Daily Quotes!

Daily Quotes for Today July 30 2010.

"A goal is a dream with a deadline."
-- Napolean Hill, Author

"High expectations are the key to everything."
-- Sam Walton, Wal-Mart Founder

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into
someone else's. And guess what they might have planned for you? Not much."
-- Jim Rohn, Motivational Speaker

"We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life."
-- Viktor Frankl, Austrian Neurologist

"We have a right to choose our attitude."
-- Edwin Markham, American Poet

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
-- Beverly Sills, Opera Singer

"My father instilled in me that if you don't see things happening the
way you want them to, you get out there and make them happen."
-- Susan Powter, Author

I am an active Realtor in the state of Utah. If I can help you or your family, please don't hesitate to contact me.

All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor You Want!

Brian E. Betts
Keller Williams Utah Realtors
435-513-0973

Daily Quotes!

Some of these quotes have trancided my life! I hope that you will enjoy them as well.

Please Remember to think of me for any Real Estate Related needs that you may incounter.

"Courage is grace under pressure."
-- Ernest Hemingway, Author

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."
-- Abraham Maslow, Psychologist

"You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals."
-- George Patton, General

"Don't play for safety. It's the most dangerous thing in the world."
-- Hugh Walpole, Writer

"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play."
-- Arnold Toynbee

"I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it."
-- Mike Ditka, Football Coach

"One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is
the man who has it for 30 years who makes a success of his life."
-- Edward Butler, Discount-Store Entrepreneur

Take these into your life and come back daily for more inspiration!

All"Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you want!

7 Great Disciplines To Success!

7 Great Disciplines To Success!

You must develop these disciplines if you want to achieve all that is possible for you. You learn these disciplines through practice and daily repetition until they become automatic.

Goal Setting
Every morning, take three to five minutes to write out your top goals in the present tense. Get a spiral notebook for this purpose. By writing out your ten goals at the beginning of each day, you will program them deep into your subconscious mind. This Daily goal writing will activate your mental powers. It will stimulate your mind and make you more alert. Throughout the day, you will see opportunities and possibilities to move more rapidly toward your goals.

Golden Hour
Take 30 minutes each morning to sit quietly and to reflect on your goals. This is called the Golden Hour. The first hour sets the tone for the day. The things that you do in the first hour prepare your mind and set you up for the entire day. During the first thirty to sixty minutes, take time to think and review your plans for the future.

Planning and Organizing
Take a few minutes, preferably the night before, to plan out every activity of the coming day. Always work from a list. Always think on paper. This is one of the most powerful and important disciplines of all for high performance.

Concentration on your Highest-Value Activities
Your ability to work single-mindedly on your most important task will contribute as much to your success as any other discipline you can develop.

Exercise and Proper Nutrition
Your health is more important than anything else. By disciplining yourself to exercise regularly and to eat carefully, you will promote the highest possible levels of health and fitness throughout your life.

Learning and Growth
Your mind is like a muscle. If you don't use it, you lose it. Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field. You must commit to reading 1 hour a day. You can read many books a year with this one discipline.

Time for Important People in Your Life
Relationships are everything. Be sure that in climbing the ladder of success, you do not find it leaning against the wrong building. Build time for your relationships into every day, no matter how busy you get.

Action Exercise
These seven disciplines will ensure that you perform at the highest level and get the greatest satisfaction and results from everything you do. Study these seven disciplines and then make a plan for how you can incorporate each of them into your daily life.

Daily Quotes!

Quotes.

I will try to get you these out daily. Sometimes there my be only one

"No matter how bad someone has it, there are others who have it worse.
Remembering that makes life a lot easier and allows you to take pleasure
in the blessings you have been given."
-- Lou Holtz

"Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your
hunger, but won't taste good."
-- Joe Paterno, Football Coach

"True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be
done."
-- John Wayne


"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."
-- Jonathan Winters, Comedian


"Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out."
-- Robert Collier

"I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I
became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I
grew in all my difficulties."
-- J.C. Penney, businessman and Mason

"A man can get discouraged many times, but he is not a failure until he
begins to blame somebody else and stops trying."
-- John Burroughs, Writer

"Choice, not chance, determines human destiny."
-- Robert W. Ellis

"Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts.
This is the secret to success."
-- Swami Sivananda, Yoga Guru

"To get the full value of a joy, you must have somebody to divide it
with."
-- Mark Twain, Writer

The Seven Step Process for Achieving Goals

The Seven Step Process for Achieving Goals

I got this By Reading Brian Tracy and thought that is was great and could hlep you in achiving your goals as well as helping me with mine! Enjoy!

