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I'm no Politician, but I'm going to the White House!

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams South Tampa SL3178936

I was just about to turn my computer off for the night on May 15, at about 10:30 p.m. when I decided to check my email one last time for the day. Much to my surprise I had an email with the Subject: White House Forum on Housing for Florida Leaders. Excitedly, I opened the mail to find an invitation from The White House, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for me to join senior Obama Administration officials and fellow Florida Leaders for a White House Forum on Housing, on June 4, 2012 at The White House. I couldn’t believe it, nor could I contain my excitement! The first person I emailed was my business coach Michael Maher. He shared my excited with me and then we both carefully reviewed the invite again.

I responded to the invite and returned necessary paperwork to the appropriate people. Fast forward 16 days and here we are, tomorrow morning I will board a flight to Washington D.C. to see the sites and then attend the Forum. This morning I posted everywhere I could think of to solicit questions, statements and general comments from other REALTOR®s on topics and points that they would like to be addressed at the Forum. I have had a tremendous response and I am hoping to speak to several of the points brought up during the Forum on Monday.  We have a conference call tomorrow afternoon with HUD and the White House Office of Public Engagement to preview the agenda.

Honestly, I’m so honored that I have been chosen to participate in this White House Forum on Housing. I believe that by contributing to these types of events and letting our government know how things are going “down here in the trenches” I can make a difference. It is my hope that by sharing and gathering information at this Forum I will be able to help not only my clients but all homeowners in the state of Florida. I fully intend to share all of the information I glean from this trip with anyone who wants to hear it or read it.

I’m not sure who else got an invitation to represent Florida at this event, but I will promise you this, I won’t be sitting there wide-eyed and in awe, I’ll be contributing and discussing the issues at hand and doing my best to help homeowners in my home state of Florida.

P.S. Stay tuned, I’ll write blogs as the days go by during my trip!

Comments (23)

Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

That's great, Michele.  Please be sure to share your experience with us. 

May 31, 2012 05:48 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Michele,

Here is an opportunity for them to hear firsthand, from somebody who is practicing real estate today.

Rich

May 31, 2012 05:56 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Very neat!  I agree with Richard.

Please ask the President why he didn't send me a Christmas Card this year ;)

May 31, 2012 06:03 AM
Michele Herndon
Keller Williams South Tampa - Tampa, FL
Herndon Group PLACE Keller Williams South Tampa

Thanks everyone, I'll post how it went, I'm really looking forward to it!

May 31, 2012 06:03 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Michele, What a great opportunity to be heard. Now if the powers that be will do something postive with the information it won't be a waste of your time. Say hello to Michelle and Barrack.

May 31, 2012 06:35 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

What a wonderful opportunity....have a great time and I hope you have a chance to offer some ideas from the field. 

May 31, 2012 07:38 AM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

It is always a great place to visit and do some site seeing. Congrats

May 31, 2012 08:33 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

 Wow what an honor to be picked!! Congratulations! and when you return.. photos of you at the White House!

May 31, 2012 09:28 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Hi Michele. This is quite an honor. Congratulations and keep us posted. I'm excited for you.

May 31, 2012 11:11 AM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Michele:

So nice that you were invited.  Hope the trip and meet up is good and you get to ask a lot of questions and get a lot of answers.  Good luck.

May 31, 2012 11:14 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

What an honor.  I hope you have a good time and can give us an update on what takes place at the forum.

May 31, 2012 11:43 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Michele, This is truly an honor.. so glad for you.  Please let us know how it goes.

May 31, 2012 11:47 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Congratulations on such a great honor! Keep us posted, we want to read all about it.

May 31, 2012 12:41 PM
#15
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

This is amazing.. Let the government know it is time to let veterans pay part of the buyer broker fee when they want representation.  I have several vets who are ready willing and able to pay a portion of the buyer broker fee so they can have representation.. VA say no.. sellers don't have the money to pay the fee... FHA and conventional financing got rid of this prohibition years ago.. Our vets need to represented by a buyer agent if they choose  ... let me know what you can do! Good luck and congrats.

May 31, 2012 01:09 PM
Joy Daniels
Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd. - Harrisburg, PA

That is fabulous - what an honor - congratulations.  I love politics and will look forward to your posts.

May 31, 2012 01:20 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Michele - What an amazing opportunity and an honor.  I'll look forward to your posts on this.

May 31, 2012 03:28 PM
Phil Leng
Retired - Kirkland, WA
Phil Leng - Retired

Hi Michele,

Florida is one of the key states in the housing mess.

You are right - it is an honor.

Also, I am glad that you are going with the mindset of giving a solid contribution of ideas, solutions and direction.

Thanks for the post

Phil

May 31, 2012 08:11 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Should be a very interesting trip and meeting Michele.  I hope you present the Realtor's views well.

May 31, 2012 09:50 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Enjoy and take in the whole experience...My brother went to something similar and was impressed by the security measures which were near over-whelming.

Jun 01, 2012 12:03 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Congratulations Michelle, that is such an honor, enjoy the experience and share with us after you get home.

Jun 01, 2012 04:15 PM