In our behaviors in real estate and the way we conduct ourselves in our personal lives to say the least it is a "work in progress." I reiterate to people all the time they are not the same person they were ten, even five years ago. Having recently returned from a high school reunion from MANY years back, I can assure you it is like walking through a time warp. Who are those people? They probably thought who was this Gary? We all can improve over time if we want to though. If we reflect. If we truly care to. But,
Discovering The Better Part Of You Doesn't Mean You Have To Be A Superman.
Who among us can be perfect? None of us. We will never get to that state. We are flawed to the core it seems by our natural design. This is a good thing in a sense. We have lots to work to do on within ourselves.
It is as if we have that proverbial angel on one shoulder whispering in our ears directing us in the good paths. And the little devil on the other shoulder trying to drag us down to our base level. Into the mud. All the worst that can come out of us.
A lot of wanting to be our best self is commitment to do so, and putting the brain in gear and being engaged in that quest.
You might want to get a sheet of paper, draw a stick figure out there with your name above it, write the question, "Who is this?" Write your good traits on your angel side and your flaws, or areas to improve on your devil side. Is your list on the devil side FAR EXCEEDING the angel side??
Some might argue that not having enough traits on the devil side means you are leading a boring life. All the FUN stuff is on the devil side. Well there is good fun and disastrous fun that leads to a life of ruin. Only with your own set of values of what you believe in the world can you make that judgment call. It is yours to make, as it is YOUR life. Come up with five or six items to work on. For example,
If you are a sloucher, vow to become a hard worker
If you are not in general nice to people, pursue kindness toward others
If you are unorganized, one step at a time, become organized
If you are out of shape, become fit
If you never pick up a book, become a reader and a teacher
If you are a sourpuss, adopt a new bright attitude
You get the point. Check how you are doing with them each day. Swat that devil off the one shoulder or minimize their influence in your life. Be steadfast on being the best you. Afterall, it is what you were designed to be. Even Superman at times didn't relish the side of being the one looked on to be the hero with the super powers all the time. He had to overcome his Kryptonite
It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Can Be.
In the field of time management sometimes many of us feel like the Wizard of Oz character the Scarecrow and say to ourselves, "If I Only Had a Brain." Well we all have a brain and we need to use it with our selections in life. Here's
Three Tips On Choosing Something Or Not.
1) Values / Meaning - Look at what you are doing and ask yourself if it is "aligned" with what is important to you. For example I can't help but chuckle in the blogging world with those that spend countless HOURS blogging each day but complain their business has suffered for the year. Maybe less blogging??! Duh.
2) Substitution - this is such an elemental observation that completely eludes most people. You CAN'T do it all. If you pick up volunteering on Thursday afternoons and that is important to you, guess what? You can't also be doing money producing activities like showing clients houses that day. Remember as you add a new item to your choices you are typically subtracting something else. The art of carefully subtracting those things you don't want to do anymore is where your brain needs to be fully aware of something "LEAVING" your life. It is all good, if you are the one in control.
3) Finally, Evaluation. It is ok to be a different person today than you were a year ago. Last year was practicing Yoga. This year you are training for marathons. Last year you were part of a team at a big established, national name Realtor company. This year you are your own Broker at Susie's XYZ Realtor company and more your own boss. Evaluate constantly. Unsubscribe from those distribution email lists that you THOUGHT originally provided you with meaningful information but now just clog up your InBox.
You are in charge. Your life is made up of a series of choices. Keep making better ones as you go along. Whether high heels, running shoes, flats, or 'Texas' boots, make your way through life in your style. And ENJOY the ride.
Do you know right now you have all you really need? Sure we want to grow more in abundance in our life in many areas, love, success, relationships, but you are abundantly rich NOW right where you are. You just have to believe it and let the joy then flow outward.
Come January 1st, 2010, as a REALTOR or a consumer at the closing table things are about to change as far as the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and Settlement Statement (HUD-1). Links below will allow you to print these out to familiarize yourself with them. Both now are three pages in length. The highlights:
Revised Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
GFE tolerances on settlement costs (1/8 point allowed to be in error)
Revised Settlement Statement (HUD-1)
Revised definitions for application, Good Faith Estimate, and Mortgage Broker
Additional definitions for changed circumstances, origination services, loan originator, prepayment penalty, third party, title service and tolerance
Elimination of 1% origination fee cap on FHA loans
RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) forms apply to federally insured or backed loans such as FHA/VA/Conventional and NOT cash deals. There is also a 30 day cure period to give lenders after closing the ability to meet the tolerance. The closing script is eliminated as it is contained in the revised HUD-1. Average charges can be used by service providers and is not limited to loan originators.
