A Great Referral Out Weighs All The Junk Ones  Keep In mind one of the most essential parts of this business or any sales endeavor is the referral. Thework that goes into getting a referral more than likely started several months possible years back. Cherish those that think of you that refer business would be my advice. Though some don't work out, it always leads to the one that does.  08/21/2016

Is It Staging or A Presentation, One Simple TipA quick tip on the importance of presentation through staging. I am amazed as how many times agents take photos of toilet seats up, or as my wife says happy face or beds unmade, dishes in the sink etc. Yes, I get the fact we all have lives. But nobody wants to see your toothbrush after 2 months. So, if there is the 3C's of staging then I think an E should be added for Expectation.    08/21/2016

 The Daily (081716) Hot Sheet Of The Top Real Estate News Trending Now  July new home construction climbs to 6-month highApartment construction (up 8.3%) in the Northeast fueled a jump in home building, pushing the overall seasonally adjusted annual construction rate up 2.1%. Read more.Fla. population expected to reach 20.7M this yearNew residents keep arriving. A Cushman & Wakefield analysis predicts "explosive growth" as the rate of 1,000 new residents each day continues to grow. Jobs are the top reason for the influx. Read more.RPR listing data accessible using SentriLock appA new partnership between SentriLock and Realtors Property Resource gives Realtors direct access to RPR property data through SentriLock's SentriSmart app. Read more.'Granny flats' meet some resistanceIt sounds l... 08/16/2016

The Daily (081516) Hot Sheet Of The Top Real Estate News Trending Now  Number of optimistic buyers hits all-time highIn Fannie Mae's monthly survey of consumers, the share of consumers who said they would buy property if they were going to move climbed to 67%. Read more.What do presidential candidates say about housing?At NAHB's midyear meeting, Donald Trump and one of Hillary Clinton's economic advisors told NAHB's board of directors what their administrations would do to help the U.S. housing market. Read more.5 bounce-back tips after a foreclosure or short saleEx-homeowners often feel as if they're doomed to a lifetime of renting - but they're not. Counseling, credit repair and professional help can enable them to buy again. Read more.S. Fla. insurer withdraws 8.1% rate-hike requestU... 08/15/2016

Mom, Where are your glasses?     Yesterday my daughter e-mailed me again, asking why I didn't do something useful with my time.Talking about my  "doing-something-useful"  seems to be her favorite topic of conversation.  She was  "only thinking of me", she said and suggested that I go down to the Senior Center and hang out with the guys. I did this and when I got home last night, I decided to play a prank on her.I e-mailed her and told her that I had joined a Parachute Club.She replied,  "Are you nuts?  You are 80 years old and now you're going to start jumping out of airplanes?"  I told her that I even got a Membership Card and e-mailed a copy to her.She immediately telephoned me and yelled, "Good grief, Mom, where are your glasses?!  This is a Membership to a Prostitute Club, not a Par... 08/15/2016

  What Your Customers Wish to Hear but You Aren't Saying   Someone has said the art of communication is like being a good mediator. This too has a process of assisting parties in identifying issues, fostering joint problem solving, and exploring settlement alternatives. These items are the very thing your customer needs to be reassured you can handle, and will be carried out. So yes, when the smoke finally clears you will be there with not only open arms sort of speak but with a tender ear.  Rebekah, has done a great job to list the simple steps for all of us to follow.    08/14/2016

Is It Worth Being a Solo Broker With a Team? Many of us start out or prefer to go it alone. As most large brokerage firms in history that's how they started. The entrepreneur spirit strives and survives when we take it to the next level. We have proved what it takes, and we thank all of those that have given us that opportunity to be of service.    08/14/2016

Are Professional Realtors Going the Way of Borders?  With the explosion of the Internet and everyone getting in the Real Estate game are we finished as a consumer need or necessity? Perhaps, but I think not. Though it may be easy to locate a home, condo or townhouse, its what happens next is the important thing. Keep in mind we are licensed for a reason, marketing our services is just a bi-product.  08/14/2016

What does the term "highest and best" really mean?To my fellow REO bidders, I mean buyers, highest and best means also these banks want to create a multiple offer scenario. Don't be fooled. To know what the price should sell for is to forget the asking price for a minute. First pull the comparable sales and view the condition. These two steps will guide you to your offer price without wasting a lot of time and headache.  08/14/2016

How many properties should you look at before making that offer? How many homes should it take? The question may lie within your own gut feeling. Could this be achieved on your very first home? It could. My guess even if it did, human nature will validate your selection by at least a few others. Follow your gut, it generally never fails you, and keep in mind if it fulfills your need, you have made the right decision.   08/14/2016

The Daily (080916) Hot Sheet Of The Top Real Estate News Trending Now  July marked a big month for housingIt's too soon to definitively say the market is back and real estate is great again, but several summer indicators suggest it might be true. Read more.Fannie, Freddie: The RE issue most people ignoreIt could be harder to get a mortgage without Fannie and Freddie, the semi-private and government-run enterprises that back lenders. But proposed Congressional actions and pending lawsuits may change things. Read more.'Boomerang' buyers slow to returnOf the 4.4M foreclosures of owner-occupied residences since 2000, less than one quarter of owners have bought homes again. In Fla., about 20.3% have returned. Read more.Emerging tech trends could 'wow' buyersEarly tech-adopter agents often ga... 08/09/2016

