They say that these are the three most important words in Real Estate. I spent last week in New York City on spring break with my family and realized how this is true.

There was an article on the local news on how much you could get for $3,000 rent per month, in Texas the answer is a lot of house. In New York on Manhattan it is a 1 bed 800 square foot apartment.

We decided to get breakfast one morning close to our hotel on Times Square, where else could you be charged $7 for a side of bacon on top of the $15 for a couple of pancakes?

Then, look at the apartment buildings that line central park just to be close to the park can cost millions of dollars but if I lived in New York City that is exactly where I would want to be.

i always tell my clients that there are only 2 things that you have control over and that is the condition of your home and the price, unfortunately you cannot change the location so buy wisely.

I have sold 2 homes in an active adult community both of which back up to a road. This was a plus for the seller as other homes had neighbors right behind them. They even paid a premium to the builder for these lots. Unfortunately, when it came to sell the buyers did not agree and time and time again the feedback mentioned the road. I have another listing in the same location and out of 3 showings 2 mentioned the road.

So, remember as you buy or when you sell you cannot change it but location is important.

We are all good at complaining when things go wrong but when did you last pick up the phone or write a note and tell someone what a good job they did?

I just received a call from a friend who had bumped into my son at a fast food restaurant and wanted to tell me how nice and polite and friendly he was to them.

If you are the parent of a typical17 year old son you will appreciate how much this meant to me. Not only that my son was pleasant and polite but that she cared enough to pick up the phone and tell me.

So, I challenge you, pick up the phone, write that note and make the effort to make someone's day.

I have heard so much about blogging and how important it is. I have heard about agents who have found clients or have been found by clients through active rain.

However, is it worth blogging for blogging's sake? Is it necessary to have good content, an original idea. lots of graphics or can you just write simply about ideas and experiences?

I sometimes think of an idea for a blog only to find out that someone else has already written on that topic so I do not feel that I am original and so do no t write.

One of my goals for the new year is to be more visible on the Internet, is blogging the answer for everyone or just those with great ideas and writing skills?

These are rhetorical questions but if anyone has any answers I would be interested to hear your views.

I have a buyer who has been contacting me for information on HUD homes. He has been looking at the bidselect website to see the homes that are available. On the details of many of the homes it tells you that you can buy the home with a program that allows for only $100 down.

I have not been able to find any information about this.

Is there anyone out there that can help me?

Thanks

Sue

I have been looking at this site and blogging a little over the last few months.

I have often wondered what are the benefits of spending time here.

I have read of agents that have received business and referrals. That is wonderful and I hope that it happens to me soon.

I have found that this site is valuable for the amount of information that can be gained. It is useful to see what other people are experiencing, gain some insight on a situation and to know that you are not the only one dealing with the same issues.

So, what do you gain on Active Rain. Why is it worth your valuable time to spend time in the rain?

Sounds like fun ride but the reality is not fun.

I start each year with good work habits and systems. I am determined not to get caught up with my clients and not prospect or lead generate. Then I get really busy.

These last few months have been my busiest yet.

I got to go on a European tour from Venice to Paris ( that was fun!)

I am now back and I realise that my pipeline or funnel is not as full as I would like and I have to get serious about generating business.

So where are you? Are you coming down the hill screaming with you hands in the air or are you with me climbing back up the hill ready for the next ride.

Do you have great systems in place so that this does not happen to you?

This is one reason out of many.

The Samaritan Inn is the only homeless shelter in Collin County. There are many families seeking refuge and help from this great organization.

They recently opend the Gateway Apartment complex which was built with individual and company donations

The apartments are for families to rent at a reduced rent so that they can get themselves back on their feet. It is the next step after the programs in the Samaritan Inn.

The apartments need furniture, beds and bedding, kitchen utensils etc.. This is where our office came in. Our broker suggested that we adopt an apartment. Because of the donations of many of our agents along with family, friends and business contacts and through the hard work of agents in the office we were able to witness a family move in to their new apartment this week.

As you can see the apartment looks great. The family gets to take all the furnishings with them when they move out.

This is a fabulous project, a great way to give back and makes me proud to be associated with RE/MAX Four Corners.

To find out more about the Inn go to http://www.thesamaritaninn.org/

I have had 2 major frustrations in my business recently.

The first was my cell phone. I was with T Mobile and for some reason had terrible service. I often could not make calls and if I did call for more than a couple of minutes the call would drop. After many calls to T Mobile I decided to cut my losses ($200 for cancelling  my service) and changed to AT&T. I got a good deal on a Blackberry and I love it. It actually makes calls and I can talk to clients without having to apologise for dropping their call or asking them to repeat what they said. I can check email when I am away from my computer and find that I am able to save time and keep on top of everything.

The second is my vehicle. I have been driving a minivan which has seen better days and sometimes made me wonder if it would make it. I drove 27,600 miles last year and the gas consumption is not good, especially as gas prices keep rising.

Last week I bought a new car. I have a 2008 Honda Accord and I love it. It is so much nicer than what I have been driving. I feel very blessed. I told my husband that as I drive in my new car and check email when I get to my destination I feel like a new woman!

It is amazing how something as simple as a phone that works and a car that is reliable and has great gas mileage  can make your business life so much better.

I have had 2 major frustrations in my business recently.

The first was my cell phone. I was with T Mobile and for some reason had terrible service. I often could not make calls and if I did call for more than a couple of minutes the call would drop. After many calls to T Mobile I decided to cut my losses ($200 for cancelling  my service) and changed to AT&T. I got a good deal on a Blackberry and I love it. It actually makes calls and I can talk to clients without having to apologise for dropping their call or asking them to repeat what they said. I can check email when I am away from my computer and find that I am able to save time and keep on top of everything.

The second is my vehicle. I have been driving a minivan which has seen better days and sometimes made me wonder if it would make it. I drove 27,600 miles last year and the gas consumption is not good, especially as gas prices keep rising.

Last week I bought a new car. I have a 2008 Honda Accord and I love it. It is so much nicer than what I have been driving. I feel very blessed. I told my husband that as I drive in my new car and check email when I get to my destination I feel like a new woman!

It is amazing how something as simple as a phone that works and a car that is reliable and has great gas mileage  can make your business life so much better.

I have a listing that is on a nice piece of property in the country.

I went to check on it recently to find, to my horror, that someone had stolen the A/C unit. All that was left was the condenser which was bolted to the plate. It is a manufactured home and they had pulled off the siding and got underneath the house.

It has now been discovered that they also broke open the back door and took wiring out of the fuse box.

I feel so bad for the owners. I could not believe that this has happened. Apparently there is a market for copper.

The A/C repair tech told me that they probably got about $80 for the copper that was stolen. I am amazed that someone would do so much damage for such a small return.