The latest scoop from Idaho Business Review indicates sunnier economic skies in the near future for my favorite state:

Another reason for predicting a friendlier economy in Idaho:

UGOBE, creators of the Pleo, is moving to my hometown, Eagle, Idaho.  Learn more about UGOBE at this link: http://www.ugobe.com/index.html.  What's a Pleo?  Find out about this cute li'l guy at his own link: www.PleoWorld.com.

Last word on our upcoming economy:

Check out this article to learn about our thriving entrepreneurial environment: http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/588349.html  Learn what Bob and his buddies did in a basement.

That's how I felt about driving into the mountains this weekend.  The leaves on the aspens were a golden yellow.  Maples were crimson red.  Turning cottonwoods lined rocky creeks and rivers, with swirling whitewater flowing through the Salmon River and the Little Salmon.  Whitewater was interrupted by calm, deep pools, before splashing on its course down the mountain.  It's the Boise/Cascades in the fall, and I'm lovin' it.

We drove past McCall, Idaho, with beautiful Payette Lake sitting as a backdrop to this quaint town that is trying to turn itself into a resort.  The north fork of the Payette River branches off the lake in McCall.  Here's a shot of the Payette River in autumn.

This post would be incomplete without a photo of my son playing soccer.  His high school team qualified for the state tournament; thus prompting the drive to northern Idaho where the team played-- and won-- its first round in the state playoffs.  This photo wasn't taken at my son's most recent game, but is still an appropriate choice....  For better or worse, this pic typifies his playing style.  Did I mention he's on the wrestling team when soccer's over?

It's still good to return to real estate (a statement I don't ever recall making about my previous career).   I couldn't have made this trip in my LBRE (life before real estate)... as work would have interfered.

     Even in this tough market, there are hopeful signs and possibilities to look forward to.  1. My broker is hosting Tom Lundstedt, former professional major league baseball player and current real estate investment guru to enlighten my clients about real estate investing.  Tom will give two presentations-- one to agents, and another to agents along with their clients-- about investing in my fave investment: residential income properties. 2.  This article showed up online:    http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fi-homes21-2008oct21,0,1412933.story.  The gist of the article is that home sales in California are up 65%.  The article takes a negative slant, but good news still shines through: home sales have improved this much over September, 2007.  Homes are affordable again to people who were previously kept out of the market by rapidly rising prices.  Foreclosures are being gobbled up.      If the LA Times wants to paint this in a negative light, that's their perogative.  I'll paint my world in the colors of fall-- bright, beautiful, and-- as Grandma would say-- glorious!

Disclaimer: If you take your appearance way too seriously, or if you are just wound too tight at the moment, please do not read this.  You'll burst a vein in your temple, and what will THAT do to your good looks?  Instead, pour yourself a glass of wine (or whatever it is you do to relax), take a deep breath, close your eyes... take a nap!  Then, please come back and read once you're relaxed.  But remember to plant your tongue firmly in your cheek while reading-- as long as the tongue-planting doesn't interfere with that glass of wine.

Subtitle: In Search of Non-Surgical, Low Budget Procedures for the Woman Over Forty

Part I

With the Half-Century birthday rushing at me like a runaway locomotive, I'm taking a look at stopping the march of time across my face.  Plastic surgery is out of the question, as are other expensive options.  A "chemical peel"?? ExCUSE ME?  No funky, unpronounceable chemicals on MY face, thank-you-very-much!

I think I'll stick to something more familiar.  Laminating is something I'm familiar with.  Back in my elementary school-teaching days, it kept all those bulletin board displays smooth and free from fading.  Perfect.  I'm laminating my face next week.

Part II

Remember those younger days when long hair actually complemented your look?  I wore mine down to the middle of my back.  Since it was-- and still is-- rather fine and thin, the remedy was to bend over and brush my hair upside down.  Then, FLIP! and Voila! Poofy Full, fluffy hair! (I lived in Oklahoma at this time.  Big ol' "HAR" was in.  All y'all ladies from the South know what I mean.)

A couple of years ago A few days ago, I'm performing the upside-down-brushing technique and see something frightening.  Something with three chins, lumps around the ears, crumpled crepe paper under the eyes is looking at me.  Augh!  I thought only that little kid in the movie saw dead people. I stand upright so fast I risk whiplash.  I've just seen myself upside down in the mirror for the first time since my thirties.