The Seven Step Process for Achieving Goals
Here, once more, is the simple, seven-step process that you can use to
achieve your goals faster and easier than ever before.

First, decide exactly what you want in each area of your life. Be
specific!

Second, write it down, clearly and in detail;

Third, set a specific deadline. If it is a large goal, break it down
into sub-deadlines and write them down in order;

Fourth, make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to
have to do to achieve your goal. As you think of new items, add them to
your list;

Fifth, organize the items on your list into a plan by placing them in
the proper sequence and priority;

Sixth, take action immediately on the most important thing you can do on
your plan. This is very important!

Seventh, do something every day that moves you toward the attainment of
one or more of your important goals. Maintain the momentum!

Join the Top 3%
Fewer than three percent of adults have written goals and plans that
they work on every single day. When you sit down and write out your
goals, you move yourself into the top 3% of people in our society. And
you will soon start to get the same results that they do.

Review Your Goals Daily
Study and review your goals every day to be sure they are still your
most important goals. You will find yourself adding goals to your list
as time passes. You will also find yourself deleting goals that are no
longer as important as you once thought. Whatever your goals are, plan
them out thoroughly, on paper, and work on them every single day. This
is the key to peak performance and maximum achievement.

Action Exercises
Here is how you can apply this law immediately:

First, make a list of ten goals that you would like to achieve in the
coming year. Write them down in the present tense, as though a year has
passed and you have already accomplished them.

Second, from your list of ten goals, ask yourself, "What one goal, if I
were to accomplish it, would have the greatest positive impact on my
life?" Whatever it is, put a circle around this goal and move it to a
separate sheet of paper.

Third, practice the seven-step method described above on this goal. Set
a deadline, make a plan, and put it into action and work on it every
day. Make this goal your major definite purpose for the weeks and months
ahead.

Get ready for some amazing changes in your life.


www.briantracy.com

Quotes

Quotes

"Some of us learn from other people's mistakes and the rest of us have
to be other people."
-- Zig Ziglar, Author

"Most people who fail in their dreams fail not from lack of ability but
from lack of commitment."
-- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

"Skill to do comes of doing."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Poet

"The only difference between successful people and unsuccessful people
is extraordinary determination."
-- Mary Kay Ash, Entrepreneur

"The more positive you are when you think and work toward your goals,
the faster you achieve them."
-- Brian Tracy, Speaker, Author, Consultant

"When you do the things you need to do when you need to do them, the day
will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do
them."
-- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

"You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your
dominant aspiration."
-- James Allen

"The happiness of most people we know is not ruined by great
catastrophes or fatal errors, but by the repetition of slowly
destructive little things."
-- Ernest Dimnet

"Evidence is conclusive that your self-talk has a direct bearing on your
performance."
-- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

"If a person doesn't govern his temper, his temper will govern him."
-- John Maxwell

"Remember, happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have; it
depends solely on what you think."
-- Dale Carnegie, Author

"The nose of the bulldog is slanted backwards so he can continue to
breathe without letting go."
-- Winston Churchill, British prime minister

"In the middle of every difficulty comes opportunity."
-- Albert Einstein

"Any person who selects a goal in life which can be fully achieved, has
already defined his own limitations."
-- Cavett Robert

"Every crucial experience can be regarded as a setback - or the start of
a new kind of development."
-- Mary Roberts Kinehart

"Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm."
-- Publilius Syrus

"Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The
winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul."
-- Charles Bexton

"The first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example."
-- Thomas Morell, Librettist

"Eighty-five percent of the reason you get a job, keep that job, and
move ahead in that job has to do with your people skills and people
knowledge."
-- Cavett Robert

"When you believe and think "I can," you activate your motivation,
commitment, confidence, concentration and excitement - all of which
relate directly to achievement."
-- Dr. Jerry Lynch

"We must become the change we wish to see in the world."
-- Mahatma Gandhi, Statesman

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination."
-- Henry David Thoreau

"People spend their lives in the service of their passions instead of
employing their passions in the service of their lives."
-- Sir Richard Steele

"It's not where you start - it's where you finish that counts."
-- Zig Ziglar, Author

"The core problem is not that we are too passionate about bad things,
but that we are not passionate enough about good things."
-- Larry Crabb

"Three billion people on the face of the earth go to bed hungry every
night, but four billion people go to bed every night hungry for a simple
word of encouragement and recognition."
-- Cavett Robert

