Real Estate Blog

Just two short months ago, our local and national news media were reporting that like our gas prices, our home heating bills were going to be skyrocketing this winter. In light of that dismal bit of news, my husband and I have been planning ways to cut the cost of this year’s home heating bills. We haven’t been as proactive as we could have been, especially because we live in an older home.

Built in 1929, and having had only one previous owner before us, the inside of the house is in remarkably good shape. In fact, many of the windows were replaced even before we moved in 17 years ago. Nonetheless, there are a number of steps we can take to take the “fro$tbite” out of winter - at least when it comes to our energy bills. I offer them for your consideration.

1. Don’t be afraid to “turn it down.” - the thermostat, that is. Lowering the temperature 5 to 10 degrees at night and when your house is empty can cut as much as 10 percent off your heating bill. Keeping room temperatures a bit cooler while at home is advisable as well. Get out that hoodie and knit pants you got last year for Christmas. Or consider investing in any number of brands of blanket wraps. One in particular, Snuggie, may give you a monkish look, but it could be the difference between being able to see that latest Bond movie or being home on a Saturday night. Of course, a little nip in the air can give you the impetus to snuggle with your kids more or reignite a little fire with your significant other.

2. Consider a programmable thermostat. This would allow for automatic temperature changes of your thermostat settings, and take the guesswork out of whether you or someone else in your family remembered to adjust the setting for cost savings.

3. Use a humidifier. Humidity in the air will make cool air feel warmer. You know how your local meteorologist reports the “heat index” outside in the summer? The same can be true indoors during the heating months. A temperature of 68 degrees will feel like 76. Possible additional bonuses: your skin will be less dry and you may not have as many “shocking” door handle experiences. However, be careful not to create a sauna, which could produce issues with unwanted moisture in your walls.

4. Keep your furnace in top working order. Having your furnace checked by a professional may be a little costly, but well worth it in the long run. A clean furnace is going to operate at its optimum. Dirty filters, for example, reduce the efficiency of your furnace and use more fuel. This will benefit you with your summer cooling costs too.

5. Avoid heating unused rooms. Close the doors and heating vents to rooms that are not in regular use. Think of it in the same way you use lighting. Most of us turn off lights in rooms where there is no activity.

6. Use your kitchen hood and bathroom ventilation fans sparingly. These fans can pull a large amount of warm air out of your house. Consider taking a shorter shower, which should cut down on fan usage. Cutting your shower time in half can save your water heating costs by up to 33 percent. Allow your cup of morning coffee to be the catalyst for warming you up.

7. “Let the Sunshine In.” In those rooms with southern exposure, raise the blinds/shades and open the curtains to take advantage of the sun’s heat. To retain the solar heat, close them when the sun goes down.

Thus ends Part I. Meet me Monday morning with a cup of joe and I’ll finish off the “Baker’s Dozen.”

Posted by Sharon Walker

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I really loathe this quote. It’s such a downer and so cynical - never mind that it’s so true. It doesn’t begin to lift my spirits or offer any hope. And hope is what we in the real estate world need, especially these days.

Whether or not you agree with the government’s October bailout program, it is, in fact, a reality. Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac are going to be working with delinquent homeowners to get them back on track so they can keep their homes. JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp and Citicorp are also falling in line to offer mortgage loan modifications to those who qualify.

Qualify - therein lies the rub.

The country is aware there are hundreds of thousands of homeowners in need of assistance who want to stay in their homes and be able to make their monthly mortgage payments. It would appear these lending institutions have laid out specific and clear criteria by which to judge whether applicants meet the standards for assistance. And as much as I’d like to think every applicant will be truthful about their housing situation, I’m reminded there are always “a few” who can spoil it for the rest. It even happened after the Twin Towers tragedy. Some people have no shame.

Here’s what Euro Pacific Capital investment manager Peter Schiff wrote in an e-mail last Tuesday:

“By offering to reduce mortgage payments to 38% of household income for homeowners who are 90 days delinquent, the mortgage program announced today will spark a new wave of delinquencies. In a classic case of unintended consequences, the plan will encourage homeowners to rearrange their finances to qualify for the benefit. Those who could conceivably economize to meet their existing obligation will now have a strong reason to forgo such sacrifices.

“The intentional reduction of income is also a possibility. In many cases dual-income families may decide to eliminate one job altogether as reduced mortgage payments combined with lower child care and other work-related expenses will likely exceed the after-tax value of the lost paycheck.

