Another motivational email from my colleagues at Re/Max. I do not ever feel like I just "give up". Often I find myself trying to find another way to make something work which ultimately leads to something better and something I would have never thought of doing, totally unrelated. I know that is a really general statement, but it makes sense to me :)
So after reading this email message this morning it just re affirmed that toxic pessimistic people exist everywhere around us. Only you know deep inside what is your passion and what you are capable of. Never give up if your heart tells you otherwise. There is always a reason and nothing is a mistake. It is all part of the journey to discovering self, mind and spirit. Sit, be still and listen.
Rejected a total of 140 times. The book? Chicken Soup for the Soul. It now has 65 different titles and has sold over 80 million copies all over the world.
Told by a teacher he was "too stupid to learn anything" Thomas Edison
Failed the sixth grade - Winston Churchill
Wasn't able to speak until he was almost 4 years old and his teachers said he would "never amount to much" - Albert Einstein
Did poorly in school and failed at running the family farm - Isaac Newton
Was not allowed to wait on customers in the store he worked in because "he didn't have enough sense" - F. W. Woolworth
Was cut from the high school basketball team, went home, locked himself in his room and cried - Michael Jordan
Producer told her she was "unattractive" and could not act - Marilyn Monroe
His first book was rejected by 12 publishing houses and sixteen agents. - John Grisham
Turned down by a recording company saying "We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out" They were talking about the Beatles
Was told by his father that he would amount to nothing and be a disgrace to himself and his family - Charles Darwin
Told by a music teacher "as a composer he is hopeless" - Beethoven
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
To Give or Not To Give is the Question
My Dear Sirs;
In reply to your request to send a check, I wish to inform you that the present condition of my bank account makes it almost impossible. My shattered financial condition is due to federal laws, state laws, county laws, city laws, corporation laws, liquor laws, mother-in-laws, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, outlaws, and blue laws.
Through these laws I am compelled to pay a business tax, amusement tax, head tax, school tax, gas tax, light tax, sales tax, liquor tax, carpet tax, income tax, food tax, furniture tax, and excise tax, even my brains are taxed.
I am required to get a business license, car license, hunting and fishing license, truck license, not to mention a marriage license, and a dog license.
I am also required to contribute to every society and organization which the genius of man is capable to bringing to life. To the women’s relief, unemployed relief, and gold diggers relief; also to every hospital and charitable institution in the city including the black cross, the blue cross, the purple cross, and the double cross.
For my own safety I am required to carry a life insurance, property insurance, liability insurance, burglar insurance, accident insurance, business insurance, earthquake insurance, tornado insurance, unemployment insurance, old age and fire insurance.
My business is so governed that it is no easy matter for me to find out who owns it. I am inspected, suspected, disrespected, rejected, dejected, examined, informed, required, summoned, commanded, and compelled, until I’ve provided an in-exhaustible supply of money for every known need of the human race.
Simply because I refuse to donate to something-or other I am boycotted, talked about, lied about, held up, held down, and robbed until I am almost ruined. I can tell you honestly that except for the miracle that happened I could not enclose this check. The wolf that comes to many doors these days just had pups in my kitchen. I sold them and … here is your money!
In reply to your request to send a check, I wish to inform you that the present condition of my bank account makes it almost impossible. My shattered financial condition is due to federal laws, state laws, county laws, city laws, corporation laws, liquor laws, mother-in-laws, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, outlaws, and blue laws.
Through these laws I am compelled to pay a business tax, amusement tax, head tax, school tax, gas tax, light tax, sales tax, liquor tax, carpet tax, income tax, food tax, furniture tax, and excise tax, even my brains are taxed.
I am required to get a business license, car license, hunting and fishing license, truck license, not to mention a marriage license, and a dog license.
I am also required to contribute to every society and organization which the genius of man is capable to bringing to life. To the women’s relief, unemployed relief, and gold diggers relief; also to every hospital and charitable institution in the city including the black cross, the blue cross, the purple cross, and the double cross.
For my own safety I am required to carry a life insurance, property insurance, liability insurance, burglar insurance, accident insurance, business insurance, earthquake insurance, tornado insurance, unemployment insurance, old age and fire insurance.