"Ninety percent of all those who fail are not actually defeated. They
simply quit."
-- Paul J. Meyer

"A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a
hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror."
-- Ken Keyes

"Your greatness is measured by your horizons."
-- Michelangelo

"Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it."
-- Brian Tracy, Speaker, Author, Consultant

"Do a little more than you're paid to. Give a little more than you have
to. Try a little harder than you want to. Aim a little higher than you
think possible, and give a lot of thanks to God for health, family, and
friends."
-- Art Linkletter

"If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I
regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field,
I would pick the trait of persistence."
-- Richard DeVos, Amway Co-founder

"Determine never to be idle. It is wonderful how much may be done if we
are always doing."
-- Thomas Jefferson, Third U.S. President

"Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of
yourself as a success."
-- Joyce Brothers, Psychologist

"You can't talk yourself out of a problem you behave yourself into."
-- Stephen Covey, Author and Speaker

"Action conquers fear."
-- Pete Zarlenga

"Discipline is the habit of taking consistent action until one can
perform with unconscious competence. Discipline weighs ounces but regret
weighs tons."
-- Jhoon Rhee

"Time flies. It's up to you to be the navigator."
-- Robert Orben

"The biggest tragedy in America is not the great waste of natural
resources - though this is tragic; the biggest tragedy is the waste of
human resources because the average person goes to his grave with his
music still in him."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay not
defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end."
-- Denis Waitley

"God gives everyone certain attributes, characteristics, talents, and
then He says, "If you use what you have I'll increase it, but if you
don't use it, you'll lose it." Use it or lose it; it's a law."
-- Charlie "Tremendous" Jones

"Enjoyment is not a goal. It is a feeling that accompanies important,
on-going activity."
-- Paul Goodman

"Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Success comes from taking the hand you were dealt and using it to the
very best of your ability."
-- Ty Boyd

For the week of July 26, 2010

For the week of July 26, 2010

>> Market Update
INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE Tuesday, June Housing Starts came in down 5.0% from May to a 549,000 annual rate. This was below expectations, but still up 15.1% from the low they hit in April 2009. Most of the drop came from volatile multi-family starts. Single-family starts were down a mere 0.7%. Most significantly, housing completions shot up 26.2% in June, the biggest monthly gain going back to the late 1960's. Builders clearly shifted focus from starting to finishing, as they pushed to close sales qualifying for the homebuyer tax credit. Finally, Building Permits were UP 2.1% for June, beating expectations, so things are looking up for the months ahead.

Thursday saw June Existing Home Sales down 5.1% to an annual rate of 5.37 million. But this beat expectations for the fourth time in five months and was 9.8% above sales a year ago. The median price for an existing home also gained in June, coming in at $183,700. This is up 1.0% from last year. In addition, the FHFA price index for homes financed by conforming mortgages went up 0.5% in May, increasing for the third month in a row.

National average rates for fixed rate mortgages hit new lows, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming loans. So refinance applications shot up 7.6% over the week before, but best of all, purchase loan applications were also up a healthy 3.4%.

>> Review of Last Week
UP WE GO... It was another interesting week on Wall Street, with stocks briefly headed in the wrong direction before ending the week decidedly UP. The fact was, the good economic news simply outweighed any disappointments by a lot. The net result for the stock markets left all major indexes resoundingly UP for the week...from 3% to 4%!

Topping the disappointments were Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's comments before Congress that the U.S. economic outlook is "unusually uncertain." This allowed him to add that the Fed stands ready to take additional action, if necessary, to either do more boosting or halt inflation. OK, but right now there's plenty of evidence the world's largest economy is recovering just fine, if at a slightly slower rate than before. Earnings from IBM and Amazon.com also disappointed, but overall there were pretty slim pickings for the bears.

There actually was a big batch of strong earnings. Of the 150 S&P500 companies who have reported Q2 results, 85% of them beat earnings estimates by an average of 7%. General Electric raised its quarterly dividend 20%, the first increase since it historically cut its dividend over a year ago. Even the media is beginning to admit companies appear to be doing well. Then Friday we got the long-awaited results of the European bank stress tests, which came out better than expected. There was some grousing over how stressful the tests truly were, even though the Committee of European Banking Supervisors hadn't seemed too soft before.

For the week, the Dow ended UP 3.2%, to 10424.62; the S&P 500 was UP 3.5%, to 1102.66; and the Nasdaq was UP 4.1%, to 2269.47.

