There’s a phrase that says all work and no play makes jack a dull boy. I don’t know about you but lately I’ve been a pretty dull boy. The effort needed to meet the challenge of today’s market has had me putting my nose to the grindstone in a way I haven’t for years.
Recently I rediscovered one of my hobbies, however, and I realized that part of me had been missing. Maybe you’re a writer, a musician or a painter. Perhaps you like to golf, read, jog or do some gardening. There are probably another 200 I didn’t mention but in an environment like this it’s so easy to forget those things that put a spring in our step and the joy in our journey.
So just a little word to the wise; make sure you’re making room for those interests that make you who you are. Get on your hobbyhorse…because nobody wants to be a dull boy.
Oh, by the way... even with a little time off here and there... I'm never too busy for your referrals.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Certified Distressed Property Expert
I have just earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by “distressed” homes in the foreclosure process.
Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.
In Stark County, more than 1 in 10 home owners are in danger of or considering foreclosing. It is happening in all price ranges. Even high-priced homes are not immune.
This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales, it is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure.
Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as George with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.
The Distressed Property Institute opened in 2008 and provides training on-site and online. The CDPE is the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales.
Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible.
OH, by the way... if you know someone considering foreclosure, please have them call me first. There is a significant difference between foreclosure and short sale.
Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.
In Stark County, more than 1 in 10 home owners are in danger of or considering foreclosing. It is happening in all price ranges. Even high-priced homes are not immune.
This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales, it is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure.
Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as George with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.
The Distressed Property Institute opened in 2008 and provides training on-site and online. The CDPE is the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales.
Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible.
OH, by the way... if you know someone considering foreclosure, please have them call me first. There is a significant difference between foreclosure and short sale.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Get Offensive!
I just returned home from a convention with my mentor and coach Brian Buffini. I had the opportunity to compare notes with some of the top Agents in the country. Brian also shared his observations and national statistics … it was a very enlightening couple days which I wanted to share.
If you will remember it took the press 18 months to tell us we were in a recession that we knew long before. It looks like it will take another year for the press to report we have seen the worst in the real estate market and we are actually seeing strong signs of a recovery. Following are some interesting stats.
Over 50% of the nations foreclosures have been located in 3 states (CA, FL, CO) and two cities (Vegas, Phoenix); all of which are seeing improvement. In California the inventory of homes has dropped from 15 months (available homes / monthly sales) to current levels of just over 6 months (6 is a balanced market). Their current challenges include multiple offers and a housing shortage in the foreseeable future. It is said trends start west and move east, so let’s look at our local market.
In the last 7 months our local inventory of residential properties has dropped 20%, from over 2,600 homes to less than 2,150. Our inventory has dropped from 10 months to 8 months. In Stark County 37% of the new listings are selling in the first 30 days on the market; 20% more in the next 30 days. These are real indicators of a strengthening market. In other words, this IS a great time to buy and sell.
This does not mean we are out of the woods … unemployment remains an issue in our area and 1 out of 10 of our friends are either dealing with a foreclosure or are considering the possibility.
Many of your recent much appreciated referrals have been friends needing help with their homes … payments going up and mortgages for more than the home is worth. I will soon have my Certified Distressed Property Expert designation (first to have in the area) to better help these referrals understand their options. I’ll also be better equipped to work with the banks on their behalf to avoid foreclosure. Additional updates coming. We are here to help with all real estate related issues, no matter what the situation.
Oh by the way… I’m never too busy for your referrals.
If you will remember it took the press 18 months to tell us we were in a recession that we knew long before. It looks like it will take another year for the press to report we have seen the worst in the real estate market and we are actually seeing strong signs of a recovery. Following are some interesting stats.
Over 50% of the nations foreclosures have been located in 3 states (CA, FL, CO) and two cities (Vegas, Phoenix); all of which are seeing improvement. In California the inventory of homes has dropped from 15 months (available homes / monthly sales) to current levels of just over 6 months (6 is a balanced market). Their current challenges include multiple offers and a housing shortage in the foreseeable future. It is said trends start west and move east, so let’s look at our local market.
In the last 7 months our local inventory of residential properties has dropped 20%, from over 2,600 homes to less than 2,150. Our inventory has dropped from 10 months to 8 months. In Stark County 37% of the new listings are selling in the first 30 days on the market; 20% more in the next 30 days. These are real indicators of a strengthening market. In other words, this IS a great time to buy and sell.
This does not mean we are out of the woods … unemployment remains an issue in our area and 1 out of 10 of our friends are either dealing with a foreclosure or are considering the possibility.
Many of your recent much appreciated referrals have been friends needing help with their homes … payments going up and mortgages for more than the home is worth. I will soon have my Certified Distressed Property Expert designation (first to have in the area) to better help these referrals understand their options. I’ll also be better equipped to work with the banks on their behalf to avoid foreclosure. Additional updates coming. We are here to help with all real estate related issues, no matter what the situation.
