Listen Realtors...

Many of you may have heard about the 203k FHA Renovation Loan, but few have actually decided to dive in with both feet.  NOW is the time to start implementing the 203k into your proposals... Here's a scenario:

Realtors: Here's the problem... Have a listing that needs improvements AND the Sellers can't afford to invest in making those improvements? This causes the listing to sit for possibly months & may even be the cause for the property not showing as well.  Most Buyers aren't willing (or are unable) to invest money from their savings to improve the property after closing.

BEFORE                                          AFTER

Solution: With a 203k loan, the Buyers can now roll the costs of those improvements into their offer & have them financed...requiring ONLY the 3% minimum FHA down-payment!! IT GETS BETTER! Have a Buyer who doesn't have the 3% down-payment? IT CAN BE GIFTED...essentially allowing the Buyer to enter & close without investment on their part!!  Now...here's an even better point...the loan closes (and you get PAID!) PRIOR to the improvements being complete!  Would you agree that this opens a world of possibilities for your Buyers & Listing now?

There's never been a better time for you to prove your value and market awareness to your clients.  If you need help understanding the process, I will be posting a much lengthier explanation and "tutorial" soon or - feel free to email or call & I'll walk you through.

Don't let it be intimidating - spend a few hours in research & development & your clients will forever thank you!

Josh Perrington - FHA 203k Renovation Consultant

Roanoke, VA 540.904.0842

josh@gatewayloans.org

High Net Worth

Thought I would share a little of what's been inspiring me lately.  CNBC's "High Net Worth" is a phenomenal resource for how the affluent choose to spend their time & money.  Enjoy!

Hosted by Tyler Mathisen, "High Net Worth" provides avenues for viewers to extend their wealth and get the most out of the assets they have. Simply, there is no other program like this on television. This is a program that speaks to the ultra-affluent. Mathisen and his guests celebrate the very best life has to offer, from exclusive golf resorts and elite boutique hotels to incredible real estate and choice art. Mathisen reports the very latest news on investing trends and opportunities as well as news on taxes, trusts and estates.

Unique Idea for your Business Trip!!!

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the show on CNBC called High Net Worth! Not only will it inspire, but it will surely give way to some great referral partner ideas! Just recently they did a feature on business trips & how effective they truly are.  The result? The MORE UNIQUE THE BETTER!!!

Jay Bailey owns Bailey Outdoors located in Forest, VA & is offering one of the most unique trips I've seen yet!  I've asked him to explain a little... Check it out!!!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

There's something about the passion that waterfowlers have that is not easily explained with words.  There are the early crisp winter mornings, the frost on the ground, the thin sheet of ice on the marsh, the whistling of wings, the excited retriever, the slight breeze which makes a spread of decoys come to life.  All these things I was fortunate enough to experienced at an early age and the passion quickly grew and has never let up for 33 years now. 

My passion for waterfowling has been so intense over the years that I started an outdoor business, Bailey Outdoors, where I sell layout style duck hunting boats and specialty mud motors.  These products are designed to get hunters back into places that ordinary rigs will not go.  The boats are truly amazing and they certainly get a lot of attention when I'm out on the river in the summer time playing with the kids.

In addition to hunting locally, it has always been a dream of mine to go to what many would consider a waterfowlers paradise and that's the South American country of Argentina. 

 I've read about it, seen the videos, and photos on the internet but didn't know anyone who personally who had actually gone.  So being the proactive kind of guy that I am my dad and I planned a trip, not knowing who to call or where to turn we did a simple internet search and got hooked up with a reasonable outfitter who offered both Ducks, Geese, and Perdiz in the Bahia Blanca region of Argentina.  We arrived with excitement and passion.  It was more costly than any of the previous trips we'd taken in the States so we were a bit apprehensive as well.  After the first day we were in total shock !!   Wow !!  We didn't know such a place could even exist and we were instantly in love.  I new right then, right there, at that certain instant in time, that I'd found something I would do every year for the rest of my healthy days on this earth !!   Without question or doubt I was going and no one would stop me.  This was a dream come true !! 

After a few days of hunting and getting to know the outfitter and all the staff we began to talk a little about my duck hunting business of selling boats and motors and how I have been able to sell to people who either wealthy or to those who are simply like me and have a true passion of this sport.  I pulled out some business cards and brochures and showed everyone what I sell and how the product works.  They had never seen such boats or motors so it was an education to them.  I asked if I could leave some information behind at the lodge for other hunters to see and he said, "Sure. Absolutely".  One of the other guests in the lodge then mentioned to the outfitter, "Hey you should get Jay to sell hunts for you".  I was a little taken back by that comment, then I thought about it for a moment not having thought of it before, and the next thing was the outfitter saying, "I agree, I think he'd be good at it".  Hello Jay, did you just hear that or are you dreaming?  YES !  When do I start?  How about as soon as you leave hear we get you set up?   I had never thought of myself as a broker for hunts to Argentina and it happened by complete accident.