My business is so governed that it is no easy matter for me to find out who owns it. I am inspected, suspected, disrespected, rejected, dejected, examined, informed, required, summoned, commanded, and compelled, until I’ve provided an in-exhaustible supply of money for every known need of the human race.
Simply because I refuse to donate to something-or other I am boycotted, talked about, lied about, held up, held down, and robbed until I am almost ruined. I can tell you honestly that except for the miracle that happened I could not enclose this check. The wolf that comes to many doors these days just had pups in my kitchen. I sold them and … here is your money!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Email of the Morning
7 Inspiring Success Lessons:
1. Work
You can listen to and read all of the self-development in the world, but if you don't put what you're learning into action, things won't change. There's a Swedish proverb that goes, "God gives every bird a worm, but he does not throw it into the nest." You have the potential to succeed, but you're going to have to work the principles that you know.
2. Change
In order for your life to change, you must change. To the degree that you change your thoughts, will be to the degree that your life changes. Don't expect anything to change if you're not changing. Don't expect your business to get any better, if you're not changing. Don't expect your health to get any better if you're not changing. If you want massive change, you must make massive change.
3. Stumble
It's okay to stumble. When you reach for great things you will stumble; just be sure to learn from the stumble. A stumble could be the best thing that ever happened to you. A stumble may prevent total chaos in your life, if you learn from it. Learn to value stumbles and to learn from the stumbles.
4. Become
Success does not come from what you attain, but from who you become. Success is not a big car; success is you being big on the inside. When you're big on the inside, you can attract a big car, but the car does not make you, you make the car. If you decide to grow up, you will succeed. Jim Rohn said, "We can have more than we've got because we can become more than we are."
5. Take Charge
The good news is you always have possession of the ball in the game of life. Unfortunately, most people don't realize that they have possession of the ball. They're waiting around for someone to pass them the ball, and they already have it. Take charge of your life, you got the ball, it's in your court, what are you going to do?
6. Push
The hard part is always the beginning, the push through the crowd. But if you make it through the crowd, you can make it to the top. I said, "If you can make it through the crowd, you can make it to the top." Commit today, to push through the crowd.
7. Vision
Vision is your ability to see down the road. Use your imagination to see all the way down the road. I like what Robert Collier said, he said, "The great successful men of the world have used their imagination, they think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building - steadily building."
Keep on building, and your vision will become your reality. Keep on building and success will be yours.
WORDS TO LIVE BY...
A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
- Walter Gagehot
A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.
- Bob Dylan
A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.
- David Brinkley
Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.
- Conrad Hilton
Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.
- Euripides
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
- Abraham Lincoln
An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success.
- Stephen Covey
As a rule, he or she who has the most information will have the greatest success in life.
- Benjamin Disraeli
1. Work
You can listen to and read all of the self-development in the world, but if you don't put what you're learning into action, things won't change. There's a Swedish proverb that goes, "God gives every bird a worm, but he does not throw it into the nest." You have the potential to succeed, but you're going to have to work the principles that you know.
2. Change
In order for your life to change, you must change. To the degree that you change your thoughts, will be to the degree that your life changes. Don't expect anything to change if you're not changing. Don't expect your business to get any better, if you're not changing. Don't expect your health to get any better if you're not changing. If you want massive change, you must make massive change.
3. Stumble
It's okay to stumble. When you reach for great things you will stumble; just be sure to learn from the stumble. A stumble could be the best thing that ever happened to you. A stumble may prevent total chaos in your life, if you learn from it. Learn to value stumbles and to learn from the stumbles.
4. Become
Success does not come from what you attain, but from who you become. Success is not a big car; success is you being big on the inside. When you're big on the inside, you can attract a big car, but the car does not make you, you make the car. If you decide to grow up, you will succeed. Jim Rohn said, "We can have more than we've got because we can become more than we are."
5. Take Charge
The good news is you always have possession of the ball in the game of life. Unfortunately, most people don't realize that they have possession of the ball. They're waiting around for someone to pass them the ball, and they already have it. Take charge of your life, you got the ball, it's in your court, what are you going to do?
