA will also fall, and the time may be right to buy.

Bad press can mean a good buy

Typically, when there is bad press about a major sector of the market (financial sectors, energy, retail or infrastructure) the news will pull down most of the stocks within the sector. Good companies and bad companies alike are sold off in the process, leaving plenty of deals to be found if you're willing to go against the grain. This has happened most recently in the financial sector, where billion-dollar write-offs and rumors of bankruptcy surrounding Citigroup, Bear Stearns Companies Inc. and Countrywide Financial overshadowed the modest gains and smart acquisitions from companies like Goldman Sachs (GS) and JP Morgan Chase.

Timing your stock picks could mean a major payout to you in the end...

 Back in November 2007, GS peaked at 250 points. By mid-March, it was trading near 140 at a 52-week low. In four months the stock had plummeted nearly 45%, even though it had minimal write-offs and had posted positive earnings. The company was mistakenly grouped into the same category as the other under-performers, and this association dragged the price down.

This would have been the perfect time to buy stocks in GS. Since announcing solid first-quarter earnings in March, GS has traded near 190, still well off of its 52-week high. This could still be a good value play, but it is no longer cheap.

Bet against the analysts

When all of the analysts covering a particular stock give it a "buy" rating it is safe to assume that you are late to the party and that it has already been bought up by the institutions, pension funds and money managers. Even though the stock is performing well and is loved by the public, this is the wrong time to build a position. Once all of the major market players have finished dumping their money into the stock there is little room for upward momentum, unless a significant event convinces the big players to increase their leverage. What you should look for are steady companies with great track records that have been downgraded by analysts to a "neutral," "perform," or even a "sell" rating. You can find this information on Yahoo! Finance.
 
General Electric (GE) was recently downgraded because it failed to meet market expectations for its first-quarter earnings. It was severely punished by the market, dropping almost 10% that day. It was the greatest single-day loss the stock had taken in decades. Currently, GE is trading near its 52-week low, and this conglomerate is in a great position to climb back to its November highs once it is again in the good graces of the analysts. Two specific roadblocks to recovery for GE are its financial services, which were hit hard due to the credit crisis, and its ownership of NBC Universal, which analysts have been hounding GE to sell for years. With a significant 3.8% dividend, a higher yield than most money market funds, this stock is worth a second look. With lowered market expectations we should see a jump in GE when it posts second-quarter earnings.

play the market wisely

In order to take advantage of dips in the market you need to be aggressive when others are being passive and look to build your position while everyone else is trying to sell theirs off. It may seem counterintuitive at first, but remember that you should always be trying to buy low and sell high. It helps to put together a wish list of well-performing stocks that you would like to own. Actively track them and make sure that your money is never 100% invested. That way, when one of your favorite companies is unfairly knocked down, you'll be ready to strike with another perfectly timed stock pick.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://finance.yahoo.com
www.dj.com
www.nasdaq.com
www.standardandpoors.com
Article Suggested By: Cory P., Dallas, TX