MANNY's Blog

Superstar Agents: Becoming a Broker/Owner

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:34:59 -0800

I recently had conversation with a seasoned real estate broker that I respect highly, in regards to why some broker/owners succeed in this business and others don't. As a young broker I have tried to align myself with people who have been in the real estate game for a long time and understand what it takes to run a productive and respected brokerage. Somehow during this conversation, the reference to superstar managers in sports was made and I thought it was a great analogy. If you look at sports as a whole, most superstar players have failed at being coaches or managers. Similar to superstar players turned managers, just because you're a superstar real estate agent, doesn't mean you'd be a superstar broker or owner of a real estate company.

Being a successful broker means checking your personal ego at the door and truly doing what's best for your team, your agents. This is very difficult for top producing "superstar" agents to do unless they understand that it is no longer just about them and their transactions but more about building a winning team. They need to offer their agents support, training, systems, technology tools, and most importantly, motivation and encouragement. They need to put the right people in the right places to ensure that everyone is working off their strengths and doing what they do best. They need to have the ability to take an underachieving agent, tap into his or hers potential, and turn that agent into a producer. They need to learn how to be a psychologist, a janitor, a book keeper, a technology specialist, a motivator, a parent and sometimes a friend. Now this sounds like alot of different roles to play but the reality is that if you want to build a career as a broker you have to passionately embrace the role.

I myself was never a "Superstar Agent" but I always had the dream of building a real estate brokerage that was different than the others. I envisioned a company that was there for their agents. A company that was full of positive energy from the top down. A brokerage that was staffed with people who are passionate about what they do for a living and want to get better everyday.

I guess you can say that my vision was to build an "All-Star Team" of real estate professionals that know what it takes to win.

Well it's been almost a year since my dream of opening my own brokerage came true and I could not be happier with how things have gone. We are on our way to building the most respected and productive real estate company in the city and I owe it all to the members of our growing team.

If you want more info on how you can join our growing team of All-Stars please call me directly at 401-323-8292.

Manny Menezes
EXIT Realty Consultants
401-323-8292

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Local Real Estate Office Merges with EXIT Realty Consultants

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:10:02 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Manny Menezes

Broker/Owner

EXIT Realty Consultants

401-228-EXIT (3948)

Local Real Estate Office Merges with EXIT Realty Consultants

Longtime Independent Brokerage Joins Fast Growing EXIT Realty Office

East Providence, RI (Grassroots Newswire) 11/3/2010 --Manny Menezes, Broker Owner of EXIT Realty Consultants, is pleased to announce that Red Realty, a local independent brokerage in East Providence, RI, has merged with his fast growing EXIT Realty Franchise as of November 3rd 2010.

"We are looking forward to the joining of forces between our office and Joe Botelho, former Broker/Owner of Red Realty." said Manny Menezes "Joe and his team of 8 real estate professionals have many years of experience in the local real estate community and are a great addition to our existing team."

"We quickly recognized the value of the EXIT Realty Formula, and we are thrilled to provide these great benefits to all of our agents," said Joe Botelho, a longtime resident of East Providence.

EXIT Realty provides sales associates with residual income over and above their own transactions and an enhanced retirement and beneficiary benefit; all of which have been unheard of in the real estate industry until now. EXIT also offers the most advanced real estate training platform in the industry and has grown faster than any other real estate franchise in history.

"We look forward to assisting both past and new clients with their real estate needs." said Manny Menezes "This merger gives us all an opportunity to further grow our presence in the community as well as offer our clients an upgraded selling and buying experience."

For more information about EXIT Realty Consultants, please call 401-228-EXIT (3948) or visit myEXITconsultant.com. EXIT Realty Consultants is located at 1980 Pawtucket Ave, Suite 2, East Providence, RI 02914.

Local EXIT Realty Associates go "PACK-TO-SCHOOL"

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:01:24 -0700

Local EXIT Realty Associates go "PACK-TO-SCHOOL"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Peter Savino
Owner
EXIT ELITE REALTY
347-252-1200
EXITELITEREALTYNY@gmail.com

Local EXIT Realty Associates go "PACK-TO-SCHOOL"

Staten Island Real Estate Professionals Volunteer to Help School Kids

Staten Island, NY (Grassroots Newswire) 8/30/2010 --

Local EXIT Realty agents, Elizabeth Ameno and Melissa Lichtman volunteered their time to help in the effort to sort out school supplies for the Staten Island Board of REALTORS (SIBOR) annual "PACK-TO-SCHOOL" program.

