Ken's Blog

The Woodlands, Real Estate Market Report- June/July, 2008

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:38:51 -0500

Rushmore_BullBearBisonLion
Originally uploaded by www.agatti.com

Bull, Bear, Bison or Lion?

Bull - Prices are not declining. Real estate economists believe that 6 months of For Sale inventory represents a balanced market. In The Woodlands, TX, according to Houston Association of Realtors, Multiple Listings Service Statistics, the inventory has never climbed above 5 months. It's a Seller's Market.

Sellers: With the correct merchandising, positioning and marketing, you can push the price envelope.

Buyers: When you find something you really like or love, jump on it. In The Woodlands, screaming steals or deals are as rare wild bison.

Realtor Icons: Listings Inventory is worth chasing. Invest your time, money and energy to position, merchandise and market like gorilla glue sticks, you win, your clients win.

Bear: Interest rates are likely to climb. Prices aren't likely to climb. Waiting won't fix it, act now.

Bison: Don't follow the thundering herd. What we read and watch, all the negative news media reported, about the real estate market is not accurate for The Woodlands Area and Greater Houston. Real Estate is local. Here are the facts.

Lion: Buying or selling - Arm yourself with facts. Choose a savvy, hard working, service oriented Realtor to guide you through the real estate jungle. Wild success can be had, not for lambs, for lions.

You can download the entire report in .PDF format - Click HERE.

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The Genius and Your Value Is In The Details - Presentation, Staging and Positioning

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:55:12 -0500

13 Things
Originally uploaded by Fade The Great

How do YOU levitate above the sea of sameness?

How do YOU twinkle, surprise and delight?

How are YOU unique, best, remarkable?

Your sellers depend on YOU to sell their properties for Top Dollar, right? Delighted sellers lead to referrals, right?

Staging, Preparation, Presentation and Positioning is paramount.

Learn the magic, develop the skills, become REMARKABLE.

How?

Participate, Embrace and Absorb - Sign UP for the Certified Home Marketing Specialist (CHS) day long workshop. Taught by Martha Webb, author & producer of Dress Your House for Success.

When: Wednesday or Thursday, September 24th or 25th. Investment = $145 (Prudential Gary Greene Special Savings - normally $245)

Where: Kaplan Profesisonal Schools,1250 W. Sam Houston Parkway, Suite 200

Yes, seating is limited, Register ONLINE. It's easy, click, clickity-clack type, rock-on. Or you can do it the old fashioned way, download and FAX.

Want more details? HERE it is.

Do it today, up-rise beyond remarkability.

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Bonus - Do this as well.

3 Simple Steps - Save YouTube Clips to Hard Drive, Convert to .MP4, Embed in PowerPoint Slides on your MAC

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:08:18 -0500

No free fall, no flames, no thud, it was easier than I thought.

I'm tricking out my deck of PowerPoint Slides.

I lead a two day workshop, it's one of six Fast Start Real Estate Training modules. The official name, Business Development & Prospecting. I call it "Creating Cataclysmic Perpetual Prosperity", Casting Tall Shadows and Looming Large" and "Seductive Odd Angle Conversations and Confident Persuasion". Because it sounds cooler, more accurate.

I wanted to insert a few funny YouTube clips, you know, to illustrate a point and jazz it up.

Inserted Clip One - Millionth Customer - Rotary Dial Fail -Time To Upgrade
Inserted Clip Two - Joe Dirt shares the Golden Rule 2.0 - It's the Consumer Dude
Inserted Clip Three - The Mighty William Hung

Maybe this will save you thirty minutes or so. It took about an hour to figure it all out, you could probably figure it out faster but with these three steps you'll scream to the finish line.

Here's what I found and how I did it in three easy steps.

1. Go to this website. Paste your YouTube Video URL into box and hit the SEND button. This free site captures your YouTube vid and downloads the video in .flv format.

2. To embed your downloaded video in a PowerPoint Slide, you'll need to convert it a format that PowerPoint recognizes, like .MP4. Download this free and fast software conversion tool, it's called iSquint. Install and launch iSquit. Drag your downloaded .flv Youtube video into iSquint and hit START. Whap, boom, bam...the file is converted to .mp4. Now PowerPoint recognized your video.

3. Launch PowerPoint, open your slide show. Insert new slide. Next, on the Top Bar, click on 'Insert", drop down and click on "Movie...", browse to your saved/converted .MP4 file, click "Choose". That's it, your golden.

