Mario 's Blog

the market was created by 5 element these are the first 3....Doyou agree...

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:19:03 -0700

It is called the perfect storms ...This market in California is a perfect storm...All the conditions that can exist to fuel a storm to make it bigger ,stronger and with greater velocity...These are 5 ingredients that made this perferct storm..Here they are the top 3 out of 5

1. The lending fiasco's of the past 5 to 7 years. We need to go back to 2000 when things were a little more calm and loans were given to people that could afford too own ... Then someone somewhere came up with new and visionary loans ...The stated income loan...These loans were great ...No taxes,w-2 or pay-stubs were required by lenders...All you needed was 3 months of whatever you wanted you income to be...The only thing banks would ask is that your credit be o.k...Not real good but just decent....Then came the Arm loans...These were called your hybrid loans...Were you were paying a third of what your mortgage payment would be...Some lenders used these to get people into homes never revealing that they were increasing their loan amount monthly and a few other details....But the world moved along......

2. Investors were born in droves...Almost like what happened with the baby boomer generation....It was easy to be a wise real estate investor...No money to invest no problem...As long as, you could sign on the x...you were an investor....Everyone began to purchase homes...The very popular strategies was to buy new construction put 0 down or $5000.00 down...Lock the price for 5 to 6 months then sell immediately after the home was delivered and make a profit...Then people began to buy homes just to buy homes...Buy a home rent it don't worry if you are negative in less than 1 year sell it at a profit a recoup all your loses are reap the benefits....But the world moved along.......

3.New homebuilders, egan to se they couldn't make their homes fst enough they began to buy more land and make more homes...They started building monster homes were their was nothing for miles..:If you build them they will come"...They built them and they came...But know they aren't even coming to see the homes they are just their...And since the builders are already committed they cannot stop they must continue......The homes are their ..and the world moved along......

There are still 2 more ingredients that crated this perfect storm.............I will av them for Monday.....

A spell for top producers .........Try it....

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:38:29 -0700

My best advice to everyone is have you're mantra and something to keep you going everyday........ Everyday before I start my day....I alwasy say these words.....Just remember to smile !!!!!

Always remeber work a little everyday you'll be alright you'll be ...O.k.....

So, just try it out and let me know what you think.....It is a little spell ..I use to start my day...Let me know if it works....Suerte (Good Luck , Everyone) ........

Secrets of a successful agent #1

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 10:52:24 -0700

Like many of you...i wonder what makes people successful...Often times you see an agent who has been in the busy for only a few weeks and they get a huge deal....

Everyone is thinking he got lucky...But then the same agent start to get bigger deals and more often til it becomes habit.The naysayers would say beginners luck....We'll I can tell you I know their secret and it is simple...it can be summed up by a quote i have knone for a long time.

The harder you work the LUckier you get.............Unknone...

Often times the most simple of words are the most powerful due to theit simplicity...This quote is not fancy but it is true and gets to the point...Working hard creates more luck.....

Enjoy your day and get as lucky as you can today just remeber luck is created by hard work.............

Secrets of a successful agent #1

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 10:52:15 -0700

Like many of you...i wonder what makes people successful...Often times you see an agent who has been in the busy for only a few weeks and they get a huge deal....

The harder you work the LUckier you get.............Unknone...

Often times the most simple of words are the most powerful due to theit simplicity...This quote is not fancy but it is true and gets to the point...Working hard creates more luck.....

Enjoy your day and get as lucky as you can today just remeber luck is created by hard work.............

I say thanks.... Great information for a new rookie....

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:09:12 -0700

I posted a blog ...Asking the veterans to send me their thought on what a new rookie is to do...I call myself a rookie not because I 'm new to the business but because this market is new to me......I have done a few things to insure that I will be on of the surviving Realtors and one of the Top Real Estate Professionals in my area....

First, I have looked at the market and seen what investors look for...I have been introduced to hard money loans...I never understood how those work...I have aligned myself with investors that have the capital and the negotiating skill to get great deals for themselves on the properties , I have that are in foreclose process.

I have also researched my markets data and I'm able to determine ..How many homes are active around my listings....What hey have sold for in the last 60 days as well as which one's have been recently put into escrow.....

Then I 'm able to rely this information to my sellers. They way i explain it allows them to understand were the market is going and makes them take action...

The biggest improvements I have done lately is I have sought information ,comments and advice from the people who have been here before...

I have aligned myself with the Mike Ferry Organization, and have started implementing their strategies.....

