Markets “Shift.” Real estate agents, to survive and excel, must “Shift” with the markets. When Gary Keller wrote his 2008 book, appropriately called “Shift: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times,” little did he, or anyone else, know the depths of the forthcoming market “Shift.” I used the word “Shift” a total of four times in my first paragraph, because, as a single concept, that word could (shall?) control your real estate careers. Will our markets continue to “Shift”? Will prices go up, or will they go down? Will financing be readily available, or will it dry … (1 comments)
Our National Debt is currently over $15 Trillion Dollars. IS THAT EVEN A REAL NUMBER? Yes, it is real. It is: · 15, with 12 zeroes Dollars · 15 Thousand Billion Dollars · 15 Million Million Dollars · 15 Billion Thousand Dollars Has our federal government stopped spending money? No. Has out federal government slowed our rate of spending? Uh… sometimes. Who cares, right? I care. You should care. In the short term, increased spending can stimulate the housing market, and, as real estate professionals, we like … (6 comments)
Certified Investor Agent Specialist™ After signing up for a (CIAS™) designation course, I promptly ripped off part of my right eyeball, leaving me temporarily blind in that eye. (It’s a long story.) I wore an eye patch for some time. It was sort of a “chick magnet,” but, since I have been happily married for nearly 50 years… it wasn’t that useful. Actually though, while wearing the eye patch, I looked sort of cool: like Johnny Depp. Unfortunately, no Hollywood agents “discovered “me… so, it was back to real estate, for me. Too bad... there aren't that many … (3 comments)
Our National Debt is currently over $15 Trillion Dollars. IS THAT EVEN A REAL NUMBER? Yes, it is real. It is: · 15, with 12 zeroes Dollars · 15 Thousand Billion Dollars · 15 Million Million Dollars · 15 Billion Thousand Dollars Has our federal government stopped spending money? No. Has out federal government slowed our rate of spending? Uh… sometimes. Who cares, right? I care. You should care. In the short term, increased spending can stimulate the housing market, and, as real estate professionals, we … (1 comments)
arizona: Freddie and Fannie: It's Time For Fat Cats To Go
- 12/11/11 02:50 AM
Freddie & Fanny Fat Cats: Put 'Em On A Diet! Let's face it: The U.S. housing market is a mess. Did our housing "boom" and "bust" happen all by itself? Of course not.Well-intentioned policies, like the Community Reinvestment Act, from the late '70s, started forcing lenders to provide loans to potential home buyers, with reduced underwriting standards. Over the next 25 years, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac relentlessly shoved mortgage monies at borrowers, at reduced rates, and with lax qualification standards. As more buyers entered the market, and they could qualify for higher amounts, housing prices moved up... and up.Lenders … (1 comments)
This was the way of life, in the “bad old days.” Now, with technology on our side we no longer are suffocating in paperwork. Instead, we are suffocating in technology. Think about it. How many hours per week do you spend maintaining your blog, your FaceBook page, your Twitter account, your web site(s), and other "Modern" tools? Would you be better off in face-to-face meetings with folks who are able to make decisions regarding buying and selling real estate? Of course. I'm afraid that many of us are just as buried … (3 comments)
For many years, there has been increasing pressure for real estate brokers to reduce their fees, enhance the technology and agent services they provide, and provide increased “splits” with their sales force. All fine ideas, if you are an agent. But, from the broker’s standpoint these issues appear a bit different. Small brokerages, if they have an incredibly low overhead, can compete in a couple of these areas... but not in technology and agent services. Large brokerages, where hundreds of agents are on the rolls, often do provide for most of these … (2 comments)
When I’m showing rural properties, I choose to carry my weapon in the open, just as a deterrent. It works great! Well, I guess it does. You can’t prove a negative,… but, I have never had any problems while carrying the weapon.
I always explain to my clients, before we get in the car, that, as my father told me, “It is easier to stay out of trouble, thant it is to GET OUT of trouble.” So, I’m always alert when visiting rural properties, and by wearing my … (0 comments)
Myth: Most REALTORS® Call FSBOs, And Ask For Their Business.
Au contrair… Most REALTORS® (falsely) assume that all of their competitors are calling the FSBOs, but, in fact, few of us do that. Don’t get me wrong: the best of us do it as part of our business, but the vast majorities think that they don’t have a chance against the “fast burners.”
Fact: Every statistic says that, although many FSBOs do sell their homes (often regretting the outcome) most of them will list their … (3 comments)
My friends deserve the best. They deserve me. I know many real estate professionals who refuse to do real estate transactions with their friends (or family). I've heard it said, "Jack and Jill, your friendship means more to me than a business transaction. And, I'd hate for this to interfere with our friendship." Usually, then, they refer the clients to another professional. i've always disagreed with this idea, for the same reason: these folks ARE my friends! They deserve the best. Who is more likely to handle them … (0 comments)
arizona: I Gave Away 100 Business Cards Today... For Free!
- 07/21/11 05:00 PM
A Nifty Card Holder I guess I should have sold my cards today, but... I'm not that good at business. Most agents I met today left their cards at home, or at the bank, in their safe-deposit boxes. Shoot, I gave away over 100 of them today. That's just how dumb I am. I guess that they must be worth about $5.00 each, if you leave them in their origibal box. After all, most agents never buy more than their original 1,000 cards, unless they change companies. Heck, I've been with Keller Williams Southern Arizona since March, and I'm on … (1 comments)
arizona: Monument Fire
- 07/18/11 04:37 AM
Despair Two weeks of hell; some of you heard about the Monument Fire, just south of Sierra Vista. The fire was stopped about six miles away from our community. Before it was stopped, it created immense suffering, burning several dozen homes, displacing thousands for nearly two weeks, and exhausting local... and then, exhausting firefighters who were moved in from other states to protect Sierra Vista. Here is a link to a video that captures some of the power and majesty of Mother Nature, once more proving her dominion over we mortals. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxN4CZY6f_o We survived. No fatalities. Lots of pain and … (0 comments)
DO I WANT TO DO THESE? I DON'T KNOW. I'm going to Las Vegas next week, to gain certification at the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) course. I will then be known as an "Expert." Wow! So far, as i've done Short Sales and REOs... feeling my way through the process, it dawns on me: Do I Really Want To Focus on Distressed Properties? Distressed Properties and REOs are great for investors. They don't mind the inexplicable delays, the three, four, five, or, six-month wait to receive approval of their purchase: because they don't need to occupy them. … (53 comments)
arizona: Arizona Centennial: February 14, 2012
- 05/05/11 09:06 AM
Once Upon A Time... Around the turn of the 20th Century, the Territory of Arizona was anxious to join the United States. The USA then consisted of 46 states, but, in order to join the union, certain prices had to be paid. First, the Territory was a lawless mess. Partially because the Texas Rangers had done such a great job of cleaning up their state, many "bad hombres" came to Arizona. After all, there were stage coaches and trains to rob, gambling, prostitution, and rustling... what fun for bad guys! The problem of lawlessness was solved by the Arizona Rangers. Formed … (1 comments)
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Mike Dennis
Associate Broker GRI, ePRO, CIAS, CDPE Sierra Vist
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