Good news for the European banks and the stock market wasn't so good for the bond market. Investors stopped chasing safety plays, so bond prices suffered. The FNMA 30-year 4.0% bond we follow fell 16 basis points for the week, ending at $101.75. But, as reported above, national average rates for conforming mortgages remain at record low levels.

>> This Week’s Forecast
FROM NEW HOMES TO Q2 GDP... This week takes us on an economic trip across topics that range from Monday's June New Home Sales (expected to rise a bit) to Friday's Advanced Q2 GDP, likely to settle on moderate growth just shy of 3%. In between, Wednesday's Durable Goods Orders should be up, showing business continues to recover. We'll also watch Tuesday's Consumer Confidence and Friday's Michigan Consumer Sentiment. These are forecast to dip just a little.

Q2 corporate earnings reports continue, including BP, Boeing, Exxon Mobil, Sony, and Visa.
>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

>> Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months Since Fed Chairman Bernanke still finds things "uncertain," economists are more certain than ever the Fed will keep rates at super-low levels for the rest of the year. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%

Last Week in the News

Last Week in the News

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index fell two points in July to 14. Economists had anticipated a reading of 16. It was the lowest reading since April 2009. An index reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market.

According to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index, retail sales rose 1.4% for the week ending July 17. On a year-over-year basis, retailers saw sales increase 4.2%, the best showing in two months.

The combined construction of new single-family homes and apartments in June fell 5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 549,000 units. Applications for new building permits, seen as an indicator of future activity, rose 2.1% to an annual rate of 586,000 units.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending July 16 increased 7.6%. Refinancing applications rose 8.6%. Purchase volume rose 3.4%.

Existing home sales fell 5.1% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.37 million units from 5.66 million units in May. The inventory of unsold homes on the market increased 2.5% to 3.99 million, an 8.9-month supply at the current sales pace, up from an 8.3-month supply in May.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose by 37,000 to 464,000 for the week ending July 17. Continuing claims for the week ending July 10 fell by 223,000 to 4.567 million.

The index of leading economic indicators — designed to forecast economic activity in the next three to six months — fell 0.2% in June after a revised 0.5% gain in May.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on new home sales on July 26, the housing price index on July 27 and gross domestic product on July 30.

For the week of July 19, 2010

For the week of July 19, 2010

>> Market Update
INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE Some analysts feel the homebuyer tax credits artificially boosted the housing market by pushing forward home sales that would have happened later. Others feel most buyers would have bought anyway. In any case, there's now concern about a coming drop in sales. Well, June sales figures should still benefit from activity spurred on by the tax credits. And tax credit sales should even help monthly reports through September, now that buyers in contract on April 30 have been given until September 30 to close.

Nonetheless, we ought to keep an eye on monthly Pending Home Sales, which track signed contracts that turn into sales a few months out. Even though we may have a sales dip after the tax credit, the fact remains that near historic low mortgage interest rates are getting people back into the market. These rates, combined with today's prices, have made homes more affordable than they've been in years, letting many buyers move up to better neighborhoods with more choices.

But buyers shouldn't wait. The National Association of Realtors chief economist sees the median home price rising nationally 2% to 3% this year. The NAR's CEO feels sales will pick up in the fall and that the down-cycle has run its course. The chief economist at Moody's Economy.com also believes the housing crash is nearly over. And we all know mortgage rates won't stay at their current levels indefinitely. In other words, this could be one of the best times to buy a home in decades.

>> Review of Last Week
UP AND DOWN... The stock market indexes were up nicely through Wednesday, continuing last week's rally, then slipped slightly on Thursday before plunging more than 261 points Friday. For the week, the declines hovered around 1%, not too bad considering the volatile atmosphere of the proceedings on Wall Street.

The problems Friday centered on a drop in the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment number and soft top-line Q2 revenues from Bank of America, Citigroup, and GE, even though bottom-line earnings from these behemoths beat expectations. The big disappointment came from Google, which missed earnings estimates even though revenue grew a faster than expected 25% for the quarter. But Google was the ONLY major company reporting last week that did not BEAT earnings forecasts.

We also heard complaints about some of the economic data. The trade deficit increased in May, but exports are UP 21.0% in the past year. Yes, May retail sales were off half a percent, but the annual growth rate for retail in the last nine months remains a respectable 6.7%. The Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed wholesale and consumer inflation down a tad in June. This got analysts fretting about deflation, but both PPI and CPI are actually up from a year ago.