To the new rookies do not ever doubt what taking a season veteran out for lunch and asking him real questions about the real estate business..... I thank and appreciate all the comment from those who participated....I will use them wisely .... So that in 10 to 15 years if a rookie ask for help ..I will be the season veteran.....

My mindset is already programed for success ...I have the golf clubs and the application for the Golf resort I will join once my time comes...I'm paying my dues now and understand what the future has in stored for me...... In the meantime I 'm starting to learn how to putt....

Thanks...

A call to the Real Estate Veterans of active rain.....

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:17:30 -0700

Ibeen in the business for 10 years ...But ...I have not seen this type of market...But I 'm not discouraged...I have been speaking to Real Estate Veteran who see this as just another day in the industry.....They-speak of the late 80's when rates where in the double digits and putting 10% or 20% was norml...They even speak of a time when listings where either picked up personally by the agent at the local MLS or it was delivered to the office...Since Mls did not use Internet it was all on paper...The old days....

This brings to mind a comment I heard from a season veteran.He said with all of these new technologies 'vailable to Realtors of the new era...They have forgotten the fundamentals and have not perfected certain skills they need for this market......He didn't say much else ....and stayed quite......

They are somewhat amused to see new agents that have not been in this kind of climate..... This is the era of the professional. Nobody will survive this market if they do not have a plan and are working to become smarter,wiser and better at what they do..YOU WILL STRUGGLE A BIT IN THIS MARKET BUT LIKE RIDING A BIKE ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT...IT IS EASY..

I ask the season veterans what king of advice they would give to a somewhat new agetn to this market.......What made you succeed survive times like these before.......

Please share ,......Thanks... .

Hey, what personlaity type are you .... FInd out ?

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:36:23 -0700

For the past two weeks , I have been focused on studying personality traits. I have discovered my own. It is widely believed that people are divided into 4 categories . The are as follows:

Driver Personality; These are the people that need to have control of the situation, enviorment and of the events around them. They are also the people that can and will persuade others to do what needs to be done. They often times are pushy and direct in what they need someone else to do.

Expressive Personality; These are the individuals who are more colorful and better story tellers because they can speak. They love to listen to themselves talk.They have a fondness for language and aspire to be heard. They often times describe things with feeling. They influence people to make them move or change their mind, simply by using words .

Amiable Personality; These are the individuals who have no enemies.They have the ability to blend in to any crowd. They can talk amongst the elite and come down and talk to the average person. They can persuade people, they use their influence to befriend a person and make them change or follow their lead.

Analytical Personality; These are the individuals that cannot simply believe in magic. They must understand it's function. The understand numbers,figures and sequence of events. They need to know who everything works the details inspire them to learn more to go further into the subject. They use this ability to change people's ideas or actions by using concrete evidence to make someone change.

In realty , nobody is one personality completely but a variation of one of these four traits. One personality trait is often stronger than all three in a person. The intetion of this realization is not to begin to categories and begin to divide each other and create a world divided into four parts. The purpose if you choose to study this is to understand who you are speaking too whether it is business, social event or even a debate. This will allow you to communicate to others and be more effective at communication. The next step is to understand each of these personality traits and listen to people's words and the language they use . Then simply, mimic their language their speaking pattern but not to mock them but to be a better communicator.

What personality are you? And how has that helped you become a better Sales professional ...?

The great ones have these 5 things in common.....Do you !!!

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 10:17:59 -0700

The day begins, and everyone has the same amount of sunlight to live their day. I have thought long and hard, Ive always tried to figure out the difference between me and someone who is exceptional, powerful person who impacts his industry like; Alan Greenspan, who is not any longer the Federal Reserves Chairman , yet his comments create action both positive or negative in the markets around the world. Micheal Jordan, a man who has not played in the NBA for few years and is still spoken of today..As the greatest that ever was... History speaks of many others who have long paced away and their influence is still felt in all our lives. For instance , Mother Teresa, Martin LUther King, Cesar Chaves, and Abraham Lincoln and many more......

I have begun this journey to discover the difference between these people who are great or who were the greatest in their field or influenced the world. Whre they all super heroes in disguise and are we mere mortals. I have begun to read books about these extraordinary people and have been slowly discovering their secrets. It is amazing how everyone including myself seeks an answer, a magic pill to solve our problems or to make is great.As I began this quest it became apperant their isn't one. Perhaps this is why some never succeed because they look for the easy road. Those who have succeded have discovered these 5 things.....