This project was designed by SIBOR to assist Staten Island school children in need by supplying them with the necessary supplies to start off their school year. Both monetary and physical donations have helped in the collection of the school supplies needed to fill over 700 backpacks for area school children.

"When I became a REALTOR, I knew that I could help make a difference in the community by dedicating myself to projects like this," says Elizabeth Ameno of EXIT Elite Realty. "I'm looking forward to helping drop off these backpacks over the next week and am really proud of what our Board has been able to accomplish with this program."

"This is what it's all about," says Peter Savino, Owner of EXIT Elite Realty. "Elizabeth and Melissa have both set an example and are helping a great cause right here in Staten Island."

EXIT Realty is an International real estate company that offers its associates the opportunity to earn higher than industry average commissions and provides for earnings into retirement and beyond.

For more information about EXIT ELTE REALTY, please call 347-252-1200. EXIT ELTE REALTY is located at 1110 South Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10314.

Below from left to right:

Traci Cangiano, Melissa Lichtman (EXIT Elite Realty), Greg Diaz, Elizabeth Ameno (EXIT Elite Realty) and our young helpers sorting out supplies!

"Jumping Out of the Balloon" has been the best decision I have ever made!

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:49:37 -0700

I wrote an article a while back titled "I Jumped Out of the Balloon and Took Two Others With Me", referencing my move from being an Associate Broker at a RE/MAX franchise to purchasing and opening an EXIT Realty franchise in East Providence, RI about 6 months ago. This article created some serious buzz on both a local and national level. I've received feedback from many well respected real estate professionals that truly understand my passion for the business, and the EXIT business model, who could not be happier for me. I am proud to say that "Jumping Out of the Balloon" has been the best decision I have ever made in my real estate career.

There is nothing more POWERFUL than being passionate about something that you believe in and EXIT has given me the confidence to truly be proud of the company that I am affiliated with. My company, EXIT Realty Consultants, has something for everyone but we don't want just anyone and everyone to join us. We want agents who are passionate about real estate. Agents with positive attitudes towards both themselves and the business. Agents who want to grow a business that they can be proud of and who are ready to set themselves up for the future. Agents who are fed up with the "OLD WAYS" of the real estate business and are ready for something new and fresh. Our business model is very simple and straight forward. We give our agents more tools than the competition, better training, great support, a fantastic commission plan and most importantly a FUTURE!

The old model of paying a fee to the broker for the right to use a logo or a name is only as good as your last sale was. What happens when you don't have a closing scheduled for a couple of months or when you stop selling real estate? Do you have an extra income or a retirement plan under that system? What if you did? What if there was a way to earn an income from all of your hard work in the real estate business in between your closings or even AFTER you retired from selling homes. Our system gives you that opportunity and that freedom. So if you look at the total picture and the BOTTOM LINE, EXIT Realty appears to have something for everyone. Whether you are a new agent getting into the business, an experienced agent who wants to take their business to the next level, a TOP PRODUCING agent who is looking to MAXIMIZE their earnings, or an older agent who is close to retirement, we have the system in place for your success.

You owe it to yourself to at least explore the opportunity. Your business, Your life and Your family deserves a better way and EXIT has been designed with YOU in mind.

Manny Menezes
Broker/Owner

EXIT Realty Consultants
401-228-EXIT (3948)

Real Estate Office Contributes to Habitat for Humanity Work - EXIT REALTY CONSULTANTS - EAST PROVIDENCE, RI

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:12:43 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Manny Menezes
  Broker Owner
  EXIT REALTY CONSULTANTS in East Providence
  401-228-EXIT (3948)
  ExitRealtyConsultants@yahoo.com

Real Estate Office Contributes to Habitat for Humanity Work

East Providence, RI (Grassroots Newswire) 08/28/2010 -- EXIT Realty Consultants is pleased to announce a contribution to Habitat for Humanity Rhode Island, Greater Providence, Inc in the amount of $1400.00. This contribution will help to make the next Habitat for Humanity home in East Providence a reality.

