Giving from the Heart..... You Get Back Ten Fold.....An Experience to Bring Others Joy!

In todays climate with  the down turn in real estate, I have stepped back to find a way to bring some positivity in my life.  I don't want to get so disolusioned that I want to walk away from real estate.  I love what I do, selling horse farms, that it would leave a terrible void in my life.  So, my two sons and I have decided to work in the "Special Olympics" that is being held in Pittsburgh this weekend.  We have been assigned to work with the most severely retarded that are confined to wheelchairs.  They will have the same opportunity to participate in the games that the other olympians with milder retardation will have.  They will have bean bag toss, baloons on a stick.  Some will get out of their chairs and compete from floor mats.  What a happy day this will be for them and their families.

I am so proud of my sons, 35 and 32 for wanting to participate in this event.  They are the most unselfish and loving sons any Mom could ask for.  Every now and then, we find that we have really done something right in raising our children.  I am sure this is going to be a beautiful event and we are all looking so forward to it.  I will post photos following Saturdays event.  I challenge you to find a way, in any area to do something for others that will bring some goodness to you in these trying times.

Eliot Spitzer Resigns. What is Ethics ? Good Thing We Have to Take the Course

Where will the corruption end?  We are trying to remove the corruption in government and hope for new change with the next administration.  Will we find it?  It's only got to get better!  I certainly see the need in our own industry to take "ethics" courses.  Even with the best of people, it is easy to fall prey to the easy way around things that can benefit your personally.  However, all we need to do is keep the "Code of Ethics" in mind and practice it and we will never have to worry about being compromised when temptation presents itself.  I tend to believe that there are more of us who follow the rules than those who don't. Thanks to the mandatory "ethics" .  It reminds us all to stay on track.

Building Teams Seems To Be A New Trend .....I've been doing it for years!

I attended the Realtors convention in Las Vegas in November, 2007 and took a class on building teams.  I was surprised to find that they thought this is a new trend.  5 years ago, I had my husband join me in real  estate  because I was so busy I could not keep up with the business.  I was putting in 16 hours a day and making myself madd!  Having my husband as the other half of my team has been wonderful.  When I cannot be out on the road, he is there to do it.  When we have customers who need our attention, we can cover more by going in two different directions.  Now that we cover the whole state of Pennsylvania with our equesterian real estate, we have built a network of 11 agents. Now that is a team!  I am just surprised to find out that this is a new trend.  I recommend it.  It is not for everyone as working and living with your spouse 24/7 would break up many a marriage, however, for me and my husband, it works fine.  It helps when you marry your best friend and you have business and social similiarities.  Teams work with your spouse or other agents, it's something to think about.

Pittsburgh, PA Immune to the Pitfall of Real Estate Plunge: Horse Farms Safe

Most news anchors report day after day about the loss of homes due to the sub-prime debauchery.  The metro Pittsburgh area seems to be immune.  Since Pittsburgh, PA has been experiencing steady growth in existing sales and new homes sales, we did not see the "sudden" surge like  the rest of the country.  Since there were steady climbs in the market, we  did not see the sudden plunge in real estate sales.  So this area has just been keeping pace.  Thank God for that.  And that God for the fact that horse farms and farms sales and land sales are ever constant with little notable changes.  The one factor we have experienced with our horse farm sales is the difficulty clients are having selling their property in other states in order to purchase here in Pennsylvania.  We have seen a down turn with getting the contract to closing with the home to sell contingencies.  We have many buyers out there, if the weather would just cooperate, we could get back to business as usual. www.wesellhorsefarms.com

Snow on the outside, picnic on the inside

I just received a call from my Grandchildren, 3 and 5, that they were bringing a picnic to Grandma's.  When my children were small and we had days like today, snowy, windy, and the natives would get restless, we had an indoor picnic.  Funny I would write my last blog and get a call on a picnic in the family room with  my children and grandchildren.  Years ago, I would plan a special picnic  and the kids woud get involved in the preparation of the food,snacks, and drinks.   I would also pack the kids favorite books, games and coloring books. We filled the picnic basket with the picnic plates, cups and plastic silverware, all in bright colors, spread the tablecloth in the family room and the picnic would begin.  It was special time spent with the kids, making idle chatter while eating, but it was "big time" to spend time alone with Mom playing games and reading and Mom coloring pages with  them.  These are days I will treasure forever.  It does my heart good to know that those days meant so much to the kids, that they have passed those good times down to their children, and today The picnic is at Grandma's.  Share a picnic today with someone you love.  If your weather permits, have a lovely day outside.  If you are snowbound like us, spread out your tablecloth somewhere in the house and enjoy your day....pass the picnic tradition on to someone who will treasure the day with you.  OH, by the way, Cameron and Zach, said the game today is Monopoly Junior :)  Can't wait :)