6. Push
The hard part is always the beginning, the push through the crowd. But if you make it through the crowd, you can make it to the top. I said, "If you can make it through the crowd, you can make it to the top." Commit today, to push through the crowd.
7. Vision
Vision is your ability to see down the road. Use your imagination to see all the way down the road. I like what Robert Collier said, he said, "The great successful men of the world have used their imagination, they think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building - steadily building."
Keep on building, and your vision will become your reality. Keep on building and success will be yours.
WORDS TO LIVE BY...
A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
- Walter Gagehot
A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.
- Bob Dylan
A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.
- David Brinkley
Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.
- Conrad Hilton
Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.
- Euripides
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
- Abraham Lincoln
An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success.
- Stephen Covey
As a rule, he or she who has the most information will have the greatest success in life.
- Benjamin Disraeli
Monday, March 14, 2011
Unknown Email
There are moments in life when you miss someone
so much that you just want to pick them from
your dreams and hug them for real!
When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often times we look so long at the
closed door that we don't see the one,
which has been opened for us.
Don't go for looks; they can deceive.
Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.
Go for someone who makes you smile,
because it takes only a smile to
make a dark day seem bright.
Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Dream what you want to dream;
go where you want to go;
be what you want to be,
because you have only one life
and one chance to do all the things
you want to do.
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human and
enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make the most of
everything that comes along their way.
The brightest future will always
be based on a forgotten past;
you can't go forward in life until
you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying
and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end,
you're the one who is smiling and everyone
around you is crying.
Author Unknown
so much that you just want to pick them from
your dreams and hug them for real!
When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often times we look so long at the
closed door that we don't see the one,
which has been opened for us.
Don't go for looks; they can deceive.
Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.
Go for someone who makes you smile,
because it takes only a smile to
make a dark day seem bright.
Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Dream what you want to dream;
go where you want to go;
be what you want to be,
because you have only one life
and one chance to do all the things
you want to do.
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human and
enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make the most of
everything that comes along their way.
The brightest future will always
be based on a forgotten past;
you can't go forward in life until
you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying
and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end,
you're the one who is smiling and everyone
around you is crying.
Author Unknown
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Non Refundable $500 for First 90 Days
If you get offended easily, can only see one side of a picture, DON'T READ THIS. I Don't Want Hate Mail. Professional discussion welcomed.
I am seeing more and more of this $500 non refundable earnest money for the first 90 days on Short Sale listings. As if selling a home that is a short sale isn't hard enough, listing agents are adding this verbiage along with a 3 page novel hidden under the document tab of how to write "their" offer.
Why don't my buyers get to write the offer "they" want and the sellers (really the listing agent) counter with everything they want. Writing an offer based on someone elses terms and conditions is becoming nonsense in my opinion.
In all fairness, to those that do not understand this, let me "Break It Down Barney Style" as my good friend likes to say (always makes me laugh).
This whole non refundable earnest deposit clause came about as listing agents became increasingly frustrated of working night and day to get an offer through the banks short sale system only to have the deal fall apart as the buyer loses interest and finds another home. This process (more so in the past) has taken anywhere from 3 to 6 months (some longer). During that time it was very common for the buyer to keep searching the internet for homes. Inevitably they would find a foreclosure they like just as much, submit an offer, and win the bid. No waiting, no unknowns, just a simple approval, easy peezy, close in 30-45 days. So the same buyer would back out of the short sale (as allowed per addendums). This would leave the listing agent to have to find another buyer and start the process over again. (let me finish, I already know what you are thinking).
Stay with me, I am only explaining the logic (not reality) behind this. So the $500 is to attract only "serious" buyers who will commit to hanging around long enough for the bank to respond.
Reality. Most ridiculous thing I have seen yet (yep, my blog, my opinion is allowed). Short sales that have this stipulation stay on the market longer before getting an offer, typically retain offers for less than asking price. Not only that but since when does a bank respond by 90 days anyway? Yes, far and few between.
Smart short sale listing agents will take several back up offers so if the first buyer backs out, they can slip one of the back ups in its place so the process doesn't have to start over with the bank.