Pretty cool.

Good luck.

Ken Brand - 832-797-1779

The Woodlands Real Estate Market Report May/June - Buyer's or Seller's Market?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:54:29 -0500

Is it a Seller's Market or a Buyer's Market?

Are real estate prices going UP, falling or stable?

Should I buy now? Is it a good time to sell?

What's the Average Sold Price?

How long does it take to sell a property in The Woodlands?

Questions are answered in this collection of May/June Real Estate Reports.

You will discover:

Prices continue a steady march UP....not running, not jogging, but walking up.

There is less than 3 months of For Sale Listing Inventory in The Woodlands TX. Yes, it's a seller's market.

Properly priced, well merchandised and uber-professionally marketed properties on average, sell in less than 70 days.

The average priced property in The Woodlands (May closings) is $344,625.

You can really dig into the data (supplied by the Houston Association of Realtors, Multiple Listing Service Statistics) by downloading our collection of detailed reports.

More - Kiplinger Magazine names Houston as #1 Place To Live, Work & Play.

If you have follow-up questions, give me call, Ken Brand @ 832-797-1779 or shoot me an email - kenbrand@garygreene.com

Thanks.

Chase and Embrace

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:45:30 -0500

Niels Bohr said, "The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth."

Hugh MacLeod said:

I chase and embrace a wiggly Web 2.0. It's technology/social media pointed at sharing the "real you", also called the "transparent you or the authentic you or keeping it real." This leads to people getting to know who you are.

Rita Mae Brown sez this: About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for what you can do for them, and some won't like you at all.

Ken Brand sez it looks like this:

Hugh sez it like this too:

Social Media/Web 2.0/Twitter/Blogging, et al, it's not for everyone, is it for you?

I believe we ~~should~~ ~~must~~ better stay active - stay static and soon we're invisible, irrelevant and a footnote.

Pat Kitano does a fantastic job of explaining Twitter, FriendFeed and Social Networking:

Novice - Expert - Pretender - Contender - Champion

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:39:58 -0500

I struggle, I'm challenged, I have hopes, dreams, wishes and aspirations. Unfortunately, as Fred has shared, HOPE is not a strategy. Smart action is. (Personally, for me...surrounding myself with Realtor Icons works like the sun rises.)

Good News and Bad News. In pursuits professional and personal, to grow requires more...doing what the average, ordinary and amateur won't. Most won't pay the price. For those who do - Expertise.

Katy Sierra has an eye opening, spark your brain, blue print for what does work.

Check it OUT - CLICK HERE Here's a snippet:

Most of us want to practice the things we're already good at, and avoid the things we suck at. We stay average or intermediate amateurs forever.

Yet the research says that if we were willing to put in more hours, and to use those hours to practice the things that aren't so fun, we could become good. Great. Potentially brilliant. We need, as Restak refers to it, "a rage to master." That dedication to mastery drives the potential expert to focus on the most subtle aspects of performance, and to never be satisfied. There is always more to improve on, and they're willing to work on the less fun stuff. Restak quotes Sam Snead, considered one of the top five golfers of the twentieth century, as saying: CLICK HERE

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Be good! ~ Ken Brand
"Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there. - Josh Billings

Polaroid - The Woodlands, TX - Real Estate Market - May 29th, 2008

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:17:43 -0500

A quick snap shot of The Woodlands real estate market - by Ken Brand

To win big-fat and juicy, consider a Forest Gump like sprint for the next 90 days.

Historically, more sales are written in June, July & August than any other three months. You know what to do, don’t you?

Listing Inventory - The Woodlands, TX
As of 2:19pm, May 29th, according to Houston Association of REALTORS, Multiple Listing Service – there are 862 Active Listings on the market in The Woodlands. Last year at this time there were 868. Historically, listing inventory begins to shrink from here till January. As you may recall, listing inventory in The Woodlands has been running about 10% to 18% higher than last year's – it’s running below last year's level - there is less inventory. This means that listings are selling and fewer new listings will be coming on the market. Attention Icons - re-triple your efforts to take new listings and your bank balance will rise faster than the price of gasoline.

Go. Now. Fast.

Written Sales - The Woodlands, TX
May 2007 = 277 Contracts Pened in The Woodlands, TX (all brokers), it looks like there will be 280 contracts written/pended this month. 280 is higher than 277, duh. This will be the first month in 9 months where sales were ahead of the previous year.

