We are all looking to get ahead. We want good press, we want great referrals, we want hassel free marketing. Well........

Good Luck.

The beauty of Karma is, when you are a nasty person, you better watch your back. But also, if you are a good person, rewards will come your way.

Recently I talked to some other blogs and business owners. We talked about effective advertising, monetizing advertising, etc.

And simply put, get over yourselves. When it comes to business, a little good goes along way. There are some that will gauge success by the pennies that are spent putting ads up, pay per click, etc. on others sites, or receiving these minor sums when those on your site are lucky enough to be chosen.

You may earn $50 bucks a month making someone pay for advertising on your site. Or you can look incredibly successful running 7 or 10 free ads on your site. You can trade with other businesses, give the world the perception of success while giving others a chance to promote their businesses as well. Remember, there is never a reason that beside you and your advertisers, no one should know which ads are paid for or not. I love that there are some of us that think we don't need a perception of success, because we are successful, and then there are others that know, perception is everything, everyone can use better and improved mojo. No one person has it all, yet.

What charity, fundraiser, non-profit doesn't want free advertising? You can trade banners, ads, (not links, because no one sees them). Allow those companies to refer people to you as you refer people to them. Yes there are the big shots that have hundreds of thousands of followers, that command more than a mere trade. Leave them alone. Let HP or Microsoft pay the big money and give your business a great platform by being seen on 5 or 10 additional sites that aren't your own.

I guess what I am getting at is, don't get too big for your britches. Give another business a hand up, let those around you refer you, let them know who you are and what great things you can do. Allow those around you to really feel good about their realtor and their business. 

There are a lot of good marketing tools and then there are alot of marketing tips and tricks. But as my father used to say "Nothing will replace, good business. Make sure when they think of good business, they think of you."

This might just be my two cents, but when a lot of us get wrapped up in new platforms and technology, we often forget about business fundamentals.  

So, less than a week ago I was shocked by the recent snow. ( I knew better) And now I am off to another announcement.
Yesterday I was equally shocked by the 65 degree weather. Yes, that was a 6 then a 5. For March in Montana, that is down right June weather.
So the question of the day is what do we get from Montana? (Frankly what a stupid question)
And the answer would be, beautiful mountains, emerald trees, cold but sparkling lakes. What we also get is snowshoeing and mountain biking in the same week.
Really, you can never be bored here?
In the summer, the small towns have that storybook charm, then in the winter, the weather definitely keeps you on your toes.

A little indecisive are we? Then frankly, Montana is the place for you.

Well, yes I live in Montana, and yes you would think that we would still be expecting more and more snow. Frankly I have a few, a very few, memories of snow in June or the 4th of July.

But, no matter how long I have lived in Montana, I am stilled surprised that this very morning it is snowing.

We have had months without snow and the last 2 weeks have been in the 40's and 50's. For Montana, in February, that is down right tropical. So what if the rest of the country has had snow lately, our tulips are coming out of the ground. Yesterday, I was contemplating how soon I could throw down seed. Wow, I really am slipping.

The stimulus bill has fried my brain and I have lost all logic, appearantly including the understanding of when it should snow in Montana.

Well...... enjoy!

So, I try to stick strictly to blogging, but have decided to highlight one of my listings every month. This town house has 2 bedrooms 2 & 1/4 baths, office nook, kitchen, dining and living combo. The association pays for exterior maintenance, garbage, water, exterior insurance, snow removal and lawn maintenance. This is totally maintenance free living right in Hamilton, Montana. Home offered at $179,000. There are two pictures below. If you would like to see more, try the virtual tour at http://www.exite-listings.com/etour.html/TOURID/9586 or call anytime at 406-396-4752

So, the stimulus package does not offer the $15,000 credit that I had hoped, but it doesn't mean it isn't a good time to buy or to make some money.

Yes interest rates are low, but lending criteria is still tight. One alternative would be seller financing. I know quite a few people that make their living off of seller financing/private lending. What they do is carry the contract for the buyer and get paid interest like a standard mortgage except the seller is the "bank" so to speak. Now, some property owners don't mind lending because if the buyer forecloses, the lender/seller can turn around and resell the same property over and over. Now this will only work if the seller obviously has the cash to loan or owns the property outright, but it is a good alternative to conventional lending.