Nonetheless, negative feelings prevailed, so for the week, the Dow ended down 1.0%, to 10097.90; the S&P 500 was down 1.2%, to 1064.88; and the Nasdaq was down 0.8%, to 2179.05.

As stocks slid, the bond market attracted a slew of investors on the proverbial flight to safety. Prices headed north, as the FNMA 30-year 4.0% bond we follow cruised UP 41 basis points for the week, ending at $101.91. Freddie Mac's weekly survey reported that national average rates for conforming mortgages remain at record low levels.

>> This Week’s Forecast
BACK TO HOUSING... Last week's tsunami of economic data lacked any info on the housing market. This week's reports make up for that, beginning with June Housing Starts and Building Permits on Tuesday. Starts are expected to be down slightly, with permits virtually flat. Thursday we'll see June Existing Home Sales, which may be down a bit. We'll also look at the Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) Index, which could be a tad off for the month.

Q2 corporate earnings reports continue, including: Amazon.com, AT&T, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, IBM, PepsiCo, and Texas Instruments.
>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates

>> Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months According to just about every economist out there, the Fed will probably keep rates at super-low levels for the rest of the year, as inflation is expected to remain benign during that time. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%

For the week of July 12, 2010

For the week of July 12, 2010

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE Last week's Inside Lending reported that on Friday, the President signed into law a bill that extends to September 30 the closing deadline for claiming the federal homebuyer tax credit. We want to add he signed a second bill that retroactively reinstates the National Flood Insurance program, which expired May 31, until September 30. This news is important for home buyers who are shopping in areas where flood insurance is necessary to get a mortgage. It would obviously behoove these buyers to close before September 30.

National average mortgage rates hit new lows again last week, as reported in Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey. However, the Mortgage Bankers Association revealed that it was refinancing homeowners who were principally taking advantage of these rates, making up the lion's share of last week's loan applications. Incidentally, with these heightened levels of refi activity, the effective rate of all outstanding mortgages was just under 6% in the first quarter of 2010, the lowest on record since 1977.

>> Review of Last Week
DOUBLE DIP DOUBLE TALK... Lately it's been hard to ignore all the talk about threats of a "double-dip" recession. So last week it was refreshing to see The Wall Street Journal identify all this talk as "exaggerated fears of a double-dip recession." They pointed out: "Growth may be slowing from its first-quarter peak...but most indicators point to continued global growth." Investors quickly came to their senses, stopping the recent stock market slide and sending all major indexes up for the week by 5% and more!

There certainly was adequate support for a more positive economic outlook. The "continued global growth" the Journal mentioned was backed by the latest forecast from the International Monetary Fund. The IMF increased its estimate of 2010 GDP growth from 4.2% to 4.6%. Some fretted that the ISM Services Index dropped a tad from its May reading. But levels above 50 signal expansion, so June's 53.8 shows our non-manufacturing sectors are still experiencing healthy economic growth.

Initial jobless claims came in better than expected for the week, dropping by 21,000. Retailers reported June same store sales, which weren't the debacle some had predicted, with Macy's and Nordstrom actually coming in with some pretty good numbers. Finally, the Q2 corporate earnings season begins this week and first estimates are that profits will be up 34% overall vs. last year. Does any of this sound like a dip to you?

For the week, the Dow ended UP 5.3%, to 10198.03; the S&P 500 was UP 5.4%, to 1077.96; and the Nasdaq was UP 5.0%, to 2196.45.

With stocks rallying, the bond market didn't have such a great time of it. Nonetheless, the FNMA 30-year 4.0% bond we follow was actually UP 22 basis points for the week, ending at $101.50. As noted above, national average mortgage rates tracked by Freddie Mac's weekly survey reached record low levels.

>> This Week’s Forecast
A DEEP LOOK INTO THE ECONOMY... Economically speaking, this week promises to tell all, except for the housing market. Tuesday's May Trade Balance should stay pretty even, still showing nice export activity. Wednesday's June Retail Sales are forecast to improve on May's readings, a good indication of consumer health. We'll also see if the Minutes of the FOMC Meeting on June 23 reveal anything new about the Fed's economic outlook.

Inflation should remain benign as tracked by the Thursday's wholesale PPI and Friday's consumer CPI. Thursday will also be a big day for manufacturing, expected to stay in recovery mode as measured by the Empire and Philadelphia Fed Indexes, plus Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization. Q2 earnings will come from Alcoa, Intel, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and GE.
>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

>> Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months Economists are still virtually unanimous in forecasting the Fed will keep rates at present super-low levels through the FOMC meeting in November. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%

For the week of July 5, 2010

For the week of July 5, 2010

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE Last Thursday pending home sales, a measure of contracts signed for existing homes, were reported off 30% in May compared to the prior month. This of course was simply the result of the end of the homebuyer tax credit, which required a signed contract by April 30. Common sense tells us many of those April contracts would have happened in May or even later if it weren't for the pressure to qualify for the tax credit.