The fundraising effort came in the form of the 1st Annual EXIT Realty Consultants Charity Softball Tournament on August 28th at Agawan Softball Field in East Providence. The tournament featured real estate and mortgage professionals from throughout the state playing and raising money for this great cause. The participating teams included, Team EXIT, Team Homestar Mortgage, Team Shamrock Financial, and Team Phipps Realty (the Tournament Winner). This event was the first of what is slated to become an every year tradition.

"We are very proud of everyone who participated in this event and even more proud of the amount of money we were able to raise for Habitat" said Manny Menezes, Team EXIT's Captain, and tournament organizer. "It was great to get out to the ballpark and play a few games that ultimately will help a family get into a home of their own."

"This is one way of giving a helping hand to the local community. Our EXIT Realty associates care about our community and Habitat for Humanity is a natural fit," Menezes said.

Habitat for Humanity provides affordable housing options through the support and contributions of local businesses and residents.

"A portion of every transaction fee collected by EXIT International is applied to our charitable fund," remarked Steve Morris, Founder and CEO of EXIT Realty Corp. International. To date, EXIT Realty has contributed over $1,000,000 to Habitat for Humanity in both Canada and the US.

For more information about EXIT REALTY CONSULTANTS, please call 401-228-3948. EXIT REALTY CONSULTANTS is located at 1980 Pawtucket Ave Suite 2 East Providence, RI 02914. To learn more about the work of Habitat for Humanity, visit www.habitat.org.

"Five dollar an hour work" - My venting for the day.

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:01:26 -0700

A well respected real estate broker recently told me that he DOES NOT do the "five dollar an hour" work because it just does not make sense to and that he has people who handle certain parts of his transaction.

While this in theory is VERY smart business sense and I myself subscribe to this thinking, if the people doing the "five dollar and hour" work DONT do their job or drag their feet, or don't respond to inquiries, then what good is it having them there? I'm not big on micro-managing but I believe in following through and making sure the job gets done. If it doesn't get done then you need to find someone else to handle the little things or just do them yourself because there is no room for error in this business.

"Do the right thing and make sure the right things get done!"

Manny Menezes

BROKER/OWNER
EXIT Realty Consultants
East Providence, RI

EXIT Realty Consultants' Celebrate their Grand Opening in Style!

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:37:10 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Manny Menezes
Broker/Owner
EXIT Realty Consultants
401-228-EXIT (3948)
ExitRealtyConsultants@yahoo.com

A Great Celebration for a Great Accomplishment

EXIT Realty Consultants' Celebrate their Grand Opening in Style!

East Providence, RI (Grassroots Newswire) 06/24/2010 -- There are few people who can truly envision success in a down economy. While other companies throughout the real estate industry are closing, there is one that is growing faster than any other. That company is EXIT Realty. Thursday night was a celebration of EXIT's newest office, EXIT Realty Consultants, in East Providence, RI. Owned by Manny Menezes, the new EXIT office welcomed nearly 100 guests to its East Providence location on Pawtucket Ave and celebrated the area's newest and most progressive real estate brokerage opening.

"We are very pleased with the turnout for our Grand Opening Party." said, Mr Menezes, who, at the age of 30, is one of the youngest real estate Broker/Owners' in all of Rhode Island. "We are fortunate to have some great supporters in our business and in the community who are as excited as we are to watch our brokerage grow. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a great success including our sponsors and guests."

Mr. Menezes also added that he is excited to see what the future brings for his agents and staff. "With the tools, technology, innovation and support that EXIT brings to it's agents and brokers, we are poised to develop into one of the areas most productive and respected real estate brokerages. Add in the Award Winning training platform available to our agents, we look forward to building the most educated team of real estate professionals in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts."

EXIT's success and unprecedented growth is directly attributed to the unmatched agent training, attention to the needs of our clients, unique benefits for it's agents and fantastic technology! EXIT Realty is the only company that has taken the time to develop a Residual and Retirement Program specifically for it's associates to ensure that they have a Future in Real Estate.

For more information about EXIT Realty Consultants, please call 401-228-EXIT (3948). EXIT Realty Consultants is located at 1980 Pawtucket Ave, Ste 2, East Providence, RI 02914.