Conclusion – Sales are growing, listing inventory is shrinking, hard working agents are winning bigger than ever, lazy agents are losing bigger than ever. You’re smart, good looking and hard working, take advantage.

Go. Run. Do.

Our Team Shines - Our Sellers Benefit

Here’s something to be proud of. According to HAR MLS Closed Sales Statics for The Woodlands, month to date.

Average List Price To Sale Price % for Closed Single Family Homes

We lead in netting our sellers more money –
Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors, The Woodlands -98.6%
Keller Williams Realty/Woodlands – 97.7%
Coldwell Banker United Realtors – 97.3%
Re/Max Spring-Woodlands – 95.01%

That’s it my friends. All the BEST!
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"It's about the consumer dude!" ~ Joe Dirt

Do you know what Joe Dirt Knows? Where's The Good Stuff and Who's It All About?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:01:46 -0500

Joe Dirt shares the sage secret. It's about the consumer dudes and dudettes.

Golden Rule 1.0 - Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Golden Rule 2.0 - Do unto others as ~~you~~ they would have done unto ~~you~~ themselves.

Go ahead, watch it, Dirt takes the scenic route, 2 minutes in all is revealed. Joe knows the Golden Rule 2.0, it not about us/you it about the consumer!

Voice Mail Hell Be Gone - For Good Yo!

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:38:33 -0500

Two reviews.

Voice Mail Hell Be Gone - For Good, YO
This is an uber~cool tool/time saver. My friends, go to VoiceCloud and sign up for your free account. Have your Cell Voice Mails instantly text transcribed and sent to your email account - FREE. You can read 15 transcribed Voice Mail messages in a blink or you can wade through 15 minutes of ear bending strain to listed to each and every one.

I describe the service in the video below (the video is slightly out of sync (see Vidnik review), you'll be reminded of an old Godzilla movie).

Thanks Pat for the heads up, more information is available here.

Vidnik Review
Vidnik is a Google Code mini program that records video using the Mac iSight camera and allows you to upload directly to your YouTube account. I used it to record and upload the video below. You'll notice it's a bit like a Godzilla movie, circa 1960's. Just a word out of sync. I think I'll go back to using iMovie till they get it bugged out + resolution in the iSight is clean and vivid.

If you sign-up, let me know what you think. Cheers, Ken Brand - 832-797-1779 Twitter: @KenBrand

Don't Judge The Trulia Genie - Befried & Benefit

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:20:31 -0500

Attention Listing Agents

It's not easy. You've succeeded where others have stumbled and bumbled. You've invested time, energy and emotion, money too. You have listing inventory. Well done, Now What?

Now, you want to get those listings SOLD - the faster the better + you want to leverage the Law Of Attraction, you want to attract a silk purse full of qualified buyers and bank vault full of new salable listings. Right?

Here's something new, it's FREE, fast, smart and easy.

The Trulia Genie (5,000,000 on-line viewers per month) wants to grant you blessings....
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Helping You Build Your Brand, One Listing at a Time
5/21/2008 5:06:47 PM

Trulia just unveiled some new - and FREE! - real estate agent marketing tools. Brand Your Listings will help you build your brand and connect directly with the serious home buyers and sellers on Trulia!

Here’s what you get:

• Increased on-line visibility: Your photo and contact info on all of your listings.
• Connections with serious consumers: Emails from active home buyers & sellers sent directly to you
• Stats to share with sellers: Tell your clients how many people view their listings every week
• Open house advertising: Market your open house to thousands of local buyers

Great features to introduce yourself to the over 5 million users on Trulia each month, over 70% of whom plan to buy or sell in the next year and 70% of whom don’t yet have an agent. And the price is right – FREE!

In addition to these benefits, when you Brand Your Listings, you’ll pump up the SEO benefits that you already enjoy from your Trulia Voices profile. But more on that later, so stay tuned…

Check out the Brand Your Listings release here.

(PS – Did I mention it’s all FREE?)

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Bonus: Easy Video WalkThru

"Every door of opportunity begins as a window in the mind." - Roy H. Williams

The Woodlands Real Estate Market & Gas Prices + I'm smarter than I look.

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:19:58 -0500

Here's the deal.

Yeah, I know, I might look like a dork...but I'm smarter than I look. Here's the market down-low.