More good news on the price front, as the Case-Shiller home price index was UP 0.4% in April, seasonally-adjusted, and up a comfortable 3.8% versus a year ago. Case-Shiller tracks home prices in the 20 largest metro areas. This follows the prior week's FHFA home price index, which was UP 0.8% for April for homes financed with conforming mortgages. Buyers take note.

Friday, the President signed into law a bill that extends the closing deadline for claiming the federal homebuyer tax credit to September 30. The National Association of Realtors estimated that up to 180,000 homebuyers in contract by April 30 could have missed the June 30 closing because of processing delays due to the huge volume of buyers seeking the tax credit.

>> Review of Last Week
OFF AGAIN... Investors were back in worry mode last week, still concerned about European debt and the speed (or lack thereof) of our own economic recovery. At the Group of Twenty meeting in Toronto, the financial leaders of the world's largest economies didn't say or do much to raise spirits on Wall Street. So stocks slid another week, as investors sold off their equity holdings and sought safer places to put their money.

The week began with May personal income UP 0.4% and personal spending UP 0.2%. For the last six months, personal income is UP 4.6% annually and spending UP 3.8% annually. Overall PCE (consumer inflation) was flat for May, up only 0.9% annually for the last six months. Thursday brought the pending home sales data covered above. This was followed by the ISM index showing manufacturing still grew strongly in June, though slightly below May's reading.

Friday's employment numbers showed a drop of 125,000 jobs for June but April/May revisions added 25,000, so the net loss was 100,000. Furthermore, as the President himself pointed out that morning, the report "...reflected the planned phase out of 225,000 temporary Census jobs, but it also showed the sixth straight month of job growth in the private sector. All told, our economy has created nearly 600,000 private sector jobs this year." Finally, the unemployment rate, expected to edge up a tad, dropped from 9.7% in May to 9.5% for June.

For the week, the Dow ended down 4.5%, to 9686.48; the S&P 500 was down 5.0%, to 1022.58; and the Nasdaq was down 5.9%, to 2091.79.

Bond prices continue to benefit as economic nervousness about the slowness of the jobs part of our recovery has investors seeking the safe haven of bonds. The FNMA 30-year 4.0% bond we follow did well, UP 47 basis points for the week, ending at $101.28. National average rates on three of the four mortgage types tracked by Freddie Mac's weekly survey reached record lows for the second week in a row.

>> This Week’s Forecast
QUIET AFTER THE HOLIDAY... The shortened post-4th-of-July week will allow us to quietly recover from the pyrotechnic celebrations without a lot of economic data to distract us. Tuesday's ISM Services is expected to show the services part of our economy continuing to expand. Initial and Continuing Unemployment Claims figures will hold our interest after last week's monthly Employment report, and they are expected to drop.
>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

>> Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months As we still lack strong indicators of a recovery in jobs, virtually all economists believe the Fed will keep rates low, probably through the end of the year. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%

Congress Extends Tax Credit Closing Deadline

Congress Extends Tax Credit Closing Deadline Until September 30, 2010President Expected to Sign Measure into Law

Congress has passed a bill to give homebuyers another three months to close on their home loans and receive tax credits up to $8,000. The bill applies ONLY to homebuyers who met the April 30, 2010, deadline with a signed contract to purchase a new or existing primary residence. The bill would extend the deadline to September 30, 2010, for homebuyers to close on their real estate transaction. The previous deadline was June 30, 2010. President Obama is expected to sign the measure into law.

The National Association of Realtors estimates that as many as 180,000 homebuyers who met the contract deadline of April 30, 2010, may be affected by the extension. They will now have additional time to close their transactions.

Even if you have clients in your pipeline who may not qualify for the homebuyer tax credit, there is still a tremendous opportunity available through the combination of low home prices and historically low interest rates. Encourage your buyers to act now on this opportunity before market conditions change.

I'm available to get a loan application started for your clients or answer any questions they may have. Feel free to have them call or email me today!


The above content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a tax advisor.

Buying a Foreclosed Home

Buying a Foreclosed Home

With the mortgage crisis in full swing, homes are going into foreclosure left and right all across the country. In 2005 there were 850,000 foreclosures, with the number of foreclosures increasing every quarter.