Bottom line is it looks like the new GFE and HUD-1 want the borrower to be as crystal clear on everything related to the loan. It looks like the fastest you could go from app to close is about three weeks. On page three of the new HUD-1 boxes compare GFE and HUD-1 costs. On page 3 of the GFE they clearly in the instructions state what charges CANNOT increase past the GFE, can increase up to 10%, and what charges can change. It is VERY clear. The only thing weird I saw on both the new HUD-1 and GFE is it never clearly says the PITI monthly payment but just principal, interest, and mortgage insurance in the loan terms.
It looks a lot different for most of us, but print yourself out a copy and take a look. January is NOT that far off.
With closings averaging 130 pieces of paperwork both the REALTOR and the consumer need to know about these documents ahead of time. One last tip for both groups in this area, be sure to show up at the table with a U.S. government issued ID with a picture and your signature. This is mandatory for identification purposes. Good luck and happy closings!!!
Halloween is such a fun time of year with all the little kid trick or treaters decked out in such great costumes. But in our jobs, work life, and perhaps even in some personal situations for you there is
Another Scary Character Among Us Following Halloween.
It is that of the emotional vampire character. You know these people. Don't know why they are the way they are, but they suck the life out of you with their spirit. You feel drained around them. You may even be in fear of them.
Time spent with an emotional vampire is time not well spent, or even healthy for you. They intimidate you, want more from you than they will ever give you, and often put out much negativity.
Avoid them, partition them to just some of your time to tolerate them, remember THEY have the problem, not you. Develop coping skills to isolate them from your good heart.
We all need emotional rescues at times from the damage emotional vampires do to us. Surround yourself with supporting friends, find those who see your good side and remind you of it. Above all remember the emotional vampires may be just sent into your life as a "bad example" out there. Use them as a contrast to all the blessings you do have in life with the good friends and family members you can count on. Scary yes. But something you can handle with good thoughts and a terrific support system.
In seeing pockets of vacancies around my area in strip shopping centers due to a tough economy I tracked down a few owners that were still in business yet had moved. I discovered
In Commercial Real Estate It Is The Same Thing.
Agents specializing in Residential, Lakefront, Farm and Ranch, or Luxury, all know about it.
Location, Location, Location.
Turns out this niche batteries store HAD to move to survive. To get better foot traffic for his business.
Another story involved the anchor grocery store moving out of a shopping center and the private Christian bookstore folding up. Where did all the former customers go? Apparently wherever the anchor store moved to.
The retailers Walgreens and Kohls have specific targeted areas whether they be free standing corner locations on busy highways or medium upscale shopping centers. Whatever they are doing, it is working. And then we have McDonald's who is not really in the hamburger business at all but the real estate business. Those guys know how to pick the winning spots for the most part.
Point is, as a commercial business, do your due diligence up front on location. Whether product or service oriented or restaurant, a good location is critical. Or just plop your business down wherever you see a McDonald's to avoid those clearance to the walls sales to close your doors and be no more.
It amazes me both in real estate and in life how resistive we are to change. Change is constant and you are not going to stop it. I think as we get older we want things to freeze in place, our income, our friends, our settings, our way of doing things. It is not going to happen. But two things to hang your hat on in handling change in a fast moving world:
1) The more things change the more they stay the same. Some things are seasonal and cyclical like holidays. Enjoy the new characters inserted into those traditions.
2) Serenity - separate the out of control change from that change which you can impact. It will give you peace.
With so much emphasis you read about Social Media and its impact on business, the Realtor's job is to meet with people, qualify them, and assist them with a buying or selling transaction of real property. The "money earning" hours are done in performing this task. Think of it as the meat and potatoes of real estate. Sure there is marketing, and web site development, and records filing, but many of these functions are the overhead actions of the business.
Find your customers, sell them on working with you, put your real estate knowledge to work, overcome the business obstacles and CLOSE the business. Meat and potatoes are good. It is what sustains you and brings home the paycheck that leaves you feeling satisfied.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Posted by 
;)
;)