Want more information, facts, stats, reports and data?

Here's the straight skinny - Reports Only - .PDF style

A snapshot - May 21st, 2008, The Woodlands, Tx. - By Ken Brand

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another." - Walter Elliot

Women Rule - Deal With It.

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:49:57 -0500

Skies above our ragged red-flash-fast personal planets are strobed by meteor showers of fresh ideas, smarter ways and interesting perspectives. Catch some like fireflies, it's FREE.

I read, skim and scan dozens of blogs daily....I use Newsgator Feedreader. My jar is blinking...I wanted to share this post from Selisus Real Estate Blog - Interviews with the TOP 12 Women Bloggers of 2007. Interesting stuff.
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Top 12 Women Real Estate Bloggers - 2007 Edition

Published by sellsius October 9th, 2007 in Top 12 Women.

Finding this year’s top female real estate bloggers was not difficult. Narrowing the list down to 10 was. So, we decided to make this year’s group a little bigger - and then there were 12. With 12 months in the year, we wanted one top lady blogger for each month. Why? We’re going to put together a calender to promote each one of you. Now all you have to do is decide who gets which month. The choice is yours. Play nice ladies

Having personally met each of the women within this elite group, we can honestly say that they all possess the very best qualities that we’d expect in a real estate professional. More importantly, they are fantastic human beings. Ones we’re proud to call our friends.

Without further adieu, please welcome our Top 12 Women Real Estate Bloggers of 2007:

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE POST - Go Ahead, It's Worth Your Time

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If you're a guy and you want a shortcut to inside information - You would be wise to attend this two day transformational "Wonder Branding Workshop". I did.

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"We are too busy mopping the floor to turn off the faucet."

Cats Smoking Camels - What are you smoking?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:54:55 -0500

Do you know anyone who walks their CAT on a leash?

David Freeman said he could jokingly, but I think he's a cool enough cat himself to actually do it..."Why?" is another story.

Who do you that can actually herd CATS?

My take on CATS - they do what they please, when they want. To me, CATS actually look arrogant...I can easily picture a CAT, smirk-smoking a Camel. Just like in my semi-dream.

What does this have to do with Real Estate? I'm not sure. I woke this morning with the thought and visuals - CATS Smoking Camels.

After mulling it over half the day...I've come to the conclusion that I am supposed to blog about it.

Here's what I think - Life is like a CAT. You can't tame it, tell it what to do, walk it or herd it. Like a cagey CAT, life can purrrr and alternately or simultaneously, take a deep, unfiltered drag and languidly blow blue smoke rings in your face...with a smirk no less.

The real estate business is like that too - you can only control you own actions...the rest is C A T.

So If you're going to control your actions as a Realtor - it all begins and ends with C. A. T.

C = Conversation
A = Action
T = Thanksgiving

That's what I think. What do you think?

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“If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it?” ~ Stephen Wright

WTF - Words That Fail - Lose'em

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:58:28 -0500

What business are you really in?

Sure, you help people buy and sell real estate, if all goes well, in the end there's a "closing".

But, how does it all begin?

I believe it begins with a conversation, which leads to connection, then discovery, then you provide solutions/services, your solutions/services lead to getting hired and or referred.

Does that sound right to you?

If you believe it all starts with conversation (presentation?, perception? communication?) then the words you choose to use and the words you choose to lose will destroy, poison and neuter or build,enrich and create relationships cozy with trust, confidence, peace, love and understanding?

Right?

Words matter and here's clinical proof. In 1974, Elizabeth Loftus and Palmer carried out a psychosocial study called, "Reconstruction Of Automobile Destruction".

In this study forty five students from the University of Washington were shown seven film clips of car accidents. The clips ranged from five to thirty seconds long. After viewing each clip the students were asked to write a report on what they had seen. They were asked a series of questions about the videos. The critical question in this study was "At what speed was the car traveling?" The five categories of students were asked this question but with a different verb (shown below). Loftus and Palmer wanted to see if the verb influenced the students (eye witnesses) answers.

1) About how fast were the cars going when they collided with each other?

2) About how fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other

3) About how fast were the cars going when they bumped into each other?

4) About how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?

5) About how fast were the cars going when they contacted each other?

Here's the thing, all watched the same video, yet based on the verb answeres varied from 31.8mph to 40.8mph. Hmmmmm.....