What to do on a wintery day in W PA

Well, today isn't fit for man or beast(actually horses, since we sell horse farms) with all this snow and cold.  What is this day good for?  Well, it is a good day to schedule a vacation to a warm  sunny destination.  That is just what we did today.  We scheduled a tropic vacation to the "Barcelo" in Cancun through www.gazoobatravel.com, a top notch travel company.

Another thing to do on days like this, when selling real estate is on the bottom of the list, with 6" of snow.  We bring the family together in the family room and have a luau.  We hang the tiki heads, put on grass skirts, burn tiki candles, have party food and lots of tropical drinks.  The only difference is instead of a bon fire, we have fire in the fireplace.  With a little imagination, and a box fan for sea breezes, you really think you are on a beach somewhere, if only for a little while.  It does however, take your mind off cabin fever, and tends to rejuvinate the mind and give you that little extra "something" to keep going.

The Secret to Surviving the Real Estate Woes is "Niche Market Real Estate"

I know you've heard it before, find a niche  market and it will soon make you rich. Every seminar, every trainer and every quickstart instructor will tell you to seek out the FSBO's, the VETS or the Expireds as bonafide niche markets. After hearing all those people have you ever seen a one of them go back to their office and call FSBOs or Expireds? Why? Because these are sub-markets not niche market. Niche markets are something completely different. A niche market deals with an evolved separated social class that has chosen not to separate from the everyday world but to draw together based on an intense interest or passion. Here is what I mean.

Subcultures tend to have their owns stores, magazines, conferences, and fashion. Unfortunately not every niche has the unusual need for real estate like horse people. They buy, sell, upgrade and downsize thoughout their lives. Sometimes they chose to have boarding facilities and other times they just want to ride their own horses. There is vast array of farm styles that an equestrian could find themselves owning. There are related business to the horse industry like feedstores and tack shops. If these sell then real estate agents are needed in that position as well.

 In our area racetracks and casinos are being constructed within an hour drive in three directions. This sort of large development creates a need for properties like hotels, motels and restaurant. These are racino related properties.

Horse farms are an example of a niche market that we have created and service. Perhaps you can come up with a few niches of your own since  there are declining residential markets across the country. We would love to hear from you.

Next Excerpt from My Equine Certification Course

1.  When visiting farm property whether it is horse, beef, dairy, alpaca or any other type of farm, the most important factor is how you dress.  If you approach sellers and you are dressed for residential, I will guarantee you will not get the listing.  First impressions are the most important factor as you have learned in real estate 101.  However, there is another standard for farm property.  You must meet them on their level.  WEAR JEANS AND BOOTS.  If you are meeting horse farm owners, there are factors within that perameter that vary as well.  If you are visiting western discipline, there is a world of difference to dressage, thoroughbred, sport horses and polo.  Do your homework!  see us at www.wesellhorsefarms.com

 

Information You Should Know When Listing/Selling Farm Property

1.  When visiting farm property whether it is horse, beef, dairy, alpaca or any other type of farm, the most important factor is how you dress.  If you approach sellers and you are dressed for residential, I will guarantee you will not get the listing.  First impressions are the most important factor as you have learned in real estate 101.  However, there is another standard for farm property.  You must meet them on their level.  WEAR JEANS AND BOOTS.  If you are meeting horse farm owners, there are factors within that perameter that vary as well.  If you are visiting western discipline, there is a world of difference to dressage, thoroughbred, sport horses and polo.  Do your homework!

Want to Know About Horses, Farms and Equine Related Business?

Dont' miss the upcoming Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio.  Be sure to see the Pfizer Fantasia and you will see what all the buzz is about.......everyone is going equestrian. see www.equineaffaire.com You will love what you find there and get an education too.  What alot of people don't understand is there are different different types of interest in horses also defined as discipline.  The major disciplines are western, hunter/jumper,dressage,thoroughbred,standardbred,polo,steeplechase,sport horses.  The Equine Affaire will educate you on the different disciplines and in quite an entertaining way.  There are also hundreds of equine expositions dealing with every kind of  equine related business you can think of.