Real Estate Professionals - "Get Off Their Can's"

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:22:48 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Manny Menezes
Broker/Owner
EXIT Realty Consultants
401-228-EXIT (3948)
exitrealtyconsultants@yahoo.com

Real Estate Professionals - "Get Off Their Can's"

Local Industry Professionals Join Forces for a Great Cause

Bristol, RI (Grassroots Newswire) June 5, 2010 --

The weather did not hold back and neither did "Team TEAL" in a soggy day at the park. Representatives from Homestar Mortgage, Pillar to Post Home Inspections and EXIT Realty Consultants, joined forces to participate in the "5K Walk to End Hunger" to benefit the East Bay Food Pantry at Colt State Park in Bristol, RI.

"It's great to get together with our terrific sponsors and do what we can to help this great cause," says Manny Menezes, Broker/Owner of EXIT Realty Consultants, "We look forward to participating in more events like these to help our community."

EXIT Realty Consultants is the East Bay's first EXIT office and is building a dynamic team of professionals committed to helping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs.

For more information about EXIT Realty Consultants, please call 401-228-EXIT (3948). EXIT Realty Consultants is located at 1980 Pawtucket Ave Suite 2, East Providence, RI 02914.

I jumped out of the Balloon and took 2 others with me!

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:30:17 -0700

OK, so the past few months have been a whirlwind to say the least. In February, I made a HUGE decision and decided to purchase an EXIT Realty Franchise. In March, I decided to jump out of the famous RED, WHITE, and BLUE balloon and brought two other agents with me to open our new EXIT office in East Providence, RI.

While this was not a decision that I made without some thought, it was honestly a no-brainer for me because EXIT's vision and philosophy matched mine. Most of you that know me, know that I was previously with the RED,WHITE, and BLUE - Balloon Ride Company. While that company was a good place for me to launch my real estate business in RI, I was missing something very important. I wanted to create more of a future for myself and other real estate professionals and found that particular system to be flawed. I needed to align myself with a company that had superior support from the top down, an unbelievable training platform, the technology to move into the future, and the brand name recognition needed to compete in any marketplace. I was also looking for a company that had NO DESK FEE'S, the potential to earn over 100% commissions, and offered a residual/retirement program unlike any other in the industry. What I was ultimately looking for was a company that had something for everyone. This company was EXIT.

It's no secret that EXIT Realty is the Fastest Growing Real Estate Franchise of all time and now I know why. Everyone at EXIT truly believes in helping each other, whether an agent, broker, or administrator, get the best out of themselves while focusing on strengths and in turn minimizing their weaknesses. I recently came back from a week of high powered Broker/Owner training at Head Office and it is amazing to me how much support this company offers it's franchisee's and agents. EXIT's people at Head Office starting from Steve Morris down to the girl standing at the front desk, made all of us feel like we belonged and that we were part of something very special. I am proud to have joined such an outstanding organization and am EXcITed that the best is yet to come for all of us.

EXIT REALTY IS GROWING! - TRY NOT TO NOTICE THE EXIT SIGNS!

Manny Menezes
Broker/Owner
EXIT Realty Consultants
Licensed in RI and MA
401-228-EXIT (3948)

The market is Good, The market is Bad.

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:07:46 -0800

What type of real estate market are we in? On one side of the street, we hear the doom and gloom about how many houses are on the market, the falling home prices, the extended Days on Market, the tightened credit markets, and on and on. The other side of the street is much more optimistic and comforting. On this side of the street we are hearing of this opportunity to purchase a HOME at a great price, the fact that Uncle Sam is offering an $8000 credit to First Time Buyers and $6500 to Move Up Buyers, the fact that Interest rates are at an all time low, the fact that there is a great selection of properties on the market, the fact that if a property is priced correctly it will still sell fairly quickly, and the fact that buyers who could not be in the game as little as 2 years ago can now afford to purchase a HOME.

Ok so some of the doom and gloom is valid. We do have a housing crisis. Good people got themselves into bad loans and unfortunately are loosing what every American works so hard for most of their lives, (their HOME). The unemployment rate is also close to the all time high. People are loosing their homes, their jobs, and worse yet, their way of life. How can you find any optimism in that?