The Daily (080816) Hot Sheet Of The Top Real Estate News Trending Now   Is the benefit of a good school district overrated?ATTOM study: Homes in good districts cost 77% more than those near low-rated schools, making it less expensive overall to buy cheap and pay for private school. Read more.In 6 Fla. cities, 1 out of 3 renters could be buyersNAR: Many renters who can afford to buy a home are holding back: In Lakeland, 41% of renters can afford a home; in Tampa, 38%. Even in Miami, the lowest Fla. city on NAR's list, 1 out of 5 renters (18.5%) could be owners. Read more.Average 30-year mortgage rate declines to 3.43%Mortgage rates dropped this week after rising for three straight weeks, perhaps due in part to sluggish economic signs. The 15-year FRM dipped to 2.74%. Read more.NAHB: Dema... 08/08/2016

Does making it to the Top 100 Nationwide mean anything on Active Rain??? Recently, I made it to 85 out of all the states actively participating. I do seem to spend a lot of time here and feel dedicated for  the opportunity to share my thoughts. I have to say the points and the ranking have got me hooked to keep pace and often feel challenged to keep adding to the cause. As I look to who is in front of me, they seem to be all active on a daily basis. Where do you rank in your county / state and do you challenge yourself?    08/07/2016

When We Stand Tall Above The Crowd We Get A Different Perspective… Tip Of The Day  We have live here in Atlantis, FL almost nine years now enjoying the many treats of nature. As they go about their daily lives surviving just like we need to do. Well today as my wife comes to alert me as she watches one my, as I call them boys fly up onto the screen enclosure. By the way this has never been done in my view for Muskogee ducks usually stay on the ground. Oddly though I have seen where they have built nests on roofs in certain protected areas.  The point of this could be many for height always gives an enlighten view on your situation. Two, sometimes we do things that will get the attention of others. Three, is just because you were made a duck, doesn’t mean you always have to act like one.... 08/07/2016

Your Mortgage Application & What To Bring To ApplyFuture home buyers ever wonder what you need to complete a loan application and what to bring? Listed below are the items necessary along with your loan application.   Your Mortgage Application & What To Bring To Apply  The following is a list of documents needed to process your loan request:•         Federal Tax Returns: 2015 & 2016 for each borrower (all schedules & amendments)•         W2 forms: 2015 & 2016 for each borrower•         If self-employed: 2015 & 2016 personal & corporate 1040 tax returns (all pages & schedules required)•         Pay stubs: One month of your most recent for each borrower•         Assets: last 2 months of bank statements for checking/savings, IRA, 401K, stock/bond accounts (include all pages of each stateme... 08/07/2016

 Who Says We Can't Get Along, Sunday Tip of the DaySince rediscovering my feeder, I have come to a realization that bird watching, can be both exciting and interactive. What can be learned by studying animal life can tell us a few things as well. At the feeder there is a certain intimidation factor, where on the ground not so much. They seem to have to take turns regardless of the species and some just get chased away period. Parrots if you noticed in this clip come in a flock, and land in a group. There are three on the feeder and five on the ground.  If you ever saw their nest, it is the size that could measure 2’ x 3’ enclosed with a doorway. I swear they also remodel too, for you can see them moving around inside adjusting the twigs.   My tip of the day is this: I have found at my b... 08/07/2016

The Daily (080216) Hot Sheet Of Top Real Estate News Trending Now  S. Fla. homebuyers frustrated by shortage of listingsA lack of for-sale homes is rattling buyers, emboldening sellers and pushing prices higher. A normal supply is 6 months; on July 1, Broward had only 3.8 months. Read more.Floridians work 59 hours per month for a mortgageA state-by-state study on the amount of hours it takes to afford a home found Fla. No. 9 on the most-hours list. At the top, Hawaiians must work 88 hours per month; at the bottom, Ohio residents work 31 hours per month. Read more4 out of 5 people think ownership a good investmentNAHB: "Most Americans believe owning a home remains an integral part of the American Dream" - policymakers need to encourage and protect homeownership. Read more.Still a big for... 08/02/2016

The Daily (080116) Hot Sheet Of Top Real Estate News Trending Now    Fannie Mae enhances affordable mortgage programHomeReady tweaks should help more borrowers qualify for a low-down mortgage, thanks to simplified income eligibility and new sustainable-homeownership support. Read more. CFPB to update mortgage disclosure rulesThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed updates to its "Know Before You Owe" rule to "provide greater clarity and certainty." One proposal: Include a way for agents to get a copy of the buyer's mortgage disclosure. Read more.   Condos can opt out of costly fire sprinklersReal estate Q&A: State law requires condo associations to retrofit buildings with fire sprinklers, but they can opt out with a majority vote of the membership. Read more.Florida consumer s... 08/01/2016

 Scammers... How to Spot a Fraud I don’t know about you but it is amazing at the ingenuity of certain part of our society that preys on the least fortunate. I myself have a sixth sense about these things and catch a fraud a mile away. Others can get burned at a drop of a hat. Use the old time advice it looks to good to be true it usually is. Below are numbers associated with a scammer.  (201) 677-5505 (205) 671-8780 (208) 464-4369 (210) 960-1125 (224) 757-8176(234) 401-0746(234) 414-1853(267) 719-4323(269) 948-7951(309) 425-0574(320) 207-4241(321) 312-2622(321) 413-4147(323) 518-1950(323) 835-1381(325) 400-4108(347) 363-1861(386) 603-3900(407) 901-6784(424) 231-7424(440) 373-7754(440) 678-8101(440) 481-1760(469) 270-8302(501) 547-3689(502) 487-4027(504) 266-0534(504) 308-2729(508) 296-9... 07/31/2016

Finding Your Purpose To Real Estate? All of us would agree that for the most part it is to keep the rain drops off our heads. The other part would agree it is used to build wealth while finding others to slowly pay-off property with OPM.  It is something everyone needs, cherishes, and improves as they travel through life.   07/31/2016