“It may also be tempting for some homeowners to temporarily quit high-paying jobs, or delay job searches, and accept low-paying jobs while the creditors consider their fate. Once their mortgage payments have been modified to fit their diminished incomes, these homeowners would then be free to pursue better-paying jobs. With mortgage payments reduced to a fraction of the prior payments, these workers will have much more employment flexibility than those foolishly struggling to meet non-modified mortgages.”

I’m not sure where Mr. Schiff is residing, but here in the state of Michigan, job-hopping is not exactly an Olympic sport. A year ago I applied for a part-time clerical position, working two days per week, with no benefits. I got the position - and had to beat out 300 other applicants. I just don’t think people are going to give up a paycheck or work for less in order to qualify for a mortgage reduction. It seems far too risky to me.

Quitting a “high-paying” job, which more than likely includes medical benefits, sounds irresponsible and a little nutty. I’m not saying it won’t happen, but my hope is that if lenders have learned anything from this fiasco, it’s that close scrutiny of documentation and strict adherence to qualifications by borrowers must be in place.

Something had to be done. The bailout may not have been your first choice, but now that it’s been implemented, let’s try and have a little faith in humankind. Otherwise it really doesn’t matter what course of action is taken - failure of people to have integrity and faith in one another will be the demise of us all.

Posted by Sharon Walker

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There is good news outside your door. If you live in a climate accustomed to change, you are lucky enough to see the beauty of the seasons, green turning to yellow and red and twirling in its inevitable life cycle dance to the ground.

There’s good news outside your Internet door. While there’s no existing “good news” channel on television yet, you can actually type the words “good news” into your Google search bar and come up with some sources that choose to report positive news. So simple; who knew?

In this second lesson in the Age of Empowerment series, I’m going to share a few sources for good news. I hope that as life gets back to basics and you choose to reach out to feel good, this will be a helpful resource to do so.

My first and favorite is an audio story about relationships and trust. You can’t help but pause for thought when you hear it:

“Trust is about relationships”

Good News Daily - This is a free source of good news on the Internet. It has some pretty lighthearted and fun topics like “Chocolate is good for you — and other sweet myths“ to the heroic “Hero pulls woman from crushed car just as fire erupts”.

My favorite was their thought of the day, after reading the Dow Jones average dropped 678.91 points (-7.33 percent):

“We cannot solve problems with the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein

Global Good News - This good news source has two noteworthy categories: Positive Trends and Success Stories. Some noteworthy titles include India clean technology attracts US Investors and Transformation of the Banking System: Dawn of real wealth. I would suggest sticking to these two categories. Don’t entertain the Flops category. That’s not the purpose of being on this website; you can get those types of stories by turning on your television.

Do you have some good news sources to share, an empowering video or audio? Connect2Agent is listening; please speak by commenting below.

Posted by Rebecca D. Levinson

The Age of Empowerment Series (Lesson II)

“What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

See original here:
Seven Lessons of Sales Success

You may not understand the true power of words until you’ve tried to sell a home.

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Roost Study Alludes To Power Of Words

The massive, 600-page housing bill heading to the White House is loaded with billions of dollars of new programs, financial assistance for troubled home owners, home buyer tax credits and even a new regulatory structure to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The rest is here:
Washington Report: New Housing Bill

Given the long and bloody fight that culminated in the nation’s independence way back in 1776, Americans still have a lot of U.S. flag flying to do in 2008.

Original post:
Mind Your Star Spangled Manners

If you are like many agents, today’s market definitely may make you feel as if you are on an episode of “Survivor, Real Estate!” For some, you face unfamiliar challenges, uncommon objections and often times that nagging uncertainty that can throw you — and your production — off balance.

Excerpt from:
Surviving Uncertainty in Today’s Market: Six Secrets to Keeping Your Balance, Business and Humor

Have you often avoided making those “dreaded cold calls?” Do you dream of how much better your business could be but just can’t bring yourself to pick up the phone? You’re not alone. In the 10 years that I have specialized in coaching real estate agents, I have noticed the same avoidant patterns in each of my clients. This article gives you 5 tips to make it easier.

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Hate to Make Cold Calls? 5 Tips to Make it Easier

Some of the greatest minds in business, sales, education, politics and leadership have expounded the merits of loving what you do for a living. Yet all too often — somewhere between idyllic childhood dreams and the reality of everyday work — many people lose their passion. They deny the drive that could lead them to greatness and instead find themselves either chasing the dollar or following the path of least resistance. Don’t let that be you. Not now, not ever.

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Fall in Love With What You Do: Six Ways to Fuel Your Business With Passion and Purpose