The optimistic view is more or an Opportunistic one. If there is a possibility that you may loose your home you have an opportunity to save it. Foreclosures can be stopped. If you are in trouble and having a hard time paying your mortgage, try renegotiating with your lender. The lender does not want to foreclose on your home. They would be crazy not to try to work on a new payment for you or lower your rate. You also can call a REALTOR and have them help you with a short sale of your property. While this is a bit complicated it is sometimes the only way to sell your home if you owe more than it is worth. If you bought your home a few years back and have some equity in it, make sure to price it right from day 1. I can assure you that it will not sit on the market for as long as you think.

So what type of Market are we in? A good Market? A bad Market? We are in your Market. This market is what you make of it. It is a fantastic market for buyers if they use their head and Buy Smart. It is also a fantastic market for the seller that can price their property correctly and get it sold fairly quickly to a buyer that sees a great opportunity to purchase a HOME at a good price.

But what type of market is it for the people in the red? The folks that owe too much on their home, or have an interest rate that is higher today than it was yesterday, or worse yet, the people who can no longer afford to pay their mortgage payment because the income is just not adding up.

The Market for these people is tough to put into words. These people need professionals around them. They need the assistance of a trusted REALTOR, an experienced Attorney, or maybe even a savvy Accountant. These people need to see that there is an alternative to Foreclosure. There is help out there. There is an Opportunity out there that allows them to get in touch with professionals that will work hard to save what they have worked so hard to keep. While it is unrealistic to expect that everyone can be helped in this unfortunate housing situation, it is realistic to expect that everyone in this situation at least try.

Use this Market as an Opportunity. Your Opportunity.

All the best,

Manny "the REALTOR"

This article was written by me in March of 2009 and is still valid for the market that we are seeing today. If you or someone you know is having a hard time making their mortgage payments, please give me a call at 401-323-8292. I have short sale negotiators on my team of professionals that will work hard to save your home from foreclosure.

Understanding and Using All of Your First Time Home Buyer Options

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:48:56 -0700

Via Steve Kappre, Gloucester - Camden County NJ Mortgage Loan Officer | 856-419-3561 (Treasury Mortgage | Mortgage Company - New Jersey):

With all the excitement of the first time home buyer tax credit, buyers often get confused and miss out on other important options.

As a first time buyer, don't let the excitement of the $8,000 tax credit cause you to miss out on many other home buying options. It isn't uncommon for a buyer to confuse the federal tax credit with seller credits, down payment assistance, or first time home buyer grants.

First time home buyers have many options. Utilizing one option does not hold a buyer back from utilizing one or more other options allowed to them as a first time home buyer. This article is written not to go into great depth on each option, but to help you realize the different options available as a first time home buyer and how to utilize each/all of these options.

Read on to understand some common terms and how to take advantage of each option.

Tax Credit

The federal tax credit is the (up to) $8,000 incentive that everyone is talking about. Most home buyers that haven't owned a home in the last 3 years will qualify for this. In general, this credit is realized as a credit for you when you complete your taxes in the spring of 2009 (for 2008's income).

For example, if you would have normally received $2,000 back after completing your 2009 tax returns, the tax credit would add an additional $8,000, to make your total amount received $10,000. For additional information and guidelines, go directly to First-Time Home Buyer Credit: Answers.

Seller Credit (Seller Concessions)

A seller credit, better known as seller concessions, is a scenario when the seller agrees to pay a certain amount of your settlement costs. The seller may pay a percentage, such as 2, 3, or 6% of the purchase price, or they may pay a dollar amount, such as $2,500 or $5,000.

For more information on understanding seller concessions visit Understanding Seller Concessions | Seller Paid Closing Costs | Seller Contributions | Seller Assist.

Grants for First Time Home Buyers

Many people miss out on first time home buyer grant options. Once a buyer hears about the $8,000 tax credit, they sometimes go deaf to other options, either out of excitement or because they don't realize they can utilize more than one option.

A grant is a program often issued by a county or state that offers funds to the home buyer for the purchase of a home. Either a flat dollar amount or a percentage of the loan amount is used to calculate the funds offered. A typical grant percentage would be 2, 3, or 4% of the loan amount. For instance, 4% of a loan amount of $100,000 would give you a $4,000 grant.