When studying and trying to emulate the people that have influenced the world. I have discovered 5 things that makes these people powerful, influential and inspirational to the masses.........

1. Knowledge of industry and self:all of these people know their industry. They understand it forwards and backeards. They studied it until they understood the fundamental then evolved to mastery of the subject...Example ..Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban, he made is fortune in computers. He atainde the knowledge by sleeping in the store were he worked reading all the books about how they worked and then used his salesmanship too communicate it to buyers; like Micheal Jordan, was cut fro mhis junior high basketball team. He realized he diodn't know enough and worked hard to learn the game and practice in the gym in the dark when school hadn't even started yet. He knew what nedded to be done.They are today regarded as some of the best people to have ever played a position or had the influential..

2. Dedication:All of these also understand what their abilities are and what they need to do to improve them and surpass the masses. Tehy didn't just want to be in the industry they wanted to own it , be the best that ever was...For instance; the difference between a pro golfer and a regular golfer is simple. The regular golfer has a decent day at a range and finished with a good score. He/She understands they made a few mistakes and relaxes, orders a drink or two and goes on with his/her day. A professional, recalls every bad shot he made in the course of the round of golf he just finished and practices,practices ,practices, every shot over 50 times each until it is perfect.

3.Confidence: Their confidence stems from knowing that they have practiced their shots,their speeches , and learned all they can. They know that they are prepared for anything and are ready to rise to the challenge. Example: Coach, John Wooden of the UCLA Basketball took his teams to over a dozen NCAA Championships he stated once that "Once a A game began his job was done". The reason being he had prepared during the off- season for every game they were going to play, his team had practiced ,ran drills and had prepared for each opponent they would face. They already knew what to do . He had already done his work and know it was time to reap the rewards of their labor and put it into action. There outcome a reflection of their past dedication.

4.Inspired to become better than before: In Real Estate our incomes tend to go from starvation to wealth all within a few weeks. This occurs simply because we stop to long to admire our own success. We become like the athlete who reads a headline" He is the best player ever", He begins to believe he is. He is intoxicated by the hype by the pats on the back. He begins to stop doing what made him great and that becomes his demise. Our incomes increase not because someone realized we deserve more and we are worth more but because we have done the work to get it.Our past actions create our results of the present....

5. Greatness surrounded them; In every case if you look at each of these persons and dive into who they were and how they got there, they will always acknowledge someone else. For athletes it is usually their coach. Their coaches were their third set of eyes and ears. Their coaches saw were they needed to improvement, they knew their potential when nobody saw it. They were the ones who pushed them to become better. Teh wre the ones who held them accountable .

These are 5 of the traits of the exceptional people ,who have influenced their industry and have influenced the worls . I do not thought there are more traits that I could have listed . I leave that to you to discover.In doing so you too will try to emulate and slowly become what you already knew you can be....The exceptional you , the one that is influential and powerful.........

To kill a lead or to give freedom to me.... That is the question...

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:11:13 -0700

Many, many Real Estate Agents whether they have been in the business a few years or just a few days may have a lead or are working hard to obtain one. The question is simple....

Should you throw away your lead or should you carry it with you ?............

To some including myself that is a hard question to ask and a hard thing to let go of a precious lead... A person who says he want to buy or a person who says he wants to list... I would carry that lead to the grocery store with me, I would take it along caravan with me , and place it in a safe place my lead. An often every night I would look at my lead and get more leads for my one orphaned lead...Until it had a bunch of brothers and sisters....

But, then someone came along and asked me a simple question that made me become a different person, a person that would abandon his precious leads and throw them out into the cruel world....The question was simple yet it destroyed the relationship I had with my first lead and all other leads that followed.... Never again, could I look at a lead in the same-way...I did not mind carrying my leads with me they weren't that heavy they all fit in my phone,some in the back of my own business card, others on sticky little papers and others snuggled tightly inside my voice mail........ The question was :::::::::

From your Leads ..... How many need to absolutely buy within the next seven to ten business days or sell within the next seven to ten business days?

As I ponderd the question and I looked at my leads I realized should I ask ? or do I even have a right to ask? .... I mean they aren't really bothering me..They are leads their quite they don't bother me ... I fought it for awhile and I finally began to ask all my leads ...The question.......

Believe it or not many were not defensive for me asking them and others simply answered.