My hair is now short.  I still object to plastic surgery, but I'm seeing duct tape in a new light.  I wonder if it comes in flesh tones....  If not, silver was one of my school's colors in high school.   Sporting a bit of strategically placed duct tape can take years  off my appearance.  I'm fantasizing about those former high school cheerleaders being envious as well.

Part III

The perfect facial mask?  This would be one I never peel off.  I haven't found any with "never remove" in the directions, but what's wrong with just following the beginning of the directions and ignoring steps about removing it?  Firm, tight skin all the time.  What every woman wants.  My preferred mask has a slight greenish hue.  No problem.  I'll accessorize accordingly.

Since March, our market-- known to locals as the Treasure Valley-- has been slowly making gains over what appears to have been a bottom in February.  I'm hoping February, 2008, was the bottom but, since a number of factors have yet to shake themselves out, we'll have to wait and see what happens in the coming year. 

I could cut the local media some slack over not reporting gradual gains; however, Septemeber with its 20% increase over August is both notable and newsworthy.  Additionally, our inventory has decreased for three consecutive months, with September, 2008 showing a decreased inventory over September, 2007!!  Tremendously welcome news, which I'm sure the typical consumer-- let alone the average seller!-- would love to hear about.  From the media: nada!

Approaching mid October, the news media has had ample time to compile the same stats I have-- available to anyone with access to the local MLS-- and run at least one story on this great situation.  But we're talkin' Zippo stories as the news vultures reporters continue their relentless trash digging quest for bad news about the economy... well, everything!!  Yeah, we all know negative news sells.  My response:

1. The negativity has been a bit over the top lately. (Likely because there's an election on the horizon.)

2. If negative news sells so well, why aren't newspapers reporting their own negative numbers, as their circulation numbers continue to dwindle and some of them face the choice of either being bought out by a competitor or going belly up?  Hmmmm....  Seems the media is making its own negative news on several levels....

So that's my market report, with a bit of my two-cents thrown in about the news media.

Make your weekend a memorable one!

That's a great statement for me at the end of the day-- to honestly be able to say nothing else I could have done would have made this day any better.

Did I sell a house?  No.  Win the lottery?  Not a chance!  I didn't buy a ticket (and rarely do.  Although it's fun to buy them and give them to clients :-)!)  With either of these activities, there are too many factors beyond my control to say there's something I could have done.

So what did I do that made it such a great day?

First, I wrote out a plan the night before.  This is something I've been doing for decades (former school teacher, ya know, so it started in the form of 'lesson plans' and has evolved....)            But then I did something I don't always manage to do, which is...

completed every item on the list.  My "to do" lists are usually long.  Lots of items carry over into the next day.  Not today.  I started the day with some really positive statements said out loud to myself in the mirror.  Okay, confession time: I used to think such behaviors were quirky and corny, but I can't argue with success.  The best sales professionals in real estate make positive statements to themselves daily.

This positive start to the day led to a great meeting involving a new prospect, myself, and a mutual acquaintance who wants to grow business for all of us!  (What great people to spend time with.)      Besides bringing enthusiasm, faith, and courage to the meeting, I also applied some of the skills I've been learning about in order to help people.  Most notably, asking great questions (see Bob Burg's book, Endless Referrals for great questions) and then practicing the art of listening.  Asking the questions and then hearing the answers was really enjoyable.                           I left the meeting with an even bigger dosage of enthusiasm than I'd brought to it.  With batteries fully charged (the coffee helped too!), I returned to my home office and completed those "top priority" tasks-- the ones that will really grow my business.

I called people in my data base... and lined up meeting with three of them for coffee next week.

I wrote personal notes.  (The goal was to write three, but I wrote six.)

I popped by the businesses of two former clients and gave them little gifts.  (That makes five pop-bys so far this week.)

I also pushed through to complete a huge project I've been working on for months.  Finishing that is exhilarating!

Simple stuff, really.  Not at all earth shattering, but that's what's great about it.  It can easily be duplicated tomorrow.  No reason tomorrow can't be great and I can make the same statement about that day as well.