Oh yeah, and about the Perdiz hunting...  What a pleasure!  It reminds me of the quail hunts my dad and I took when I was a young boy.  Totally wild birds, plentiful, and a great pointing dog working the birds for you.

Jay Bailey
Bailey Outdoors
1266 High Grove Rd.
Forest, Virginia 24551
434-610-3904
Jay@BaileyOutdoors.com

Is it my breath?

We just finished participating in the Roanoke Valley's Virginia Outdoor Sportman's Classic and had an absolutely wonderful time...not to mention some great conversations about the current market & exciting times ahead!  Although the event was a huge success, I couldn't help feel  in another local mortgage company being represented at the show.

I'm an extremely outgoing guy, so I tried numerous times to strike up conversation with this other mortgage company but I couldn't get past the "competition" phase with them.  I'm a firm believer that if your successful in your industry & secure in your abilities - why not build relationships with your "competitors" and get past the "I've got 3 million in my pipeline how about you" talks?!?!  A lot of good can come from those experiences and it would be nice to have other open-minded professionals to work with.   

Would LOVE your thoughts on building relationships with others in your local industry...

There's a big world out there & life's amazing - so don't run the other way at trade shows when your "competitors" want to help!! :)

He won't leave you in the dark...

I've had the pleasure of using TG Electrical Services in the past & was impressed with Travis's experience and advice.  All too often, it's hard to find an Electrician you can trust in the Roanoke, VA area & it's nice to have someone now to rely on...instead of frantically flipping through the Yellow Pages and picking the one with the prettiest ad. (Come on, we've all done that!)

Travis issued the following letter to all of his past clients & I wanted to take a moment to pass along... Enjoy!

In the recent week, many homes in the Roanoke, VA area lost power for up to six days. Lose of power contributes to lose of heat, food, hot water, and generally the way of life you and your family are accustomed.

This problem can easily be resolved for future power outages. Let me share with you how this can be accomplished. Contact T.G. Electrical for a free in home consultation on the benefits of installing a Back Up Generator System. Generators keep power on when there is an outage, so the comforts of your home remain intact.

Call us and we will advise you and your family on size and features of the generator that is right for your home.

DON'T BE LEFT IN THE DARK, AGAIN! T.G. Electrical also offers a wide variety of home electrical repairs and maintenance.

Call now and take advantage of 20% off your next electrical job. (New customers only) Offer Expires 4/31/08

Sincerely, Travis L. Gaylor T.G. Electrical Services L.L.C. 540-580-2940

travisgaylor@yahoo.com www.tgelectricalservices.servicemagicpro.com

Provided by: Josh Perrington, Gateway Mortgage Group Roanoke, VA

MyRoanokeStory.com

About My Roanoke Story

Read their story. Tell your own Roanoke story.

My Roanoke Story is a collaborative effort to highlight the amazing diversity of Roanokers and the talent pool of the Roanoke Valley.

Together with our media parters we strive to bring you, our visitors, an intriguing look at what it is to be a Roanoker by origin or adoption and the love we all share for Roanoke.

Do you live, work or play in the Roanoke area? Would you like to share your Roanoke story? Please send us two or three paragraphs including who you are, where you're from originally, your age range (20s, 50s, etc.), what you love about Roanoke and any other interesting details you care to share. Please make sure to send us your contact information as well so we can reach you if we have any questions about your submission.

Some of our Roanoke stories are solicited; other Roanoke stories have been sent in by our readers. We want to know you. You don't have to be well known or popular. The only prerequisite is an active connection to Roanoke.

We hope to hear your Roanoke story soon!

Click here to read Josh Perrington's Roanoke Story.

Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen's Classic '08

No plans this weekend in Roanoke?  Come check out our good friends at the Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen's Classic Feb 22 - 24th!!

Gateway Mortgage Team Roanoke has been named the Official Mortgage Provider!  What does that mean?  I have no idea...but sounds exciting right?!?!  :o)

We'll be giving away $10,000 in prizes, but the catch is...you gotta show up! Bring the family & let's talk about those land/home packages!

help needed...would be an understatement.

Fund drive aims to help family

"Coins for Caroline" reaches out to tackle medical bills and an international quest.

By JoAnne Poindexter
  981-3232

Caroline Stevens suffers from an aggressive cancer but her faith is unfaltering.

Although her health is deteriorating, "Caroline is optimistic that she's going to be healed by her God," said Josh Perrington , a Vinton Baptist Church member who has become a close family friend.