All these foreclosed properties offer you a great investment opportunity. You can scout and buy homes in foreclosure, then keep them as rental properties and collect monthly checks from tenants. Or you can purchase foreclosed properties and flip them, renovating and selling the homes for a profit. The time has never been better to use the real estate market to your advantage

If you are thinking about taking advantage of the record number of foreclosures, please give RedSign.com a call. We can answer questions regarding:

-Finding properties to buy
-Borrowing money to fund your purchase
-Determining your costs
-Buying pre-foreclosures and buying at auction
-Buying through a bank or the government
-Tax and legal issues
-Bankruptcy
-Dealing with the property's former owner

And everything else from A to Z. For a free emailed list of foreclosures in your neighborhood Call Me TODAY!

All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor You Want!

10 Best Cities for the Next Decade

10 Best Cities for the Next Decade

We live in challenging times. Unemployment remains high, and the U.S. lead in technology and science is slipping as many foreign countries gain ground. But some U.S. cities, though slowed by the Great Recession, still thrive by lifting good old American innovation to new levels. And that will help put more Americans back to work and keep our international edge.

In Kiplinger's latest search for top cities, we focused on places that specialize in out-of-the-box thinking. "New ideas generate new businesses," says Kevin Stolarick, our numbers guru, who this year evaluated U.S. cities for growth and growth potential. Stolarick is research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity. "In the places where innovation works, it really works," he says.
After researching and visiting our 2010 Best Cities, it became clear that the innovation factor has three elements. Mark Emmert, president of the University of Washington in Seattle, put his finger on two of them: smart people and great ideas. But we'd argue that it's the third element -- collaboration -- that really supercharges a city's economic engine. When governments, universities and business communities work together, the economic vitality is impressive.
And it's no coincidence that economic vitality and livability go hand in hand. Creativity in music, arts and culture, plus neighborhoods and recreational facilities that rank high for "coolness," attract like-minded professionals who go on to cultivate a region's business scene. All of which make our 2010 Best Cities not just great places to live but also great places to start a business or find a job.


1. Austin, Tex.
Austin is arguably the the country's best crucible for small business, offering a dozen community programs that form a neural network of business brainpower to help entrepreneurs. Now overlay that net with a dozen venture-capital funds and 20 or so business associations, plus incubators, educational opportunities and networking events. Mix all these elements in what many call a classless society, where hippie communalism coexists with no-nonsense capitalism, and you've got a breeding ground for start-ups.
Don't discount the fun factor: In the self-proclaimed live-music capital of the world, music and business creativity riff off one another. The city's famous South by Southwest festival, where concerts, independent film screenings and emerging technology overlap, is a prime example.


2. Seattle, Wash.
Rain City? We'd say Brain City. Home to a well-educated workforce, a world-class research university, über innovators Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing, and a host of risk-taking, garage-tinkering entrepreneurs, Seattle crackles with creative energy. "We only have two products here: smart people and great ideas," says Mark Emmert, president of the University of Washington.
Seattle is revising its tax, zoning and permit policies to make them more business-friendly. Meanwhile, this sophisticated Pacific Rim city has other qualities to recommend it, including great food, a glorious setting, an outdoorsy culture, and, yes, enough rain to keep the locals' complexions looking dewy.


3. Washington, D.C.
Every tourist knows postcard D.C., the city that is home to the White House, the Capitol and all those free Smithsonian museums. But those who live in D.C. know better. The region is chock-full of job prospects, entertainment venues and great neighborhoods, and it is booming. Eleven of the 25 richest counties in the U.S. are located in the region, which also boasts a low unemployment rate.


4. Boulder, Colo.
Boulder is a wealthy, intellectual hot spot where environmental and scientific ideas blossom into businesses. Three economic drivers power Boulder: the University of Colorado, federal research laboratories and more than 6,600 small businesses and corporations, all woven into an entrepreneurial fabric.
The city is also a mecca for those seeking healthy, active lifestyles. Outdoors enthusiasts can grab a lunch-hour workout on the city's 150 miles of hiking and biking trails located throughout the 45,000 acres of open-space land surrounding the city.


5. Salt Lake City, Utah
You can't beat the cost of living and doing business in Salt Lake City. Utah has relatively low wages, taxes and operating costs. Plus, it doesn't hurt that "our offices are 15 minutes away from four ski resorts," says one local employer.
The Salt Lake valley offers a variety of distinctive neighborhoods that boast walking-friendly centers. They provide a small-town feel within steps of the heart of the city. For those who crave a busier setting, downtown living is about to get a lot more popular.