I can tell you from representing many buyers, that the $500 has not stopped my buyers from continuing to look. If another home moved them enough to that "warm and fuzzy" feeling they would walk from that $500 in a heart beat. In which case how did that $500 help the listing agent with her offer and the bank. Does she offer the bank the $500 by saying, "Oh, by the way, the buyer backed out, here is $500 for your troubles." I do not think so. That listing agent has to go back to the drawing board irregardless to find another buyer.
Also, how does a listing agent know for sure if the buyer hasn't already bought another home and is just waiting out the 90 days to get their $500 back? Even if the bank were to respond within 90 days, they all counter with something. So all the buyer would have to do is reject the counter and get their $500 back. As a listing agent, if the buyer found another home, I would rather know sooner than later so I could secure another buyer instead of having the buyer secretly appease me for 90 days just to get their $500 back. Furthermore I would continue with that buyers offer with the bank until I could get an approved price so my listing was in a better position for the next buyer. Looks fantastic in a listing too! "Approved Short Sale"
In my opinion, the first buyer is doing me a favor just by allowing me to get the ball rolling with the bank. If the buyers sticks around, Great! If not, I have a plan B that is ready for its play. I could so open another can of worms about agents who submit bogus first offers but I won't.
I honestly and logically do not understand this $500 non refundable earnest deposit. I suppose for some buyers it is a mental thing but if anyone really thought this through, you could see how very flawed this is not to mention how detrimental it is to an already tough short sale listing. I have buyers who avoid these listings for this mere fact and it is not because they do not want to commit for 90 days, they know what they are getting into, they just do not like being told to wait 90 days for an answer AND hand over $500 to wait for that answer.
Ok, I said it.
I am seeing more and more of this $500 non refundable earnest money for the first 90 days on Short Sale listings. As if selling a home that is a short sale isn't hard enough, listing agents are adding this verbiage along with a 3 page novel hidden under the document tab of how to write "their" offer.
Why don't my buyers get to write the offer "they" want and the sellers (really the listing agent) counter with everything they want. Writing an offer based on someone elses terms and conditions is becoming nonsense in my opinion.
In all fairness, to those that do not understand this, let me "Break It Down Barney Style" as my good friend likes to say (always makes me laugh).
This whole non refundable earnest deposit clause came about as listing agents became increasingly frustrated of working night and day to get an offer through the banks short sale system only to have the deal fall apart as the buyer loses interest and finds another home. This process (more so in the past) has taken anywhere from 3 to 6 months (some longer). During that time it was very common for the buyer to keep searching the internet for homes. Inevitably they would find a foreclosure they like just as much, submit an offer, and win the bid. No waiting, no unknowns, just a simple approval, easy peezy, close in 30-45 days. So the same buyer would back out of the short sale (as allowed per addendums). This would leave the listing agent to have to find another buyer and start the process over again. (let me finish, I already know what you are thinking).
Stay with me, I am only explaining the logic (not reality) behind this. So the $500 is to attract only "serious" buyers who will commit to hanging around long enough for the bank to respond.
Reality. Most ridiculous thing I have seen yet (yep, my blog, my opinion is allowed). Short sales that have this stipulation stay on the market longer before getting an offer, typically retain offers for less than asking price. Not only that but since when does a bank respond by 90 days anyway? Yes, far and few between.
Smart short sale listing agents will take several back up offers so if the first buyer backs out, they can slip one of the back ups in its place so the process doesn't have to start over with the bank.
I can tell you from representing many buyers, that the $500 has not stopped my buyers from continuing to look. If another home moved them enough to that "warm and fuzzy" feeling they would walk from that $500 in a heart beat. In which case how did that $500 help the listing agent with her offer and the bank. Does she offer the bank the $500 by saying, "Oh, by the way, the buyer backed out, here is $500 for your troubles." I do not think so. That listing agent has to go back to the drawing board irregardless to find another buyer.
