I am at this open house because my client needs to sell this home.  I don’t know that this open house is the answer but I am prepared to do everything I can to sell this home.  Too many agents believe that once you get the listing you need to wait and hope you will get a buyer.  We believe that each home sells for a different reason.  Sometimes it’s the sign or the flyers in the sign, sometimes it’s MLS, sometimes it’s an open house and sometimes it’s the extensive internet presence we provide for each of our listings.

I know that there are many Realtors that do things the right way and some that don’t, but I can tell you that success in our industry depends on our ability to adapt and our ability to be consistent with our marketing.  We must never loose sight of our goal to sell our clients home for as much money as possible and as quickly as possible.  That goal is most often attained by the Old Fashioned method of marketing the home in all ways and keeping the lines of communication open with your client.

The important facts to remember as a homeowner are that HAFA: is only for owner occupied properties, does not apply to second mortgages, can only be employed after loan modification has been pursued (HAMP),  only applies to loans originated before 2009 and does have specific timelines.  Having said that, homeowners need to know that even if they aren’t HAFA eligible, they can and in a lot of cases should still pursue Short Sale.

Remember to consult with an expert in Short Sales and to get help from a qualified attorney and/or accountant.  I do extensive work with a network of accountants and attorneys and I find it ever so valuable to my clients to continually reach out to those experts.

This day and month of commemoration honors so much. Our freedoms that we take for granted throughout the rest of the year are remembered and placed on a pedestal. We wear these gifts of this great country like medals on the chest of the military uniform, proudly displaying to all who will listen that we are proud to be Americans. It is our time to remember, re-enforce and celebrate these freedoms and we do with gusto.

This spirit is still alive and well today; maybe a little tarnished and browned on the edges with the recurrent affronts that have become too common place. However, we still “hold these truths” and enjoy one of the greatest liberties a free nation can tolerate, our ability to decide through our vote who will lead us and be our protectors of the ideals that were founded 234 years ago. Be proud and celebrate that we have been blessed with this most important liberty; make your vote count in November.

Consumers are hearing about HAMP, HAFA, FNMA(fannie mae), FDMC(freddie mac), REO, Prom Note, etc.  As Realtors we are given designations for taking these classes.  I am now a CSP, CSAA and PSC.  Now I take pride in the fact that I have taken the additional course work to garner these designations, but I don’t believe any agent that works in our business and takes pride in their work worries about a designation.  I wish to add that each class added to my knowledge and each class will help me and my clients as we continue to work through this economic mess.

One of the most important things I learned was that I have to continue to monitor the changes that are coming our way in the area of Short Sales.  We have seen short sales handled in so many different ways the last several years and the process is ever evolving.  I don’t believe we will ever find any specific method that can be used universally and that is a challenge.  But, that is truly the challenge with any Real Estate deal.  No two are alike.  

We face many challenges as Realtors, but none greater than our current market.  Values have dropped so much that Short Sales will be a major part of Real Estate for the next decade.  I will continue to add to my personal alphabet soup as long as it continues to allow me to serve my clients better.

I promise to tell you about my daring step if you promise not to snicker the next time you see me! It had been a “long time coming”; I did not see the early signs, they were there. Maybe if I had heeded these warnings, things would be much different today. My feelings were like a festering pot but visible only to me; until finally I could not take it anymore. I had to share these thoughts unless I was to implode internally and choke on my rising convictions. Here it is, the revelation that still astounds me today. I broke my cardinal rule of never forwarding and adding comment to an email that supported a position. Whew! Now that I have shared this with you, I feel the relief that only a disclosure of this magnitude can bring.

All levity aside, I did step out recently and share a political position via email. I felt strongly about an issue and shared these thoughts to a select group of friends and associates. It is true that I have been reluctant to state a position to anyone outside of my immediate family, but I knew that I had to go beyond the comfort of this inner circle that continues to be supportive of all I do. I believe that times have changed so much that we can no longer be complacent and condone that which we believe strongly offends the best judgment we have developed over the years. I believe that I have grown from this very minor expression, which was amplified by the support and encouragement that was received from my audience. I encourage all of you to step up to the plate and share with others those thoughts or positions that have impassioned you and need to be told.

 However, the dreams that can affect us most are those that do not come to us in a night’s sleep. They are forged, normally in our early years, and refined as our life experiences allow. These are what I call Living Dreams. Most of us carry them around a lifetime; few are brought to fruition. The reasons may be numerous and individual, but it is popularly believed that most dreams are seemingly just beyond our reach no matter what our circumstances. However, I disagree with that premise.

  I see too many examples of clients achieving one of their life goals in home ownership. For some it has taken years of saving and sacrifice. Others may have been more fortunate and the ability to find the American Dream was attainable much earlier in life. This does not lessen the importance of their life goals, but merely allows them to redirect their desires and efforts.

  If you are to be persuaded by many of today’s economists, the American Dream is dead. It does not make financial sense and introduces unnecessary risk in an already fragile economy. It is said that this was a dream of our fathers and has little relevancy today. I surmise that in a highly transient and accelerated society that seeks change for its survivability and vibrancy, this type of thinking is germane. But maybe it is this thinking that perpetuates the economic and social problems that surround us. Perhaps if more people dreamed, planned and achieved home ownership, the American society as a whole would be more accountable and responsive to our families, neighbors and country, and our economy would thrive.