New Port Richey, Florida Real Estate Blog: November 2009

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cautious.  The major concern is that individuals don't become a victim of fraud or identity theft.

The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, cre dit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit http://www.bbb.org/.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

  

               

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

 

Thanks to Xerox sending out a Thank You card to our soldiers is simple, fast and free.   

At this time of the year we can take some time out to teach our children about giving thanks and living in gratitude.
The best way of course to teach gratitude is by being a good example of being in a thankful state of mind.

You can gather your children around your computer right now and go to this site:

Let's Say Thanks- In Support of our Troops.

All you do is click on the card you want to send and then click on what you want the words on the text side of the card to say.
You don't even have to think to do this because it is all done for you. You just have to choose the card and the text out of the ones on the site.
Then you just click send.

Xerox prints out the postcards and then these cards go into the care packages that Givetothetroops® sends to our soldiers.
What a gift Xerox is giving to the troops. I really appreciate a company setting a great example like this.
The cards have all been designed by children and are patriotic. There are many patriotic symbols and messages to choose from. 

There is a link on the site where you can read the responses from soldiers around the globe.
For some of these soldiers, your card will be the only mail they get from home.

Here are some of the comments sent back by different servicemen and women:

To all who have supported us,
 
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you from myself and my fellow Marines. Your packages and well wishes have lifted our spirits at a time when we are so far away from our friends and family. I wish you could have seen the bright eyed looks and utter excitement from the Marines when opening the boxes. It was a true blessing that you made happen. It makes us proud to know that our fellow Americans care as much as we do. It makes the sacrifices we and our families make worth every minute we spend here. We Americans can stand shoulder to shoulder in unison on one thing - we're all proud of our country and we're all proud of each other. The effort you make on behalf of the troops is just as important as the work we are doing here and around the world.
 
- A Gunnery Sergeant


As I was leaving an un-eventful Valentine's Day today, one of the mail clerks yelled "Adams!! You have a package!!" A package, I thought to myself. I'm not expecting anything. What could this be? I took the box into my office and closed the door. As I opened the box, a flood of joy came over me as I looked over the cards from you and the young ones, one of my co-workers walked in to see tears rolling down my eyes. I had never received a gift with this much love, packed into one little place from someone that I've never known.

As I thought about what the cards talked about with soldiers giving their lives and privileges up to ensure the freedom of Americans, it was nice to know that someone out there does not take it for granted. I don't know who you are, but you are truly a gift from God. The gift that gives me the drive to serve my country proudly. As you pray that the Lord keeps the soldiers here safe and brings us home, I pray to the Lord that people like you do not die off from this world. Your contributions are nowhere near inadequate. Please never forget what this means to a soldier. Thank you for your love and thoughts.
 

Please be kind- take a moment out of your day to send a card for free to a soldier today. Please Reblog! 

JUST WHAT IS IT THAT REAL ESTATE LICENSEES DO??  Part I.

"YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT . . . "  is to manage the orderly transfer of real property from a seller to a buyer.  The average consumer doesn't understand a fraction of what we do to help them accomplish their goal. 

SELLERS.  Home sellers are presented a simple-to-complex marketing plan by listing agents prior to listing the property for sale.  The listing agent promises to perform a series of showing, advertising activities geared to receiving contract offers.

BUYERS.  Buyers are assisted in their home search by agent(s) who helps to locate, tour properties for sale, write and negotiate the contract and arranging for settlement services.  

Sounds easy doesn't it?  Actually it is, in the hands of experienced listing and buyers agents and if nothing unusual occurs. 

THE MOST HELPFUL AND LEAST UNDERSTOOD PART OF LISTING AND SELLING REAL PROPERTY is the complex and institutionalized systems which include the brokerages employing the licensed agents and brokers, the Multiple List Systems that make the homes for sale information available to licensees and now to the public, the board approved forms that provide consumer protections,  

Achieving the consumer's goal of selling or buying real property requires the services of a variety of service providers in addition to the real estate licensee.  Achieving the orderly transfer of real property from a seller to a buyer requires services of vendors that perform critical tasks to help the consumer achieve their goal.  The vendors include but are not limited to:  mortgage providers, home inspectors, termite/radon inspectors, appraisers, title services which include or are managed by attorneys. 

WOW!  How do we keep up with all of these tasks that are necessary to get to the settlement table?  I'm going to disclose a secret that will help many consumers understand how things can go so smoothly and the consumer's goal of selling and buying real estate is achieved. 

IT'S ALL IN THE CONTRACT!

That's right.  IT'S ALL IN THE CONTRACT!

Getting to the settlement table begins with the selection of an experienced listing or buyer's agent who will MANAGE THE CONTRACT OF SALE.   To demonstrate the importance of understanding contract management, below are the titles included in a typical Contract of Sale.