Also, how does a listing agent know for sure if the buyer hasn't already bought another home and is just waiting out the 90 days to get their $500 back? Even if the bank were to respond within 90 days, they all counter with something. So all the buyer would have to do is reject the counter and get their $500 back. As a listing agent, if the buyer found another home, I would rather know sooner than later so I could secure another buyer instead of having the buyer secretly appease me for 90 days just to get their $500 back. Furthermore I would continue with that buyers offer with the bank until I could get an approved price so my listing was in a better position for the next buyer. Looks fantastic in a listing too! "Approved Short Sale"
In my opinion, the first buyer is doing me a favor just by allowing me to get the ball rolling with the bank. If the buyers sticks around, Great! If not, I have a plan B that is ready for its play. I could so open another can of worms about agents who submit bogus first offers but I won't.
I honestly and logically do not understand this $500 non refundable earnest deposit. I suppose for some buyers it is a mental thing but if anyone really thought this through, you could see how very flawed this is not to mention how detrimental it is to an already tough short sale listing. I have buyers who avoid these listings for this mere fact and it is not because they do not want to commit for 90 days, they know what they are getting into, they just do not like being told to wait 90 days for an answer AND hand over $500 to wait for that answer.
Ok, I said it.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Verrado Founders Day and "The Romantics"
http://ivic02.residentinteractive.com/programs/web.show_html2?xwebsite=&xinput=52647408&parentid=13962025
This is always a great weekend in Verrado. Nonstop fun and entertainment for all Friday through Sunday.
This is always a great weekend in Verrado. Nonstop fun and entertainment for all Friday through Sunday.
Should I Buy Now or Wait? (I ask, "Wait for What?)
I just received an email from one of my mortgage loan officer colleagues. Great explanation of how interest rates affect payment. People become so focused on the lowest price for a home and do not take into consideration that the clock is ticking and rates are highly volatile. Live within your means and buy what you can afford when the time is right for you. We will see if the release of the December foreclosure freeze brings new inventory to the market that is littered with highly unpredicatable short sales. And prices have creeped up a little on the lower end inventory. For many, a mortgage payment is still equal to or better than rent. We are here to help when the time is right. Free money still availabe with NSP First Time Home Buyers program in select zip codes/areas.
Taken from daily email blog of Mike Roberts of V.I.P Mortgage Inc. http://www.mikerobertsmortgage.com/
~
So what does all that really mean for you and your buyers besides "Rates are going up! Buy Now!"?
First you need to understand how a mortgage qualification works. When a buyer qualifies for a mortgage, they are NOT qualifying for a specific sales price or loan amount. They are qualifying for a specific PAYMENT. If rates go up then payments go up and a buyer qualifies for less home. Period.
Rule of Thumb: For every half of a percent that rates go up, their buying power decreases by 5-6%.
For example, if John Doe wants to buy a home at 250k and put down 20%, his loan amount would be $200k with a 30year loan repayment of $1073 at 5% interest rate. If rates crept to 5.5% then that same payment would only allow a $189k loan amount; which equals a $236k sales price. He would have to find a home at $236k instead of $250k to have the same payment. If rates jumped to 7% then he would only qualify for a $201k house!
So if you have a buyer that wants to wait for the market to drop another 10% before buying, they better hope that rates don't jump by more than 1% by the time they purchase.
~
Thanks Mike
Mike Roberts Mortgage VIP Mortgage Inc
Taken from daily email blog of Mike Roberts of V.I.P Mortgage Inc. http://www.mikerobertsmortgage.com/
~
So what does all that really mean for you and your buyers besides "Rates are going up! Buy Now!"?
First you need to understand how a mortgage qualification works. When a buyer qualifies for a mortgage, they are NOT qualifying for a specific sales price or loan amount. They are qualifying for a specific PAYMENT. If rates go up then payments go up and a buyer qualifies for less home. Period.
Rule of Thumb: For every half of a percent that rates go up, their buying power decreases by 5-6%.
For example, if John Doe wants to buy a home at 250k and put down 20%, his loan amount would be $200k with a 30year loan repayment of $1073 at 5% interest rate. If rates crept to 5.5% then that same payment would only allow a $189k loan amount; which equals a $236k sales price. He would have to find a home at $236k instead of $250k to have the same payment. If rates jumped to 7% then he would only qualify for a $201k house!
So if you have a buyer that wants to wait for the market to drop another 10% before buying, they better hope that rates don't jump by more than 1% by the time they purchase.
~
Thanks Mike
Mike Roberts Mortgage VIP Mortgage Inc
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