Amazing, but it makes sense, we know specific words have power, choosing your verbs and the words we converse and connect with can and do make all the difference...whether we are aware or not.

I'm wondering, on average, how much time do you and I invest in consciously reviewing and recreating the words, sentences, statements, comments and communications we use in our business and personal relationships?

It all starts with conversation...where do you and I go from here?

I'll share a few ideas week after next. My posting will be light this next week. I'm headed to Austin this next week. Taking a Wizard Academy class, then off to Boston, big BU graduation for Heather.

Rock on my friends.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Without order nothing can exist - without chaos nothing can evolve."

Realtor Icons Huddle-Up in The Woodlands

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:32:35 -0500

The theme today......3 types of people.

Some people watch what happens.
Some people MAKE things happen!
Some People wonder WTF happened?

Which are you? Who are we? What do we want to be? How will we be? When will we do?

The Agenda is kinda thick, we went over real estate market trends in The Woodlands. Historically, the next 123 days will be filled with dynamite..for those with matches.
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Huh? Thought For The Day:
"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened." - Douglas Adams

Sex In The City, Iron Man, Raider's Of The Lost - Pick One, Roll Out The Red Carpet

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:18:49 -0500

This week's focus...same as last week.

Why in the world ~~flush~~ ~~burn~~ spend your hard earned money trying to snag a stranger. Don't waste your money.

Instead...entertain your friends, have some fun, chit-chat, listen.

Plan this, this week. Do this, next week.
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Visit your local theater website to check new release movie dates and times ~ Example: www.Cinemark.com (enter your zip code)

Pick a date and time – Friday or Wednesday, Matinee Start Time: Between 10:30 and Noon Thirtyish.

Send an Email Invitation To Gobs Of Prospects In Your Sphere. Include, Date, Time To Meet Up, Movie Start Time, Movie End Time, It’s Your TREAT = FREE Movie Pass For Them. Copy and Paste The Movie Poster Picture Into Your Email Invitation. Ask Everyone To Hit The “Reply” Button If They Can Attend.

Follow-Up All Your Invitations With A Telephone Call/Invitation

Mail A Note Card After Each Conversation.

Greet Everyone With A Hug And Big Fat Smile, Hand Out Tickets, Chit Chat, Graciously Accept Thank Yous.

Follow Up By Mailing A Note Card To All Attendees.

Follow Up With Absentees - Email Fun-Time Wish You Could Have Joined Us – Include picture.

Open Your Eyes, Ears, Mind and Designer Purse – Referral Opportunities Will Bloom Like A Field Of Wild Flowers
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It's that simple. Spend your time and money treating the people who trust, admire and appreciate you. Deepen your relationships and listen for opportunities to help your friends with anything they need.
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"A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction." – Rita Mae Brown

Real Estate Report - The Woodlands = Sales Quicken, Prices Leap, Supply Tightens - Whatcha Gonna Do?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:45:26 -0500

You could feel it, now you can see it.

Realtor Icons weren't ambling, they walked, talked and rocked with animated action. Doers were busy, the un-doers are still wondering what will happen. Don't tell them. It's already happening.

The Woodlands Real Estate Market is "strong like bull." Houston Association of Realtors, Multiple Listing Service Statistics + observation + personal experience confirm:

Month's Supply Of Inventory
Real estate economists believe that a 6 months supply of "For Sale" inventory represents a balanced market for sellers and buyers. The supply of "For Sale" inventory in The Woodlands, TX, tumbled to 2.9 months. That's the lowest number in 20 months....a confirmed "Seller's Market".

Sellers: It's a great time to sell, prepare your property properly, choose the right broker and you're in the driver's seat.

Buyers: When you find a property you love, run don't walk, buy it. Prices are going up (see charts), wait and pay more later of lose it now.

Realtors: Listing inventory is oxygen, breathe deep, don't dawdle, promise big, deliver bigger.

Days On Market - Days On Market for properties Sold and Closed in May = only 63 Days On Market. If you want to move before summer ends and school starts again....add 45 days for escrow period and the now is the time to hit the market.

Average Sold Price
The Average Sold Price for the month of May, spiked to an all time high of $383,810. The highest average sold price ever. Prices don't appear to be heading down. The May average Sold Price leapt 31.33% ahead of the Average Sold Price for May of 2007 ($292,244).

If you like to pour over the data, here it is, the whole collection of reports.

If we can help you with anything, let us know.

