Wait a minute, I thought the year just got started. Do you find yourself saying that each year? I do and one of the things we may all becoming aware of is this; The older we get...the faster the time seems to go! At the end of each year I, like everyone else, begin to question my business success over the year and often times come to a realization that I did not accomplish what I had originally set out to do for the year. For years I kept saying to myself, "I've got to work harder and smarter next year and stick with it."

Then these last two years came along and kicked me in the teeth! OUCH! I don't want to sound like a victim here but wow...really...I just didn't see it coming and I got caught like many others in the real estate business. My wife and one of my daughters are also in the real estate business and all of us experienced some massive frustration...We just completed writing a book called "Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy." Whether you are in the real estate business or any other business for that matter, it may be a great read for you...and we gladly share it with you for FREE. Simply go to my profile or see my link , "FREE ebook" and click on it. All of our active rain friends may have it for free. It's a pdf download...Writing the book really got us refocused on the correct way to think and ultimately on creating a very strong financial base.  

PLEASE VOTE TODAY: We have a family friend who is one of the two finalist to be A Victoria Secret Angel this year. Her name is Kylie Bisutti.  Every vote counts..1. go to http://cbs.com  2. go to bottom of page and click on Victoria Secret Home page  3. Click on watch and vote  4. Click on Vote now for your favorite  5. Vote for Kylie Thanks, JC  

As we wrap up 2009 and put it behind us, it's time to prepare for 2010. While I am one of the most optimistic people you will ever meet, I was slammed financially in 2008....YES I know it's now the end of 2009 and we are heading for 2010...Just giving some background....

I love the new slogan that Realty Executives has come up with describing our real estate market as "The New Normal."  Although I am not with them, I believe they have nailed it... We are now getting adjusted to the new normal and it's different than before.... My wife, daughter and I have just completed writing our newest book called "Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy."  While I have been sucessful in the real estate industry in the Las Vegas market for some 28 years, 2008 and 2009 woke me up!

We will provide a FREE ebook version of our new book to all of our Active Rain Family...Simply go to my profile here on active rain and click on the FREE ebook or CLICK on FREE ebook from my links.  It's a quick read designed to help reinvent yourself! Happy Holidays to all... It is our gift to you!

Happy Holidays to all. JC in Vegas 

It was great to spend four days in beautiful San Diego at this years annual convention. The message was, "think Green" as our new normal continues to unfold and be open to the vast opportunity that exists in this market. Prices are low and investors are on the move....It is likely that more millionaires will be made over the next few years in real estate than we have seen for a long, long time.

Think about getting two designations which will serve you well over the next bunch of years.                     1. I'd immediately recommend that you pursue your SRS designation from the SRS council. This is the new Seller Representative Specialist and is a fairly elite group... The cost is reasonable and the benefits of the program will provide you with the tools for massive success in 2010 and beyond. Go to www.srscouncil.com  

for more info or a two day program near you!  

2. I'd suggest that you strongly consider obtaining your GREEN designation from NAR before the middle of 2011 if you do not already have it....The consumer is beginning to become more globally and socially responsible and will be looking to work with an agent who understands and can communicate the benefits of GREEN living. To get information on the designation or find a course near you, go to: www.greenresourcecouncil.org/ 

Well boys and girls, here's the deal! There is no free lunch in our real estate market this year and there won't be next year either.  The only way agents will be kicking butt in 2010 is by starting that process by November 1, 2009... If we have not yet reinvented ourselves in this "new" economy, it's time to do so right NOW! The banks did not flood us with REOs in the second half of 2009 and won't flood us at all in 2010...

It's time to excel in Buyer Agency or become a Short Sale Listing expert if you are not yet an REO listing agent. In any case, we'd better set the business plan in motion for an early jump on 2010. Today's open escrows are January and February closings. I notice that the most successful agents in the business all have an outstanding fourth quarter when it comes to productive activities. This launches them in the first quarter of the coming year... I see this year in and year out with top producers.  Repeat after me...."If it's going to be - it's up to me."   JC in Vegas

    

     My good friend and mortgage broker, Mark Stephan, shared a theory over dinner last evening which makes perfect sense.  

     He suggested that because of the unemployment numbers, slow retail sales, slumping real estate business and all the associated downturn affecting the nation's economy that the "collective people" of the country are in a state of depression!

     He went on to suggest that it is very apparent based on the lack of action on the part of the population to change their personal circumstances to move out of this economic stumbling block....

     I tend to agree with his analysis as I have known for a very long time that confused people do nothing...I have co-workers and friends that seem to be frozen in their tracks and virtually refuse to take any kind of productive action to change their current situation.

     Here is the question and I would love to get your quick response to it: Do you believe that most folks around you are waiting and hoping that "something will happen" or are you seeing people "putting together a business plan" and aggressively attempting to change their lives?

With a population of 25,000 people it is a different world 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas in Mesquite. Watch this video to learn all about what is happening there. A new international sports facility, Del Webb's Sun City project and much much more. A fast moving interview with JC Melvin of Real Estate Live and Jon Lyon of Keller Williams in Mesquite. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WkcxSeqxLI

 

  YIKES, 8.33% of the year is gone if we are counting by months. Does this mean that I should have already achieved almost 10% of my annual goals by now?

  Guess if I was waiting for all the new changes to take place with the new administration before I really got started.....I may want to re-think that strategy. Not that I am disappointed with what's happening in DC...I just think it's time to remind myself that "If it's going to be, it's up to me."

 If you are anything like me you may have just come to the realization that we are less that 11 months away from Christmas already and the year of 2009 is moving forward at a rapid rate. I think we all know that the older we get - the faster time seems to move.

I'll be re-committing to my goals and revisiting my plan this week...If you have any tricks on how you stay focused - PLEASE share them!

Thanks,

JC   

Am I too late for the REO wave? Should I have gotten into that game a year ago?  I heard that the asset managers are looking for people with experience... Do I need to get certified?

All of these questions are answered in this short video interview with Dan Waterman, the CEO of The National Foreclosure Sales Training Institute (NFSTI, llc.). I was fortunate to catch up with Dan immediately after he completed one of his two day "REO Certification" programs in Henderson, Nevada. Looks like the number of foreclosures will more than double in some areas of the country in 2009 although that's not all bad news. For the real estate agent, it is what it is.... In some areas of the country, such as Las Vegas, nearly 80% of all the closings for the last quarter of 2008 were REOs. Can you say "OUCH!"

While there are several REO Certification programs in the country right now, NFSTI, llc. appears to be amoung the most recognized by the banks and asset managers.  Waterman brings asset managers into the program and the participants workshop the nuts and bolts of the process. The program involves a complete online follow-up system and national network system you can plug into once you've been certified.  Hope you enjoy this fast moving interview by JC Melvin. Archived shows can be seen at www.RealEstateLive.TV

The Las Vegas market, after taking a beating in 2007, showed some significant signs of improvement over the course of 2008. While we recognize the number of foreclosures may, in fact, rise in 2009 over the 30,000 foreclosures of 2008, we are still bright on the future of real estate in Las Vegas.

The median price of single family homes dropped 33% from December of 2007 to December of 2008 according to the re-sale data provided by the Greater Las Vegas Assiciation of Realtors MLS service. The interesting thing is that the sales volume rose by 63% over the previous year to almost 25,000 re-sales.

If you click to watch the video below, you will see the complete recap of the Las Vegas Market along with the expectations for 2009 provided by JC Melvin.  Also included are comments and prospects of the mortgage rates for 2009 provided by Metro Cities Mark Stephan.  Enjoy the report. I'd love to get your feedback.

Thanks,

JC