I'm Your New BFF!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:42:27 -0600

So, I am not usually a spiteful person... but when it comes to my college football and Florida State Seminoles, the gloves come off!

To all the Gator fans, bask in your glory while it lasts, because Bama is going to take the wind right out of your sails! HaHaHa! I cannot wait! :)

All in good fun, right?!

Who says it doesn't get COLD in FLORIDA?????

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:49:32 -0600

My email just alerted me to several weather warnings for the Central Florida area....

Typically these warnings are regarding tornadoes, hurricanes, hail, flooding, tropical storms... Today they are for wind chill advisories, freeze and frost warnings, and red flag warnings!

It's barely even half-way through November! We are in for a colder-than-normal winter this year, Florida! Bust out your scarves, mittens, boots... and bundle up the kiddos! Brrrrr!!!!

"Art at the Market" Charity Art Show, Winter Park, FL -- Thursday 11/20/08 6-9pm

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:09:39 -0600

PLAYGROUND Magazine and Anne Rue Interiors are hosting "Art at the Market,"a charity art show benefiting the Ronald McDonald House.

Food from Harmoni Market, Wine from Wine Styles, Beer from Peroni and Schenck, Cupcakes from Anna Cakes and the hottest DJ in town spinning on the terrace.

HEATERS will be provided to keep everyone warm!!

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Time: 6-9pm
Location: Winter Park Farmers' Market (Corner of New England and New York), Winter Park, FL

(***Note: This is not my event, and I am not affiliated with the organizations participating in this event. I hope you will attend in support of a wonderful cause!)

The Mortgage Firm Blood Drive -- Wednesday, November 19 10am-4pm

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:15:34 -0600

Be a hero and give blood! The Mortgage Firm, Inc. is holding a Blood Drive in conjunction with Florida's Blood Centers. If you are in the area and have time, they are always looking for heroes!

What: Blood Drive
Where: The Mortgage Firm, 921 Douglas Ave, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
When: Wednesday, November 19th, 10am-4pm
Why: Giving blood costs you nothing and means so much to people in need of transfusions, trauma patients, chemotherapy patients.... The list goes on!
How: Just stop by or call 407-539-3476 ext 221 for an appointment.

PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR PHOTO ID!

Donors may receive thank you gifts such as:

Buy One, Get One admission to Gatorland
50% off tickets for Gaylord Palms ICE!
Coupon for FREE Papa Johns breadsticks
Free mini physical to check your blood pressure, iron level, cholesterol and more!

This time of year, it is so important to help our area's blood supplies. This year, more than ever, it is more difficult to contribute financially to charitable organizations. This is one donation that costs you NOTHING! It only takes a few minutes of your time! Please stop by!

If we could twitter-style-follow on ActiveRain... What would we see you doing?

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:57:00 -0600

So, I started wondering about the phenomenon of twitter -- a bit narcissistic, a bit voyeuristic, a bit inspiring... It seems people really like to "follow" people. We are like sheep flocking together looking for comfort.

We all find great comfort on ActiveRain, and feel inspired by others ramblings. What if we could "follow" one another on the ActiveRain website. Where would people see you going? What would they see you doing? How do you spend your time on ActiveRain?

Here is a typical ActiveRain session for me:

I get to the office at about 7:45am with my cup of Starbucks. I log-in to ActiveRain. My first stop is to check my points balance and see if my ranking has changed from the last log-in. I then hit my favorite blogs and catch up on what my buddies have posted. I make comments if I have something worthwhile to say. Then, I check the most recent blogs and do the same. By now, I have usually hit my 10 comments for which I earn points per day. I don't stop here though. Points are not my entire motivation for being on ActiveRain, ya know?!

If I have an idea for a blog post, I begin working on that. Sometimes, I free-think(like this post) and other times, I write it all out, format with color and font, pictures, etc. It really just depends on my mood and how quickly I need to get my thoughts together before heaidng into my busy work day!