The results were amazing from the more than a handful of leads, I once carried every where I went. I now carry only 2 or 3 because these are the ones that really need me to be their and get them into a home within the next few weeks ...They have to sell their real estate properties or they they really need to buy immediatly ....

In doing this my time and my energy was more wisely spent on my buyers and sellers who need my expertise now. The other leads are still their, they are set aside I no longer carry them because it is not their time yet...

However, my phone feels a little lighter today than yesterday. My list of listings is a little less than before but the listings I have are very aggressively priced for the market and the sellers that ride with me are looking at homes and are signing contracts as soon as they find their home......

The out come of this is simple your leads that one carries do burdern us on a subconsious level. We need to now that the leads we carry are serious buyer or sellers ...And ifthey are not then thrwo them away or ask then when they are ready to truly buy or sell ...So that you may spend time with those who need you know....

I canno stree to all of yo how valueable this less has been to me..... If you are afraid to ask and afraind to throw that lead away then it is because you don't have very many of them .... And you don't have a way of obtainng more of them..........

I had to learn how to create more leads that way I didn't ming throwing a few away if they weren't going to buy within the next seven to ten days...... .Just try it....... Kill the one that don't need now and live better...

Homes for under two hundred thousand in Los Angeles County..Where?

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:18:12 -0700

Long ago, I made a decision to move my whole family to the Antelope Valley. I wanted to be were I felt the action was. Where in the County of Los Angeles could I go where things are moving at an unprecedented speed. I already new, Palmdale, Lancaster and Rosamond were areas with phenominal growth,I couldn't resist . The best housing markets in the country. The county statistics for Los Angeles price a median home at around the mid four hundred thousand dollar range. This is a monster mortgage payment. So where can you go to escape these outrageous prices. We'll do not fear for the Antalope Valley is near.

As some cities in Los Angeles crumble and their prices decline. The mighty Antalope Valley still persist their prices have fallen but that is the beauty. The homes have dropped were a four bedroom can be easily obtained for under two hundred thousand dollars. Unheard of a in past years. There is opportunity for those who are looking for their first home. Payments on homes in the Antaolpe Valley rival rents for apartments in the San Fernando Valley and most parts of Los Angeles.

The Antalope Valley has a boom in new residential construccion. The builders in the Anatlope Valley have stepped up to becoming magnets for new buyer's from around the Los Angeles County area by introducing programs where a buyer can receive up to fifty thousand dollars for amenities or to lower there interest rates.In some, communities you can receive a five percent credit for your new home. These aren't your average homes either they are huge gorgeous, mansion style homes or fabulous two story homes with exceptional floor plans. Perfect for those who are tired of the high prices in the San Fernando Valley. They come to the Palmdale, lancaster area because homes start at under two hundred thousand dollars. Not to mention the area still has a home town feel to it. Great community events occur through out the whole year.

The housing market in Palmdale,Lancaster and Rosamond. Wait there is more to come to the Hight Desert the new Lax/Palmdale airport recently opened with flights from San Francisco to the world. New hospital being build as I write in the West Palmdale area. West Palmdale also boast some of the best and most widely recognized premium restaurants in the nation. New movie theater just completed as well as a new mall being built. the growth in both residential and commercial are astonishing to watch.

If you haven't heard of Palmdale or lancaster . Don't worry they are already on the map. Soon they will be on everyone's lips .It is a currently a hidden gem many know it but millions have not heard of the exceptional growth of the Antelope Valley. Much more to come from the Antalope Valley So stay tuned.

Having a Real Estate licenses ..Doesn't mean you know how to drive.

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:15:34 -0800

Early on in my career as a Real Estate Professional I can say I was very naive. I was unaware of many things regarding finance and Real Estate in general . I was proud to have been smart enough or good enough to pass my Real Estate exam. I had already envisioned how life would change as of that moment.

First, thing I went back to my broker at the time and said "I passed ". We waited and my licenses arrived. Now What ? This is were most Real Estate agents begin to realize that the grass is not greener on the other side. I asked my broker , "What Next" He simply handed me the phone book and said "Call them and ask everyone if they or anyone they know would want to buy or sell?....... few minutes of calling and then it happened someone said "Yes"....Then the prospect at this time proceed to ask basic questions like where did I have homes to sell and what was the interest rate and so on......I was unprepared for many of those questions and I guess people could smell fear over the phone., I lost my first great lead. The prospect hanged up.