Vinton Baptist Church has aligned with HomeTown Bank, several restaurants and WSLS (Channel 10) to organize "Coins for Caroline," a fund drive to help the family with mounting medical bills and to try find a way to reunite Stevens with her three sons and mother, who are still in Liberia.

Since mid-December, Coins for Caroline has collected nearly $6,000, Perrington said.

Vinton Baptist has been working with the Stevenses since they moved to the Roanoke Valley two years ago, helping with housing, food, transportation and finding jobs.

Joseph Stevens, Caroline's husband, works nights at Lowe's, leaving their daughters Diamond, Jovina and Stanlyn at home with their mother.

"She's so weak, but she feels like she can survive," Joseph Stevens said of his wife. "We strongly have faith in God. If it's his will, no bad feelings. We know he's doing it for a purpose."

Caroline Stevens, 44, acknowledges that her death is inevitable, but she doesn't want her children to see her suffer.

Her one wish is for a visit from her mother and three sons, whom she's only talked to over the telephone during the past 10 years.

When Joseph, Caroline and Diamond, now 15, fled to a Guyana refugee camp during Liberia's civil war, her sons, now ages 25, 23 and 21, fled to another camp with their father..

Caroline Stevens was ill when she left the camp, but learned she had cancer only after arriving in Roanoke.

"The reason we came here was to seek U.S. medical help for her," said Joseph Stevens, who had been tortured during the Liberian civil war. "I didn't tell her she had cancer. I was afraid she would worry too much."

"Death has missed me so many times," said Caroline Stevens, lying in her Vinton home on a hospital bed with her well-worn Bible at her side.

She started counting the times: when she was a child in Africa, she stopped breathing long enough to be declared dead; when she was "almost slaughtered during ritual activities"; when a bullet passed over her head during civil war in her home country of Liberia; and when she and part of her family lived in a refugee camp in Ghana for 10 years.

Even with terminal colon cancer, Stevens still has some fight.

"I want to achieve -- to work hard and take care of my people. I wanted to do something good for myself and my family," Stevens said, balling her fists for emphasis.

"I have to believe I will get up from here. I will get up from here. I will get to heal. I've got to believe. I trust in my God, and I know that he will do it."

Stevens said her faith has been confirmed in part by the way Vinton Baptist members have reached out to her family.

"We have a lot of family now. I feel good being here, being loved by people I didn't know I'd be loved by."

Reluctantly opening a can of worms...

Alright, can I first say that I'm absolutely NOT bashing, condemning, or provoking the Agents for United First Financial and the Money Merge Account (MMA)?  What I am willing to state, however, is my disappointment in the conduct of some of the representatives.  For those of you who have never heard of MMA...go look it up - should be relatively easy to find on Google.

I think we're all in agreement that there has never been a better time to educate the public on ways of accelerating their equity and ultimately paying off household debt entirely.  But, it shouldn't come at the expense of the financially uneducated.  

The concept of MMA is completely genius... In a nutshell, it allows a semi financially savvy client to float money from an equity line to place on their 1st mortgage, effectively paying down the principal at an accelerated rate. The concept works because of the difference in the type of accounts being used...Open-ended line VS Closed end mortgage.

Here's the problem...  It costs roughly $150 for you to become an agent & the only true requirement is to pass an online test (that is open book).  There's an obvious incentive for becoming an agent b/c you'll make commissions on sales, which can be hefty.  The commissions aren't the problem.  The problem lies within the newest of new agents that have no financial background at all.  Can they learn? YES! But are they likely to become experts prior to hitting the streets? NO - every single time, b/c they're looking at the commissions.  Some clients just do not belong in the product, but in the hands of a new agent looking for the $1000 paycheck...you know the answer.

Again, I love the concept for acceleration...I'm not fond of the approach for getting the word out...

Another Suni Day! Yes...I meant to spell it that way!

Ever wonder what the dynamics of a perfect Realtor may look like?  Now...everyone has flaws, but I seriously think I've found one in the Roanoke Valley that comes pretty close to perfection!  I had the opportunity to work with Suni Heflin of Remax All Stars (fitting) recently and was pleasantly surprised at how well she handled herself throughout the buying process.

To top it all off?  I love more than anything discovering why people do what they do to earn a living and Suni was very candid in stating that although her whole family has been involved in real estate from a very young age - she had absolutely no interest!  She went to school for Marketing & received her Baccalaureate - then went on to become the Director of Marketing at an area company.  It wasn't until much later that she felt real estate calling...  And who better to market a house that a former Director of Marketing?!?!?!  I've worked with many Roanoke Area Realtors & Suni's worth mentioning!  Not only did she prove to be a Go-Getter for her client, she took the time to build trust for this first time homebuyer & guide him every step of the way.

Congrats on a job well done Suni & look out Roanoke...here she comes!