If I have appointments or other tasks at hand, I step away from ActiveRain. I always try to return in the afternoon or evening to see what people have replied and/or posted on my blog or others that I found interesting.

I try to start and end my workday in the Rain. It helps me stay "grounded" and connected to my fellow Rainers!

If I could follow you on ActiveRain, what would I see???

REMINDER! Free workshop on Negotiating Short Sales! Orlando, FL!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:45:37 -0600

Fall Real Estate Seminar Series

Short Sale Assistance November 2008

Park Place Title Presents a Free Seminar by Real Property Consulting Group!

Need help with your short sales?

Attend our free, no-obligation seminar to learn how Real Property Consulting Group, LLC can assist you with your files and help you get your files closed.

Are you missing out on making money and closing deals because you don't know how to talk to your clients?

Are you losing listings because the property is upside down?

Would you like to focus on listing and marketing the properties (which is what you do best) while someone else deals with the headaches of a short sale?

Educate yourself and learn why short sales are great investment opportunities for your clients.

Seminar details...

This FREE workshop will be held on Friday, November 21st. Registration and networking begin at 9:30am. Presentation from 10:00-11:00am. It will be held at 922 Lake Baldwin Lane, Suite B, Orlando, FL 32814. This location is at Park Place Title in Baldwin Park. Reservations are required no later than Tuesday, November 18th by emailing: melissa@parkplacetitleinc.com.

Welcome to ActiveRain... Walter Rentz, Rentz Asset Management!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:48:01 -0600

News Flash!!! Walter Rentz is now a member of ActiveRain! Please join me in welcoming him to Active Rain and showing him the ropes! He is a fabulous person and a true professional and I am proud to invite him into the Rain!

Thanks for joining us, Walter! I am sure you will make many wonderful connections on here! Remember to take it to the next level and build relationships to grow your business! Let me know how I can help you!

We keep hearing about bailouts and foreclosure prevention... Where do I get credit for being a GOOD borrower???

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:11:00 -0600

I may get blasted for this, but had to ask... I am not sure if anyone has blogged about this before. But I am sick to death of hearing about the hand-outs being passed around so freely to people who cannot/did not honor their agreement to pay their lender. Where does someone like me (who pays as agreed, and on time) get a hand-out bail-out?

Is there anything in the works to reward those of us scraping by and making ends meet by sacrificing in other areas of their budget? How about the fact that I am probably upside down in my home and don't qualify for a short-sale, don't qualify for a modification, but don't want to owe more than my house is worth??? Come on, Congress, where's my assistance package?

Does ANYONE go to the office anymore???

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:41:01 -0600

I got an update from a friend on Facebook who works in the mortgage biz and her status update at almost 10am today was that she is "taking the dog to the groomer!" Now, I am sure that is not the office pet, so it must be her personal errands... How do so many people have the flexibility to be out of the office so much?

I am the Marketing Director for a title company... Our staff is in the office now more than ever before! I am still out and about on marketing visits, lunch and coffee appointments, and networking events... but what about everyone else?

It seems that so many Realtors and Mortgage Professionals are never hardly ever in their brick-and-mortar offices anymore... Am I wrong? Or are there that many companies/brokers/etc. that allow you the freedom to work from home and go out on appointments as needed? Do you ever have a need to be in the office anymore?

You could really help me build a case to present to my employer regarding tele-commuting! ;-)

Thanks for your insight!

One Week Post Election... Would You Vote The Same Way....

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:22:31 -0600

If the election were today as you did a week ago? I ask this, because I wonder how many people regret the way they voted...

I, for one, do not have any regrets about my decisions on the ballot. I am just curious how many people (based on what they have seen or haven't seen in the media) have changed their mind at all...

It's still so hard to believe that only a week ago we were at the end of a 21+ month campaign run that ended in a historic turnout and outcome. Now we have all buckled down for the bumpy ride that we are on.

Welcome Active Rain Newbie, Sean Hester!!!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:18:39 -0600

So, Sean Hester is drinking the Kool-Aid now! Please join me in welcoming him to Active Rain and showing him the ropes! He is a fabulous person and a true professional and I am proud to invite him into the Rain!