Oh by the way… I’m never too busy for your referrals.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Mastering the Six Inch Market
In business there is so much that is out of our control. Unemployment rates, interest rates, and housing prices. Don’t ever get caught waiting for those factors to influence your personal income; or make decisions based on what is on the news. There’s only one market you can master and that’s the six inch market - otherwise known as the space between your two ears.
There are many new entrepreneurs and businesses doing well because they don’t know how the market is supposed to be. There are many veterans waiting for the market to turn to “normalcy”.
This is normal.
In each of the last five decades, there has been price growth and retraction; high and low unemployment; wars and peacetime. With respect to real estate, people are still buying and selling homes. In our area today over 1/3 of the new listings on the market sell in the first 30 days with another 18% in the next 30 days. Interest rates are low, selection is good and 90% of us are employed. Now is a great time to look into real estate … whether it is a personal move or an investment property. We are here for you.
Oh, by the way… I’m never too busy for your referrals.
There are many new entrepreneurs and businesses doing well because they don’t know how the market is supposed to be. There are many veterans waiting for the market to turn to “normalcy”.
This is normal.
In each of the last five decades, there has been price growth and retraction; high and low unemployment; wars and peacetime. With respect to real estate, people are still buying and selling homes. In our area today over 1/3 of the new listings on the market sell in the first 30 days with another 18% in the next 30 days. Interest rates are low, selection is good and 90% of us are employed. Now is a great time to look into real estate … whether it is a personal move or an investment property. We are here for you.
Oh, by the way… I’m never too busy for your referrals.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
It's Time To Freak Out!
It has been a little while since my last entry… it has been a long winter with a flurry of activity, just not many buying decisions. Buying or selling a home is still a major decision … but people around here are still moving.
If you watch the nightly news, listen to the politicians and surf the net on a regular basis, you might as well get it over with and have a complete and utter meltdown. Although I have a desire to be informed, do my research and stay current with the market trends, I’m developing an allergy to the media and the messages from these outlets. And as much as I try to stay positive and focus on my attitude, I found myself recently being surprised with good news.
Several weeks ago my daughter Jody decided to get into the market. As their family expanded by one grandson, Weston, so should their home. They started with a foreclosure and met with the same challenges we face everyday; a lack of motivation and slow to respond. In the meantime they put their current home up for sale … it sold in less than a week. Forced to look for a quicker turn around on a new home they found a beautiful 4 bedroom with very motivated buyers. SOLD / PURCHASED / MOVED … elapsed time 45 days. Congratulations.
This is not an unusual story. In Stark County over 30% of the new listings are selling in the first 30 days… just need to be priced right and in move in condition. The news in this market is not all bad… many choices and low interest rates are helping.
Don’t allow the negative voices to creep in to your thinking when you hear too much from the self-serving authors and media pundits who need drama to make money.
Is business booming like 05 and 06? Absolutely not and I hope we never see days like that again where people were taking equity loans at a record pace to spend money they didn’t have, on things they didn’t need to impress people they didn’t know. So yeah, it’s time to freak out. It’s time to get the messages from the freaked out media, the politicians and the pundits out of your head and life. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. I choose the good, I see the best and I believe my best days and yours are still to come.
Oh, by the way... I'm never too busy for your referrals.
If you watch the nightly news, listen to the politicians and surf the net on a regular basis, you might as well get it over with and have a complete and utter meltdown. Although I have a desire to be informed, do my research and stay current with the market trends, I’m developing an allergy to the media and the messages from these outlets. And as much as I try to stay positive and focus on my attitude, I found myself recently being surprised with good news.
Several weeks ago my daughter Jody decided to get into the market. As their family expanded by one grandson, Weston, so should their home. They started with a foreclosure and met with the same challenges we face everyday; a lack of motivation and slow to respond. In the meantime they put their current home up for sale … it sold in less than a week. Forced to look for a quicker turn around on a new home they found a beautiful 4 bedroom with very motivated buyers. SOLD / PURCHASED / MOVED … elapsed time 45 days. Congratulations.
This is not an unusual story. In Stark County over 30% of the new listings are selling in the first 30 days… just need to be priced right and in move in condition. The news in this market is not all bad… many choices and low interest rates are helping.
Don’t allow the negative voices to creep in to your thinking when you hear too much from the self-serving authors and media pundits who need drama to make money.
Is business booming like 05 and 06? Absolutely not and I hope we never see days like that again where people were taking equity loans at a record pace to spend money they didn’t have, on things they didn’t need to impress people they didn’t know. So yeah, it’s time to freak out. It’s time to get the messages from the freaked out media, the politicians and the pundits out of your head and life. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. I choose the good, I see the best and I believe my best days and yours are still to come.
Oh, by the way... I'm never too busy for your referrals.
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