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"A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it's better than no inspiration at all." – Rita Mae Brown

PS. If you have any questions, you can reach me, Ken Brand @ 832-797-1779.

Are you Cher, Maddona, The Donald or Britney?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:08:36 -0500

A few questions and two thoughts.

Are you so famous that when you speak your first name people instantly know who your are?

Unless you're Cher, Bono, Madonna, Britney...or maybe The Donald, it's doubtful.

Why do I ask?

Have you ever had someone phone you and say, "Hi, this is _________....then they start yammering. While they yammer, you're wracking your brain, sifting through all the people you know with the same name, grasping for context and recognition...who is it calling? Who? Eventually, something said connects the polka dots and Yhatzee...you know who it is....but, you've missed the sharp point of what they've said so far. Ever happen?

Stop....don't make that mistake...don't be arrogant or lazy by sharing only your first name. Instead use your full name. Example: "Hey, this is Ken Brand calling..........yada, blah, chit, chat".

Using your full name demonstrates professionalism and courtesy as well as creating effective communication. The person you're calling can focus on what you have to say instead of playing mental twister in an attempt to identify who you are.

Second thing.

How often does this happen?

Your phone rings.

You're conditioned to pick it up...even when you're busy.

You pick it up and the caller starts talking and talking and talking. Sure....you picked up the phone, but now you have to run....you can't slide a word in and it's awkward to excuse yourself from the conversation. Ever been there?

Want to shine with consideration? Want to glow with professionalism? Want people to respect and appreciate you?

Here's how. When you call, introduce yourself with your full name and ask if the person you are calling has time to speak with you.

EXAMPLE:
Ken calls Lynn.

Lynn picks up the phone.

Ken sez, "Hi Lynn, this is Ken Brand with Prudential Gary Greene calling."

Lynn sez, "Hi Ken".

Ken sez, "Lynn, I know you're busy, is this a good time for you?"

Lynn sez, "Sure." or "Gosh Ken, in fact, I'm just about to jet, can you call me back?"

Either way....Lynn will appreciate the respect and courtesy ...this is positive for Ken.

That's it....two simple tips for better communication and professionalism.

The angel is in the details my friends. Try it and see.
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The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself."
- Rita Mae Brown, Venus Envy

Texas Earnest Money Disputes - Arm Wrestle Resolution or TAR Down Low?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:27:58 -0500

Sign Up for the TAR Enewlestter
If you're a REALTOR in Texas, go to the TAR site, register and subscribe to their eNewsletter, Texas Realtor Focus. It's free and jammed with interesting and useful information. One highlight, the Legal Briefs. TAR answers commonly asked legal questions about real world situations.

Legal Brief To Your Rescue
For my team, I copy and paste the Legal Brief Q&A into a MS Word document and save them on our office network drive. We talk discuss these issues at our bi-monthly sales meeting as well. Here's the kicker, for those emotional moments where you are attempting to explain misunderstood Earnest Money Contract terms...instead of arguing, "she said-he said", you simply print and share the article from TAR. Saves time, removes the personal issues and clarifies the situation.

Earnest Money Dispute - What happens?
Here's an example - straight for the horse's mouth - TAR Texas Realtor Focus Enewsletter:
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Q&A: Terminating contracts and earnest money
The contract for the sale of my client's property didn't close by the closing date specified in the contract. The seller and buyer disagree over who is at fault for the contract not closing, and both feel that they are entitled to the earnest money deposited with the title company. Now, my seller wants to put the property back on the market, even though the dispute over earnest money has not been resolved. What should I do?

The fault involved or legal justification for the termination of a contract can be a difficult issue in many cases. Even when it would appear that reasonable minds would conclude that one party is clearly entitled to the earnest money deposit, the parties often continue to prolong the settlement of these issues, although it is quite certain that the transaction will never close. In most cases, the seller's primary goal is and should be to have formal termination of the contract. That ensures he can put the property back on the market and sell it to someone else without the risk that some suit might be filed that could potentially stop a subsequent sale of the property.

Formal and final termination of a contract happens in one of two ways. One way is by agreement of the parties, usually accomplished by both parties signing some written document such as a release-of-earnest-money form, which releases both parties from further obligations under the contract. The other way is by a judge entering an order terminating the contract. If the parties have not agreed on the termination of the contract and no judge has decided the issue, brokers should avoid giving the parties legal advice about the termination of the contract.