Grants can be utilized for down payment requirements and/or to pay for closing costs. Depending on the purchase price and the grant selected, a grant can sometimes even cover all requirements the buyer has concerning both the down payment requirement and closing costs.

Down Payment Assistance

As of the date of this article, down payment assistance in the traditional sense is not available.Down payment assistance programs (DAPs) were an option where the seller would indirectly give a buyer the money needed for down payment requirements. These transactions in general had a higher default rate then most, therefore this option is no longer available. Examples were the Nehemiah program or the Genesis program. There is a movement to reinstate these programs. The mentioning of DAPs here is simply to help you differentiate and not confuse them with other options.

How to Utilize More Than One First-Time Home Buyer Option

Here's where the rubber meets the road. A common example of utilizing all of the above options is as follows:

Buyer meets with grant official or loan officer for qualification requirements pertaining to a specific grant option. In our example the buyer will use an FHA mortgage, which requires a 3.5% (of the purchase price) down payment. The purchase price is $100,000, therefore the down payment requirement for this would be $3,500.

Loan officer and buyer determine that the use of a 4% grant would be the wisest choice. Since the down payment requirement is $3,500, the financed amount will be $96,500 ($100,000 - $3,500). Based off of $96,500, a 4% grant would be $3,860 (loan amount x 4%, or $96,500 x .04)). Compare the grant amount with the buyer's down payment requirement of $3,500, and the grant amount is $360 more than the required down payment amount. This type of grant covers the down payment requirements and some additional funds to be applied towards the closing costs.

Assuming closing costs are $5,000, here is how you can determine what to request from the seller to get the closing costs paid as well. We can subtract the extra money left over from the grant, in this case $360, from $5,000. Our sum is $4,640. FHA requirements allow the seller to pay up to 6% of the buyer's closing costs. We don't need all 6% (or $6,000), we only need $4,640 from the seller. So when the purchase of the home is negotiated, the buyer's agent negotiates with the seller's agent that the seller will agree to pay $4,640 towards the buyers settlement fees/closing costs.

Buyer goes to settlement needing $0 to close, and in fact they will get back the money already deposited with the real estate agent and lender.

Lastly, the buyer can still maximize the use of the federal tax credit and receive their $8,000 after filing their 2009 tax returns.

All-in-all, in our scenario the home buyer will receive $16,500 for purchasing a home ($3,860 grant + $4,640 seller's concessions + $8,000 tax credit). The buyer is able to utilize three separate home buying options and in the end, still have their own money in the bank, which will then get boosted in several months by the $8,000 tax credit. Now THAT is the kind of lending and buyer representation that creates solid, well founded home owners, which is exactly what we all desire.

By working with knowledgeable professionals, you can utilize multiple buyer options to make your home buying experience an amazing event!

If you would like more information, as a buyer, seller, real estate agent, real estate office, financial planner, college or other party, feel free to contact Steve Kappre directly on his cell at 856-419-3561 or via e-mail at steve@stevekappre.com.

Steve Kappre is a Mortgage Planner with Treasury Mortgage. Steve specializes in;

• All areas concerning First-Time Home Buyer Mortgages, grants, down payment assistance, police and fire loans, rehab loans, and more.

• Reverse Mortgages

• Equity Management strategies for high-end homes and high net worth individuals.

Contact Steve Kappre directly at 856-419-3561 or at www.stevekappre.com

My 3 Day Business Trip to Florida!

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:04:31 -0700

I recently came back from a short 3 day stay in Florida. I decided to take this trip due to my curiosity about the current real estate market down in Florida and came back with tons of information. I initially expected to head down there to look at some lower priced Bank Owned properties for both myself and for some investors that I work with up here in the Northeast, but found myself in awe at the prices of New Construction in Pasco and Hernando Counties (just outside of Tampa). What amazed me was that someone can purchase a 1500-1800 sqft home with 3 or 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, and a 2 Car Garage in a brand new community for less than $130,000. I realize that Florida has been hit particularly hard with the recession, but my advise to people is that if you have the opportunity to purchase one of these new homes, GO FOR IT! Once you add in the $8,000 FTB Credit and the fact that most builders are paying closing costs, it is a no brainer. If you are looking a for a second home and have the ability to purchase something now, then you should also GO FOR IT! You will be making a solid investment decision and you can enjoy the Florida Sun whenever you want to. Please keep in mind that I am not a Licensed REALTOR in Florida and am purely speaking from someone who is EXCITED about real estate and can see a great opportunity to invest in the Sunshine State. If you would like further information on the opportunities that I discovered in Florida, please feel free to email me or call me at 401-396-3027.