Again, don't get into a private contract if you cannot afford the property. No good will come out of that situation.
Items to remember when considering financing the buyer.

1. If you don't want to hold a 20 or 30 year contract, you can amortize the contract over 20 years with a balloon in 3 or 5 years. Just like your local bank can.

2. Always have a lawyer write the contract and oversee the negotiation with your Realtor. No, matter how smart you think you are.

3. Private Financiers usually can charge more interest then your typical bank or mortgage.

4. You might want to discuss the ability for the buyer to borrow more money against the property from a third party with your lawyer. You don' want a buyer to default and then you owe the 3rd party lender.

Seller financing isn't always the answer, but it is an option. And it might just be a way to extract money from your property instead of listing for a year or more.

So, legislative season is in full swing and has been since the New Year. Many people follow session, but even more, sadly, don't.

Whatever your political persuasion, following the bills on the hill bode well for our industry. I don' t have a current number but there are bills about mandatory builder home warranty, new meth disclosure and definition, property rights in subdivision regs, new streamside setback regulations, lack of accountability in the county government by allowing interim zoning without emergency measures, many of item and much, much more looking to change the face of home ownership and real estate in Montana.

It is no longer about listing houses, it is time to provide our customers the best representation and fight for those bills and regulation that protect the private property owners and the real estate industry.

In the state on Montana I have never seen such an attack on land use and property rights. If you have any questions or are looking into being involved in Montana or any other state feel free to comment or post questions.

Waiting to hear on the new stimulus package. Really I have very little constructive criticism on the stimulus package, criticism yes, contructive....no. But I will work on it. Whether or not it will bring economic stimulus is the question of the hour.....frankly, probably not a lot. But, at this point I figure take what you can get. So, for housing this might actually help.
I have heard that there could be up to a $15,000 tax credit for a new home. Not on one you already own. This tax credit could be very beneficial to some. But, what happens when you sell your home? You will probably have to pay as much of the credit back out of your profit. If there is no profit, then there is no repayment. This was a condition when first throwing the idea of the credit around, but we will see what is in the final package. Obviously, my advice would be, be aware. If you take the credit, prepare yourself for what you pay when you resell. Either, put a little money aside each month preparing yourself for the repayment of the credit, put off selling your home until you have an immense amount of equity in your home and the markets are moving again, or don't use the credit.

Don't get me wrong, I think the buyer tax credit could be a very great tool. But, I am a firm believer in understanding completely what you are getting yourself into. It is never to early too plan you next step however lofty it might seem. Try not to get caught up in the hype, read the fine print and then make your government and their programs work for you.

At Exit Realty we make it our goal to get to know our clients. If a client needs a referral for an agent somewhere else, we do extensive research on different personalities of the agents and the clients. If you find yourself in a sea of Real Estate agents and don't know who to choose, contact me and I will find that perfect agent for you. If you are in Montana or across the nation, I will work hard to find you are rightfully represented.

So, it is a New Year! It is also a slow economy. Like you needed me to tell you that. The one thing a slow economy brings is great deals!. With interest rates somewhere between 4 and 5%, if you are able, you need to buy now. Great rates and lower prices are making for a perfect storm. The problem is a lot of America is reactive, not proactive, do you jump on the stock as it is at its peak, or if your lucky just before it raises. I know, this is easier said than done, and I am not an advocate of reckless spending, or stretching your budget. But if you are financially stable and have the means to enter the Real Estate Market, then now is the time.
A recent report predicted that 5 cities in Montana are in the top 25 housing markets for 2009. Here they are:
In a recent release by Housing Predictor, a national online real estate research firm, 5 Montana
cities ranked in the top 25 Housing Markets for 2009:
#2 Billings
#8 Bozeman
#12 Great Falls
#13 Livingston
#15 Missoula
This report was done byhttp://www.housingpredictor.com/topmarkets.html.

My firm is located in the Bitterroot Valley, just off the cusp of Missoula. And the most beautiful valley in the state.
Whether you are buying in the Bitterroot or across the state of Montana, I can provide you with impeccable service or refer you to some of the top professionals in the state.
Take a deep breath and jump in before the stock rises. Because Montana stock has always been one of the best. Posted by Jenny Stoddard at 11:32 AM 0 comments Labels: Bitterroot Valley, Bitterroot Valley Realtor, homes, Montana

Monday, November 17, 2008