Sellers should seek the advice of an attorney concerning the risks and advisability of proceeding with a subsequent sale of the property without a final settlement of the issue of contract termination.

It is because of the potential risk of an adverse ruling by a judge concerning the seller's right to terminate the contract that title companies often refuse to open a second escrow file on a property where the first contract has not been formally terminated. Regardless of the amount of the earnest money involved in a transaction and sometimes in spite of the equities involved in any given situation, it is usually in the best interest of all parties to resolve the earnest money and contract termination issues as soon as possible. Stubborn resistance to the resolution of these issues can often involve considerable time, expense, and needless emotional drain.

For other legal topics, visit the Legal FAQs on TexasRealtors.com
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Thought For The Day: "Your raise becomes effective as soon as you are." ~Marilyn Eiland

Prevent "Sick Stomach, Empty Wallet" Syndrome - Kumbaya With Buyers

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:36:59 -0500

Do you get sick to your stomach when YOUR buyers buy without YOU?

Those porcelain hugging days can end forever.

Would you like them to end?

Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, April 30th @ 9:07am, here in my office, I will share the secrets of Top Producers. The subject specifically, “Working With Buyers”. How to build loyalty, trust, value. How to create commitment, shared expectations and clear communication. How to create perpetual repeat and referral business.

It’s all in the approach and delivery...in 57 minutes we’ll change everything, forever.

Join me.
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Is The Real Estate Market In The Woodlands, TX As Sunny As The Sky?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:37:11 -0500

Here's what's happening in The Woodlands Real Estate Market - View Point, by Ken Brand.

For Sellers
For Sale/Listing Inventory is up 7.9% compared to last year's inventory. In January (see graph) For Sale/Listing Inventory was up 21.9%. Considering angst fueled by national media and the fact that every year 100's of newly constructed homes are added to the overall pool of potential listings, a small increase of 7.9% is nothing to be concerned about. In The Woodlands, foreclosures,lost jobs and declining real estate values are NOT a problem (thankfully).

Are you thinking of selling? The peak season is here, your best opportunity is now. Historically there will be more buyers shopping in the next 120 (see graph). The average number of days on market for current For Sale/Listed Inventory is just over 80 days. Let us know if we can help you.

For Buyers
Contrary to national trends, The Woodlands real estate market is very healthy. According to Real Estate economists, 6 months of active listing inventory represented a balanced market. Over 6 months = buyer's market - Under 6 months - seller's market. Also, sales prices are not in decline.

The Woodlands has had less than 5 months of listing inventory for more that 4 years -it remains a sellers market. While the inventory is broad and selection "good", properties that show well still sell fast. If you discover a property that you really like, move quickly. While sales are fewer in number compared to record breaking numbers of the past, plum properties can sell in a day and we still see multiple. If we can help you find the perfect property, let us know.

Real Estate Agents
Don't mistake national headlines with local reality. Yes, there are fewer sales compared to record breaking sales figures from the past. Yes, listing inventory in The Woodlands is larger...but, real estate agents across America would crawl across cut glass to work in a market like this.

One observable reality, the hardworking, strong willed, networking and service oriented real estate agents are thriving. The timid, slow and lazy are naturally suffering, their wither and shrivel. Now is THE TIME to be deepen relationships, make personal contact, follow-up, follow-through, take action, serve and impress.

All
If there is anything I can do to aid and abet your success, call on me.

Salute,
Ken Brand
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"You have a tiger problem."

"But I don't have a tiger."

"That's the problem."

Do you have a quiet ferocity? Are you willing to take a chance? Will you throw your cap over the wall, kill the ox and burn the plow, run toward the sound of the guns? – Roy H. Williams

Make The Mundane Memorable....

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:25:56 -0500

This is a line from Scott's blog post.

Because they make the mundane memorable.

Do you?

Can you?

Will you?

Flip the switch on your "pay attention" scanner, look for people who make the MUNDANE MEMORABLE.
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"The secrets of telling a story well are three:
1. How to end
2. Where to begin
3. What to leave out."
- Roy H. Williams

Floods Suck - Use Protection

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:55:15 -0500

In Houston, mother nature can drop a drench faster than the Donald can say, "You're Fired".

Flooding sucks - it sucks less if you're protected. Flood Insurance is super affordable, let's pray you never need it...but if it floods, you'll blunt the pain and recover faster with flood insurance.