Manny

I am now # 1 in my Town and I am not turning back.

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:40:00 -0700

Ok so the headline might be a bit more dramatic than the reality but that is what headlines are supposed to be.

I am now the #1 Ranked (as far as points go) Realtor from Bristol, RI according to Activerain and I have set a goal to be #1 in RI by the end of the year.

Activerain has taught me so much over the last two years and I plan on giving back to AR any way I can. Thanks to everyone who makes ActiveRain a FANTASTIC place to learn and help us all in this business.

Vanity Plates - Help your business?

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Sat, 09 May 2009 15:23:42 -0700

Just a quick blog to ask if anyone has any luck promoting your business with a vanity plate. I recently picked up my brand new vanity plate for my truck and the responce has been great. I lucked out and was able to get RI Commercial Plate 'HOME' and it has already paid off. I recently met a buyer coming out of a CVS store and the vanity plate was the ice breaker. I am now sending that buyer property notifications and will hopefully start showing them properties. While this may have been a once in a career chance, I have to think that I wouldn't have met this person if my plate wasn't 'HOME".

Your thoughts and experiences would be great.

Manny

Bank Owned Properties..5 things to know before purchasing!

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Sat, 09 May 2009 09:55:33 -0700

Bank Owned Properties are everywhere. Some of you may be intrigued by the idea of purchasing one of these properties at a significant savings. There are a few things you should know about bank owned properties before you start your search.

1. These properties most likely need work.- Most of these properties have been sitting vacant for at least a few months and will require at least some kind of work prior to moving in. While it is possible to find a Bank Owned property that does not need too much, please be aware that most of the properties you will see are in need of significant work.

2. It may be tough to get financing for some of these properties. - This is the issue that becomes a bit of a problem if you have found a bank owned property that fits your needs but may need a little more than cosmetic repair. As I had stated above, most of these bank owned properties will need significant work. If you are planning on financing this home, your best bet is to check with your mortgage broker as well as your REALTOR to find out what type of programs are available for these rehab type properties. Many states including RI, have programs specifically made for the purchase of distressed properties and you may even be able to finance the repair costs in your mortgage payment.

3. You are buying AS IS. -This is basically self explanatory but you are truly buying AS IS. Typically, there are no property disclosures available for Lender Owned properties which means that you really do not know the history on your new property. Ask your REALTOR to look back into the MLS transaction history for that property to see if there is any information regarding the condition of the property from a past sale. While this will not give you the history, you may get some important information that will help you in the decision making process.

4. Patience is a virtue. -This is something my mother preached to me while growing up but I never realized what it meant until I started dealing with Bank Owned and Short Sale properties. When you are interested in purchasing a distressed property (bank owned or short sale) your REALTOR will most likely tell you to be Patient after writing the offer. It is not uncommon to wait a couple of weeks (or more for a short sale property) to hear back from the bank as to if your offer has been accepted. Please keep in mind that there are probably other offers on the table as well and the bank is looking for the cleanest deal for the most amount of money.

5. But I offered more than someone else. - As I mentioned above, the bank is going to want the cleanest deal for the most amount of money. You may get into the situation where you actually offer more than someone else for a particular property but the bank does not accept your offer. This happens all the time and is usually due to the contingencies on your offer. For example, you offer $100k for a property that is bank owned and the offer is subject to you getting a mortgage on said property and subject to a satisfactory home inspection. Another buyer may offer 90k for the same property but is either putting more money down or paying cash and has waived his/her right to conduct a home inspection. The Bank (seller) may take the 90k offer due to the fact that it is considered cleaner to them. Does that mean that your offer was not considered? Of course not, but it is the reality of the business and something that you should be aware of.