Thanks for joining us, Sean! I am sure you will make many wonderful connections on here! Remember to take it to the next level and build relationships to grow your business! Let me know how I can help you!

So I was having lunch with a Mortgage Professional today.....

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:05:01 -0600

and I was trying to explain ActiveRain to him as he has never heard of it and was interested in it after I went on and on about how much I like it! Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words (shocking that I would, but it does happen from time to time!) as to what ActiveRain is?

I told him it is like a MySpace or Facebook for Real Estate Professionals and that you can really affect your Google Juice by becoming an active ActiveRainer! After all, he came to me by way of the Google Juice that A|R supplied me with!

When you are discussing the concept of A|R with somene who has never heard of it, what do you tell them? I am thinking I could really start referring a lot more people if I had a better way to introduce the new concept to them! What is your advice?

Remembering Our Heroes!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:06:43 -0600

I am sure you all know someone who has served this country and fought to help save our freedom. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and it is the perfect time to stop and reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women who, sometimes, thanklessly put their lives on the line for us.

Veteran's Day is "A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good." (from www.http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/)

Remember to thank a veteran!

I personally would like to thank my Dad for serving our country for over 20 years, my Father-In-Law for serving in the Korean War, and all of my friends currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Can you ever really do IT too much???

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:05:33 -0600

So... I noticed that some people do it one time a day, others once a week... still others that do it many times in one day!!! How many times a day do you???

Post to your blog?.... what did you think I was talking about???

I have noticed recently there are some people who seem to post several smaller blogs, while others seem to wait for that one great idea and produce very eloquent and professional results...

What is best in your opinion, as a reader? Or does it matter at all to you?

Need Help Negotiating Short Sales?

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:04:52 -0600

Fall Real Estate Seminar Series

Short Sale Assistance November 2008

Park Place Title Presents a Free Seminar by Real Property Consulting Group!

Need help with your short sales?

Attend our free, no-obligation seminars to learn how Real Property Consulting Group, LLC can assist you with your files and help you get your files closed.

Are you missing out on making money and closing deals because you don't know how to talk to your clients?

Are you losing listings because the property is upside down?

Would you like to focus on listing and marketing the properties (which is what you do best) while someone else deals with the headaches of a short sale?

Educate yourself and learn why short sales are great investment opportunities for your clients.

Seminar details...

This FREE workshop will be held on Friday, November 21st. Registration and networking begin at 9:30am. Presentation from 10:00-11:00am. It will be held at 922 Lake Baldwin Lane, Suite B, Orlando, FL 32814. This location is at Park Place Title in Baldwin Park. Reservations are required no later than Monday, November 17th by emailing: melissa@parkplacetitleinc.com.

Finally caved and made a Facebook profile for The Title Girl!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:05:57 -0600

I have to say that I LOVE FACEBOOK for personal social networking. I have found many high school friends and also family on there. I wanted to keep my personal and professional social networking separate (I don't want to be responsible for anything my crazy friends may say or do!).

So, The Title Girl finally caved and made her own profile so she doesn't have to share mine! I would love to be friends with any and all Active Rainers on Facebook! Please friend request me if I have not already found you! I created a Facebook badge that can be found in the right-hand column of my blog here...

I look forward to continuing the relationships I have with you and creating new ones to help grow our collective business!

Wordless Wednesday... A beautiful sight!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:14:21 -0600

Thank God It's Over... Will you be as compelled to vote in the future?

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:37:42 -0600

So, the election is over, you can move on...

Stop discussing the hypotheticals and start focusing on the reality of today.

What I am most impressed with is the record number of voters who cared enough (for whatever reason) to get out and vote. I hope that our country never forgets the passion it felt yesterday. I pray that our country can heal and move on.

I challenge everyone who voted yesterday to vote in every election in the future. It doesn't matter that you voted yersterday if you don't honor your civic duty every time you are called to vote. I will be very disappointed if the turnout numbers are not as high in future elections.