Our good friend and uber-pro, Mitzi Fox shared some information on Flood Insurance. I thought it was worth sharing with you.
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Good Afternoon Agents,

I have attached a copy of the new flood rates for the preferred flood policy that will go into effect 05/01/08 for new business and renewals. I have also included a flood rate sheet from Fidelity National Flood insurance, which outlines the rate increases for each type of flood zone.

Couple of Flood Tips to Remember -

1) We all live in a flood zone, either the 500-yr or the 100-yr.

2) In the 100-yr flood zone, flood insurance is mandatory/required, when there is a mortgage or home equity loan on the property.

3) In the 500-yr, flood insurance is not required and is completely voluntary.

4) If the flood zone begins with the letter "V" or "A", then the property is in a 100-yr flood zone.

5) If the flood zone is a letter "B", "C" or "X" then the property is in the 500-yr flood zone.

Hope this information can be helpful to you!

Thanks,

Mitzi

Greater Houston Financial Services
Mitzi Fox - Insurance Agent
19075 I-45 S Ste 250
The Woodlands, TX 77385
Direct (281) 210-5763
Fax (936) 321-7501
Toll Free (877) 367-3497 ext 163

Your referral is the greatest compliment I could receive!

Contact me for all your insurance needs:
* Home, Flood & Windstorm
* Auto, Motorcycle, Boat & RV's
* Business & Commercial
* Life & Health Insurance
* Long Term Care Insurance
* Mortgage Protection

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"The best servants of the people, like the best valets, must whisper unpleasant truths in the master's ear. It is the court fool, not the foolish courtier, whom the king can least afford to lose."
- Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

The Magic Three People Principle

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:39:20 -0500

Magic, Power and Leverage...come in 3s. The Trinity, Three Blind Mice, The Three Magic Beans, The Three Wishes, The Three Musketeers, The Three Stooges, The Three Amigos, The Three Bears and for a real estate agent, The Three People Principal. How many 3s examples can you think of?

My friends, do not focus on whether or when people you know will need your services. If you are respected, trusted and positioned...you will naturally attract those opportunities.

Everyone you know, knows at least three people who move every year. They know someone at work, someone in Bunco, someone in Church, someone at spin class, tennis league, the country club, book club, garden club, the Chamber, Kiwanis....they know three people who will make a move this year.

The 125 people you know....they know 375 people who will make a move this year.

For the 125 people you know...focus on being their "Go To Girl/Guy" for all things community, home, family, real estate and lifestyle related. Deliver and politely as for referrals.

Think about it.
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"Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion."
- Jack Kerouac

Meatball Sunday on a Wednesday in The Woodlands - What are you eating?

Ken Brand (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:23:29 -0500

Meatball Sunday...bet it would taste as horrid as it sounds.

Is that what we're servin these days? Maybe?

I've finished eating Seth Godin's newest Bestseller.

Seth's books are thought provoking, all of them, Meatball Sunday included.

If you're a real estate agent, wondering how you're going to stay relevant..~~read this book~~...read all his books. Really.

I keep a small 5"X8" black moleskin journal. In it, I scribble my reading notes...thoughts, quotes and odd ideas that I know I want to refer to down the road.

Here's three such from Meatball Sunday:

1. Middle of page 25. "New marketing is about fashion and stories and permission and promises."

2. Top of Page 167. "If I want something ordinary, then it better be cheap. On the other hand, today's spoiled consumer is willing to pay almost anything for the exclusive, noteworthy and the indulgent."

3. Bottom of Page 184, Top of Page 185. "There are no fairy godmothers. If you want to thrive, you need to do two things, make something worth talking about; and make it easy to talk about."

I dunno, these three lines poked my thinking cap enough to make me write them down.

What do you think Seth means?

I think he means if we're ordinary and average, we'll be invisible and if we're ordinary, average and damn near invisible and if by some miracle, we stumble unto any work at all, we'll have to work for peanuts...because that's all a reasonable human being would pay for average, ordinary and damn near invisible.

I don't want to work for peanuts! Do you?

What shall we do? What promises are we making?

What can we do? How will we be extraordinary and noteworthy?

What's our story? What stories are told about us?
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"Avoid compromise. In a world of choice, no one picks something that is good enough. In a world of networks, few pick the isolated. In a transparent world, people avoid the deceitful." ~ Seth Godin