Imagine living this close to nature-- the sounds of a year 'round brook running over stones in your own backyard... an unobstructed view of Boise's nearest ski resort- Bogus Basin, overlooking the lush trees lining the Boise River and Greenbelt... your horses grazing contentedly in your meadow... soft breezes blowing as pheasants call to one another in the tall grass...

And yet you are only moments from shopping, parks, schools... all the excitement and convenience of city life!

Experience this lifestyle-- country living with city convenience-- at 9553 W. Chelan in Boise, Idaho.

This one-of-a-kind home is custom-built, with the craftsmanship you would expect from a master builder.  Creative touches throughout add to the charm of its country setting.

There is so much to experience and enjoy in this naturally beautiful setting.  See it and you'll fall in love with its charm and sentimental way of life.

It will never be more affordable than now.  Please see more details at my website: PropertiesByPaula.com

I'm serious about this little survey, although it's easy to see all kinds of potential for some pretty funny answers.

For the sake of argument, here's some answers that don't count:

• finding a bottle of Jack Daniels to drown myself in
• Happy Hour at the local watering hole, etc... (okay, you get the picture)
• giving up and vegging in front of the TV for the rest of the day.

It would be interesting (and fun?) to learn what relatively healthy stress relievers people find to continue on through the rest of the day.

For example: I have a listing appointment in the evening.  BUT a deal fell apart that morning, while I was also caring for a sick child (who threw up on me).... I waited in the doctor's office for 70 minutes past my appointment time, blah, blah, blah....       My stress reliever: a hilarious book by a funny lady! :-)

Now it's your turn; What's your stress reliever??

While taking a great real estate class today, I was able to use information I'd learned on Active Rain to make points during a class discussion.  During a break, I mentioned to the instructor that some of the information I'd shared came from Active Rain and its members.  She really lit up when she heard I blog on Active Rain.  She knows it's a great site, with lots of good agents, and good information.

I really appreciate those of you posting informative and fun blogs.  The information I passed on to my classmates was helpful to them.... and it made me sound smart.  Thanks!

One veteran, top producer sitting behind me in class wanted to hear more about this site.  She now has the website address and will hopefully check it out.

After the break, the instructor talked about Active Rain to the entire class.  I hope we have some new people joining the site as a result of learning about it in the class.

It was really fun to be able to tell people how great y'all are!

Incidentally, the instructor had flown to Boise from North Carolina.  I told her some of the warmest welcomes I received on this site were from North Carolina agents.

It's been a great Friday!

Paula

Who will find this tip helpful?

1. Realtors with listings in a "down" market.

2. Realtors in a market that typically slows down in the winter.

3. Realtors willing to invest in their business and in their clients.

The tip: Upon taking a listing or-- if you have an existing listing-- upon making a relevant price change-- pay for your seller's property inspection.

Okay, so it's not an original idea, but ideas don't have to be orignal in order to be effective.  I recently paid for a home inspection for one of my listings.  This investment resulted in an accepted offer last week, with the selling agent telling me that the reason her buyer chose my listing over hundreds of others qualifying to meet her needs was the completed inspection.  It set us apart from the competition.

Now that we're moving forward with this transaction, my sellers and I have peace of mind that the inspection period is going to be a breeze.  The buyers agent says she and her client feel the same way we do.  No "mystery" inspection reports, with the buyer's requests up in the air.  No high-stakes drama... "Will the buyer make ridiculous requests?" (One set of buyers-- with help from their inspector-- requested that all the windows, except one, in the home be replaced.  That's another story....:-))  Parties on both sides of this transaction are loving how smoothly things are progressing.

The buyer's agent says the completed inspection has moved up the closing by five business days!  That's something to smile about.

Good candidates for doing a pre-listing/pre-offer inspection:

1. The property should be priced right, obviously! (This goes without saying....)

2. The sellers have put a lot of effort into getting their property looking good-- great curb appeal, fresh paint, new carpet, groomed landscaping, etc.

3.  The sellers have either already referred you, or they would refer you, because they appreciate your service and know you are working diligently to sell their property in a tough market.

It really helps if you like your sellers, which is no problem for me in this case.  Another plus: there's no chance I'll be asked to reduce my commission.  We presented a very strong listing to the market, giving us a strong case for our asking price; the pre-inspection strengthened our position in negotiating a contract too.

Over all, I say paying for a pre-listing inspection is a win/win scenario.