I have voted in every election that I have been qualified to vote in since I turned 18. Can you say the same thing? I know many of you can... but for those who felt compelled to vote yesterday, remember that you should always feel obligated to do your duty, regardless of the candidates or the office they are running for.

Thank you and have a great day!

Please read: Phishing/Worm Threat in Spam on Facebook and My Space...

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:13:10 -0500

This is my PSA for today... You may have already seen or heard about this newest "worm" circulating among Facebook and My Space....

I know many of you utilize Facebook and My Space for other social networking... PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING WARNING FROM KAPERSKY REGARDING POSSIBLE PHISIHING/WORM THREATS that appear to be coming from your friends on these websites....

Just take a moment to read it and make sure you take proper precautions when opening or downloading messages that appear to be from your friends... your friends don't even know these messages are being sent from their account...

Thank you and have a good day!

October is Almost Over! Important Reminder... Near and Dear to My Heart!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:29:58 -0500

In case you have not heard about the Army of Women founded by the renowned Dr. Susan Love, please check it out.

Many of you know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer awareness has been my "pet" cause for the past 17 years.

I am the only child of a single mom. In the month following my graduation from high school, 17 years ago, my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a matter of fact, she went in for an out-patient lumpectomy and while I sat in the waiting room, the surgeon came out to speak with me. Mind you... this was 17 years ago and I was only 18 years old. Her surgeon and all of his wonderful bedside manner came out to tell me that my Mom had CANCER. Yes, he told me this in a waiting room with other people listening. I fainted and woke up crying hysterically. Back then, and at my age, I thought cancer meant death...

My mom underwent a radical mastectomy and had reconstructive surgery to follow. It was a very tough summer for both of us, to say the least.

My Mom is now a 17-year breast cancer survivor. She survived because she HAD to. She was strong and scared at the same time. But she knew she couldn't teach me to be anything less than strong in the face of adversity.

It is because of this that my life had forever changed.I began having mammograms at the age of 29 and have them every year. I am diligent about my monthly BSE's.

I have joined the Army of Women in hopes of preventing other children from experiencing what I did. And to save the lives of all the wonderful moms and women afflicted with this disease.

PLEASE consider visiting the website. They are not asking for monetary donations. They are simply asking for you to donate your time. They are seeking healthy women of all ages and races, to join a study and work toward a cure for breast cancer.

Wordless Wednesday -- Children Say it All!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:01:45 -0500

What's YOUR plan this week? Read this to learn an easy way to make your week productive!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:27:55 -0500

Good Monday Morning ActiveRain! How was your weekend? I hope you had a relaxing weekend and feel re-energized and ready to go at it this week!

Do you have a plan of attack for this week, or are you just going to fly by the seat of your pants?

Sit down with that yummy cup of hot coffee, tea, or hot cocoa this morning and sketch out a plan of action. You are not going to sit by and watch the so-called "news" unravel with the upcoming election and economic crisis. You will make something happen this week. You will be successful and productive. You will prove the media wrong. This is a great time to be in real estate!

Have you ever heard of the 20-point day or week plan for sales calls?

Here's my take on it... Each day, your goal is to earn 20 points as a measure of success or productivity. Here is how you earn points: 10 points for a closing, 5 points per networking event, 5 points for a lunch appointment with a prospect or client, 2 points per sales call or contact made with a prospect or client (can be via email, phone or visit). Of course, you can tailor this to your current goals, but make sure you keep track of your appointments and contacts made. If you try this for the week, I bet you will see results!

Working off of this system, develop a plan for events to attend, appointments to set, and visits to make. Get away from the computer, the television, and the negativity. Get out and meet new people and spread the positivity! You can do it! Now go make it a great week!

Are your clients and prospects buying YOU?!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:55:37 -0500

So, I have a new analogy for you that I am sure all the realtors can appreciate:

"A marketing rep/AE/director is to a promotional products salesperson what a realtor is to a title company..."