I had learned a valuable lessond.By doing those calls and losing a great lead. I had a licenses however there was nothing else other than having the licenses. I then began to go over the questions the client asked and began to seek the answers. I never realized that to be able to understand the answers to those basic questions would lead me on a never ending quest to understand the various worlds we as Real Estate Professionals most be aware of. I began to learn how to answer those questions .

I had the answers but knowing the answers was only a small part of this profession. I had spoken to more people and even though, I had the answers the results were the same .The prospect's simply never called back or never returned. At this point , I was confused . I realized that knowing the answers was just a small component of the whole process. Clients noticed that I was not as confident in my answers because of how slowly they answers came. Once again , I began to read about effective communication and another journey began a skill that is only mastered with practice.

Eventually, I had acquired decent communication skills and prospects were able to feel that I was knowledgeable and confident. However, I was still not ready, As I took out clients to show them homes. I would show them homes for most of the day. By the time I was done showing property everyone was tired and bored. I would do this over and over again with various client's and no offers were ever written. Again confused, I then proceed to ask other agents who were successful and they laughed, because they had been were I was not so long ago. They told me to fisrt try not to show more than 4-7 homes at one point and ask questions.

Know I had all the skills, I thought. Writting my first offer made me mindful of how much more i needed to learn. When I saw the contract for the first time I was scared of all the little writing. Because i had heard somewhere that the devil was in the fine print. I began to read all the contracts.Beaware that California has more disclosures and forms than most states. (I feel sorry for the trees).I began to read every form and understand how important each one was and how it could protect and even destroy my clients and career. The seriousness of the career path I had chosen was made apparent . I was astonished to know the complexity of acquiring a client, trying to discover their needs and wants and watching out for them as we pursue their dream of home ownership.

Ladies and gentleman, I left the business for a few months.I needed to prepare for all the challenges that I would face in this career. I began to prepare by reading and learnig from other succesful agents. Preparing as if I was a soldier who was going to go to battle soon. I made education a top priority. When i returned i would be ready. I had prepared myself because I understood the seriousness of my profession my efficiency,knowledge and skills would determine the financial well being of not just one person but in most cases the whole family. Since, then I 'm always humbled by the people who entrust in me their financial well being. A responsibility I take very seriously.

The Real Estate license allows me to be the driver and I strive to become a better driver everyday. The clients,prospects we deal with are people who depend on our skill as drivers to take them home.

Thank you for your time.......

Don't pay your mortgage, pay yourself first.......

Mario Ramirez (Realty Executives Platinum ) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:08:52 -0800

Many times I've sat across from my clients and have asked them 'What is the first bill you pay." Most of the time clients will think and answer 'my mortgage' . They are assuming this is the answer a Real Estate Professional would want to hear. I then ask them 'why?". Always the clients mention that because it is the biggest and the most important out of their bills . I never disagree because it is true.

I then have them ask me the same question . They often expect me to give them a different answer, like pay the fire insurance before the mortgage. My answer is always the same . I pay myself first! Often times this is greeted with some confusion and I can see people thinking this guy is really very selfish. I know this because after I explain why they then tell me what the were initially thinking of my answer. I say let's take a pencil & paper and write out some figures. I say before i pay any of my bills I Pay myself 10 % of my income. A practice i have done ever since I was seventeen years old. I learned this from a great book and after finishing the book the author stated 'If you learn nothing else from this book always remember to pay yourself first".

Let's do this simple exercise to show you how monumental this simple practice can change your life forever. If you write down how much money you made last year and then calculate what 10 % of that is. You will say 'wow' ... Ex.... I made $45,000.00 last year and 10% of that is $4500.00 good chunk of change. Then I ask "from the amount you made how much do you still have ?' Most people sometimes laugh and say we'll i made about that much but i don't have that much saved i actually owe about that much on my credit card. Then I do step number #2 Let's suppose your're income stayed the same for the next 10 years how much is that ?.. We'll the amount is $45,000.00 ... A bigger number. The shocker to most people is that they are unaware how much many has passed through their hands. By simply putting away just 10 % a year would have changed thier lives. I know because by the time I was 21 years old i had saved and invested this 10 % that grew into a large sum of money that I then used to purchase my own home at a young age with a sizable down payment. .

If everyone begins to pay themselves 10 % every time and puts that money away not to be spent on a big vacation or a new huge wide screen plasma T.V. but invest the money wisely. To allow the money we labor for to make money for us. This is reason why most of us are heavily in debt. I hope that this little peace of advice can help everyone be the master of their finances and no longer live one paycheck away from total bankruptcy .........Thanks for your time......