There are many more situations to consider when purchasing a Lender Owned property that I would be happy to discuss with you. A bank owned property can be a EXCELLENT INVESTMENT if you do your homework and are working with a REALTOR that works for YOU. Please feel free to give me a call or check out my Bank Owned website at www.riBankOwned.com

Manny Menezes

Today I signed up for health insurance!

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:54:51 -0700

Well after a year and a half without having health insurance, I decided to sign up with Blue Cross Blue Shield today. I was pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive it was and am wondering if maybe there are some other REALTORS that have not looked into the possibility of having health insurance because they were afraid of the costs. I am not here to sell anyone insurance but if you haven't looked into it because of the fear of the cost, I would recommend you make a couple of phone calls to your local health insurance providers.

This business is stressful enough and not having health insurance just adds to our daily worries.

Manny

This is why I became a REALTOR.

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:23:44 -0700

With all the talk about how bad the economy and Housing Market is, it would have been very easy for me to curl up in the fetal position feeling bad for myself waiting for something good to happen. While some REALTORS may have taken this approach, I have decided to WORK. Thats right, what a concept.

I had a productive week this week.

Did I sell a million dollar home? NO

Did I get 4 saleable listings? NO

Did I have 3 closings? NO

I had a productive week because I made a difference in 2 of my client's lives. I helped a single mother who would never of imagined that she would be able to OWN her very own home, find the house that she will most likely live in for the next 10-20 years. I helped another client find themselves an inexpensive vacation property that they can utilize to get away from the real world whenever the stresses of life get to them.

Real estate has become a competition between agents to make the most sales and the most money. And while making a living is obviously very important to me, I feel as though if you make a difference in people's lives then making a living will be easy.

I became a REALTOR to make a difference. Why did you become a REALTOR?

Buying an EXiT Franchise?

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:23:15 -0800

People think I'm CRAZY! Ok well maybe I am a little crazy but who isn't. I want to open my own office and I want to do it now! I am a 28 year old broker who thinks BIG. I want to open my own office in 2009 and I am intrigued by the EXiT way. I currently am with a Desk Fee company and everything is great. But my entrepreneurial spirit is at an all time high and I feel that if I dont do it now then I will miss the boat. I was wondering if maybe some of the Broker/Owners out there could shed some light on your experiences with EXiT as a franchise. I have looked into many different companies and EXiT is on top of the list so far. I also would like to know any tips on attacting TOP PRODUCERS to the EXiT brand. My market is very traditional and so are the agents. Convincing them to look past the NAME and into the actual concept may be a challenge but any tips would be great.

Buying an EXiT Franchise?

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:22:24 -0800

People think I'm CRAZY! Ok well maybe I am a little crazy but who isn't. I want to open my own office and I want to do it now! I am a 28 year old broker who thinks BIG. I want to open my own office in 2009 and I am intrigued by the EXiT way. I currently am with a Desk Fee company and everything is great. But my entrepreneurial spirit is at an all time high and I feel that if I dont do it now then I will miss the boat. I was wondering if maybe some of the Broker/Owners out there could shed some light on your experiences with EXiT as a franchise. I have looked into many different companies and EXiT is on top of the list so far. I also would like to know any tips on attracting TOP PRODUCERS to the EXiT brand. My market is very traditional and so are the agents. Convincing them to look past the NAME and into the actual concept may be a challenge but any tips would be great.

A down market or a great opportunity?

Manny Menezes (EXIT Realty Consultants) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:12:50 -0700

I do realize that the fact that we are in a "down" or "depressed" market is somewhat old news at this point but I would like to put a bit of a positive spin on it at this point.

This market is GREAT if you love what you do. What I mean by that is as a real estate professional, your job is to HELP people buy and sell property. People need alot of HELP in this type of market and there is nothing more satisfying then helping that young family (who couldn't afford to buy 2 years ago) buy thier first home or to HELP that home owner get out from underneath that bad mortgage. I think we as professionals have to embrace this opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives right now and welcome the fact that in doing so we will build more than just a Client-Agent relationship. While everyone has an opinion or formula on how to make money in the Real Estate business, what it comes down to is relationships. Build life long friendships and have life long clients.

Now is the time to build those friendships and have those clients for life.