The other day, I got another cold call via telelphone from a promotional products salesperson (one with whom I have never done business) asking me if I would like to receive their catalog and whether I was in the market (ha!) to buy any items right now.

They stressed to me that NOW is the time to buy items for the holidays, calendars for next year, holiday cards, holiday gifts, realtor gifts, etc... I politely replied that I was not interested in purchasing those items right now, but that they were more than welcome to send me their catalog and I would keep it in the event my budget/needs/desires changed.

The person then asked me what I was currently using for marketing trinkets/goodies... I said, "Honestly, my best marketing tools are my business card and my personality!". It's the TRUTH!

Every single one of you reading this has what it takes to market effectively in any situation. In the current market, everyone is so worried about pinching pennies and how best to spend advertising and marketing dollars.

I have gone back to the basics when it comes to my marketing plan.

Join the right associations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, the local Realtor Associations, the Rotary, etc.

Arm yourself with plenty of business cards, dress the part, put on your best smile and personality, practice your "elevator speech".

GET OUT THERE and MEET PEOPLE! Ask them who they know that they can introduce you to. Find out who they are hoping to meet that can help them grow their business.

Get to know people, build relationships, friendships, and then the business will come.

You don't become a successful salesperson (no matter what your product) by handing out the same old desk calendar or keychain flashlight... You become the best by being the best that you can be!

People buy into you, not your free giveaways!

Wondering what do do this weekend in Central Florida???

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:13:16 -0500

It's almost Halloween and you can certainly tell when you walk into your local retailers... They already have the Christmas stuff out. Of course!

Here in Central Florida, we don't have the color-changing leaves, the crisp fall air, the real patches of pumpkins... We do have a few fun things for families and kids of all ages to enjoy though.

Of course, there are the obvious events, like Walt Disney World's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Sea World's Halloween Spooktacular...

There are other venues that host fun events for everyone...

If you are in the Central Florida area, you must check out The Orlando Science Center's Spooktacular Science Extravaganza, where they will have gross science activites, magic shows, potion demonstrations, face-painting, and more. Also, be sure to check out the Green Meadows Petting Farm, where in addition to their normal petting zoo and hayrides for kids, they have a pumpkin patch and everyone gets to pick their own pumpkin!

A few other great places to visit are: The Central Florida Zoo Boo Bash, Orlando Harley East Halloween Biker Bash, and Festival Calle Orange just to name a few. You can certainly find a pumpkin patch and fall festival at your local school or church as well!

Take time to get out of the house and enjoy this time of year with your family! There are so many options!

Enjoy!

A MUST Read! -- I learned something new today!

Melissa Devitt "Your Right-Hand Girl" (MDevitt Services) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:25:01 -0500

I sponsored a seminar for realtors today and brought in a local Mortgage Company to present about the recent changes to FHA lending guidelines, as well as about USDA/Rural Housing Loans.

Here are a few key points that I learned and thought I'd pass along to you in case you didn't know...

For FHA loans, seasoning is usually 90-days... However, in the case of a bank-owned property, there is no seasoning.
Mortgage insurance rates on FHA loans have changed to the following: 1.75% for the upfront fee, and 0.55% per month.
Hope for Homeowners... The homeowner can be in any type of loan and does not have to be delinquent to qualify. There are higher costs associated with this loan. Any equity that you gain from a later sale of that property (I believe within the first 5 years of taking advantage of this program) must be split with the forgiving lender.
USDA/Rural Housing allows 100% financing with 6% seller contributions. No money down and no MI. There are income restrictions, but they are reasonable. You don't necessarily have to live in the "boonies" to be considered rural.
For conforming loans, a bankruptcy has to be discharged at least 4 years now (it used to be 2 years).

I am not a mortgage expert, but did want to share with you what I found to be interesting changes that may be useful to realtors to market to potential buyers on their listings.

Think of creative ways to offer solutions to and to attract potential buyers.

Please feel free to correct anything I have stated here, or to share more on this topic! I would love to hear what else is going on out there to provide more opportunity for realtors to sell more houses!