• Description of Real Property
• Price and Financing
• Deed of Trust
• Deposit
• Down Payment
• Settlement
• Equipment, Maintenance and Condition
• Utilities
• Personal Property and Fixtures
• Financing Terms
• Appraisal
• Purchasers Representations
• Access to Property
• Termite Inspection
• Repairs
• Damage and Loss
• Title
• Possession Date
• Fees
• Broker's Fee
• Adjustments
• Attorney's Fees
• Performance
• Default
• Assignability
• Definitions
• Void Contract
• Warranty

Listing agents and Buyers agents must not only understand the meaning and execution of each of these titles, they should help the seller or buyer understand the meaning of all parts of the contract that apply to their particular transaction. 

Next:  What Real Estate Licensees Do Not Do.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

 

I've said it like it is. Have I offended anyone yet? If I have, well - I would be lying if I said I didn't mean to hurt your feelings at least one bit, but I mean to say it just the way I think it will bring enough attention to at least forewarn you.

My dear friend Anna Banana of Phoenix Arizona brought awareness about the cost of getting into the Real Estate business. She listed all the initial costs of getting into the business as well as on-going costs to stay in business. It's not funny, people - when you start adding up.

Here's what I learnt about my tenure in real estate:

• A large reserve prior to getting into the business
  
  I started in the business part time because I didn't know if I would make it and whether it was for me. So, when I first became a Realtor(R), all my paycheck went into paying off my last consumer debts (my cars) and then, I built a large cash reserve for when I do get into the business full time.
  
  I saved 12-months of monthly expenses and built a 12-month reserve before I felt comfortable to do this full time.
  
  
• I kept my business expenses low, real LOW
  
  When I first went into the business, I bought a laptop because it was easier to carry my "office" everywhere I went (I still had a full-time job at work but I didn't feel comfortable doing other work on my corporate computer. I worked on my real estate business at my lunch hour).
  I already had a cell phone and I didn't increase my cell phone minutes.
  I paid the dues I need to do and that was it.
  I did business with my friends, family and referrals. My marketing dollars were ZERO for the first 3 years and it kept me fed. All my friends used me to purchase their first home.
  
  My only marketing was my website, designed and hosted by LinkUSystems. It cost me $29.99 per month and $29.95 per month for my IDX solution from 1parkplace. My website has evolved to what it is today because I work on it everyday. It has been a consistent source of business for me.
  
  
• I hired a coach when I went into the business full-time.
  
  My coach was Ms. Jennifer Allan. I started the business with some bad habits to have to un-learn. Jennifer helped me do that.
  I paid Jennifer through my transactions. It was not an upfront fee which I truly appreciate.
  When I got paid, she got paid.
  
  
• Then I joined Active Rain in November 2006.
  
  Since I have been grandfathered, I do not pay for my Rainmaker membership. I paid for my outside blog though which costs $19 per month.
  Thus far, it's the only marketing effort that has produce TREMENDOUS Rain POURING Effort for my business.
  
  If you are a new member now, you have to pay $30 for a Rainmaker membership - and you do this because you want the public to be able to find you on Google. Otherwise, your posts are only made public. All your hyper-local posts will be wasted effort if you are not a Rainmaker.
  
  Total $360 per year, paid monthly. Where can you up?
  Click on this promotion code to start your Rainmaker membership at $5 the first month.
  
  Try it for 6 months. If it doesn't work out after you tried everything about Blogging Active Rain, you only had $180 to lose.
  
  If you do sign up, or are a new Rainmaker, read Your First Days on Active Rain.
  
  Tip: I make my blog and website as a combined effort of my Internet marketing efforts. One is not complete without the other.
  
  
• I signed up for Katerina Gasset's SEO to the TOP WEBINAR.
  
  $300. One of the best education dollars I spent.
  Read how I turned 400K points into $122K by simply tweaking what I already know with what Katerina Gasset taught in her classes.
  
  
• I hired a NEW COACH
  
  Many coaches constantly talk about Tiger Woods and how he's already an awesome golf player. But he still had a coach. Guess what? I do what EXCELLENT PEOPLE DO AT THEIR JOB. I mimic them. I hired a coach to keep in tact.
  
  I recently signed up with a new coach to push me even further. Kathy Eppley. In just 4 weeks of coaching, it looks like I will end 2009 with a BANG and to raise the bar even higher for 2010.
  
  
  I do have other expenses that I spend on. But these are the ones that I know made SIGNIFICANT enhancements for my business.
  
  Now, are you convinced that the Real estate business is NOT for BROKE people?


Quote of the Day:
We are What we do repeatedly. Therefore EXCELLENCE is NOT an act but a Habit
by Aristotle.

What have you done to ensure your longevity for this business?

 

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Contact:

Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Super-serving Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area communities and other surrounding areas.

Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY)
Real Estate Business is NOT for Broke People