6. Rochester, Minn.
Rochester is built on the world-renowned Mayo Clinic's rock-solid foundation, and, in return, the community serves as great hosts and hostesses to 2.7 million visitors each year (many of them Mayo patients).
Synergy among the city's resources has been well cultivated and is paying dividends. Take, for instance, the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, formed in 2003 between Mayo and the University of Minnesota at Rochester to spawn new businesses. More than 20 technology-related firms have opened up in Rochester over the past ten years. Recognizing the depth of resources in the area, the city opened the Minnesota BioBusiness Center in spring 2009 -- providing room to grow in the form of 150,000 feet of office space. The center, located a block from both the Mayo Clinic and the university, represents the city's aspiration to build an even stronger bioscience and medical-research community. "If there's a theme to what we're doing here, it's collaboration."


7. Des Moines, Iowa
There's more to Des Moines than agricultural jobs. A likely worker shortage sparked by retiring baby-boomers has lit a fire under Des Moines's civic leaders. The city is working to lure back young Iowans and attracting global talent by developing its downtown and promoting the jobs available in the many industries that flourish there. Other big draws: low-cost housing, plus the city's long-touted reputation for family-friendliness and a "19-minute commute."


8. Burlington, Vt.
Burlington's local-food movement perhaps best tells the story of how environmentalism drives much of the city's economic growth. Many shops and restaurants along Burlington's Church Street Marketplace, the famous pedestrian mall, serve up local goodies. A couple blocks over, the City Market/Onion River Co-Op, a community-owned grocery store, offers more than 1,000 Vermont products. (And atop the supermarket, generating 3% of the Co-Op's energy needs -- enough electricity to power six Burlington homes -- are 136 solar panels from groSolar, another Vermont-based company.) And the crown jewel for locavores: The Intervale Center is a nonprofit organization that has managed 350 acres of family-owned farmland in Burlington since 1988 and provides 10% of the town's food. "We're 30 years ahead of the country with the local-food movement."


9. West Hartford, Conn.
Community is key in West Hartford, a place where you actually know your neighbors. But this once-sleepy suburb of Connecticut's capital is not content to be merely an idyllic place to live and raise a family (it is, by the way). West Hartford made our list because it is transforming itself from a suburb into a destination -- in this case, a regional destination for shopping and dining. Small business is the new game in town, and everyone is playing.

10. Topeka, Kan.
In its reserved, midwestern way, Topeka has engineered a prosperity that most cities of similar size would envy. As the capital city of Kansas, nearly 25% of Topeka's workforce is employed by the government, providing a stable job market where unemployment has stayed around 7%. The city boasts quality schools, friendly people, good hospitals, a university and -- one of its biggest selling points -- low housing costs.
From Kiplinger Finance Magazine, May 2010

The FHA Loan

The FHA Loan

In 1934, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was created by the National Housing Act for the primary purpose of insuring long-term residential mortgage loans and, thereby, promoting home ownership in the United States. Today, the FHA is the largest government insurer of mortgages in the world.

FHA loans have surged in popularity. In 2005, government-backed FHA loans represented about 2.8% of total loans originated. Today, the number is closer to 30%. Over the past couple of years, as credit standards tightened, FHA loans have become the loan of choice for many homebuyers.

Contributing to the popularity of FHA loans is that the maximum loan amount limit has increased from $417,000 to as much as $729,750, depending on the county in which the home is located. Also, if you qualify for a loan, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratios are potentially higher than those for conventional mortgage loans. With FHA loans, a buyer can borrow up to 96.5% of the value of a home. The potential for a higher LTV also makes FHA loans an attractive option for homeowners wanting to refinance. And FHA loans come with fixed mortgage rates providing stable payments over the life of the loan. Also, FHA closing costs can be financed into the total amount of the mortgage.

Traditionally, FHA mortgages were used to assist first-time homebuyers who may not have otherwise qualified for a loan. But FHA loans are no longer just for first-time homebuyers. They are increasingly used by move-up buyers. The only restriction is that a purchaser may have only one FHA loan at a time.

If you would like to learn more about the FHA loan process — and how it might help you move into a new home — please call me today.

I have closed 4 FHA loans in May. I can help you get yours as well!

Tips on How to Fix Your House Up to Sell

Tips on How to Fix Your House Up to Sell

By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, May 27, 2010--With the summer buying and selling season just around the corner, now is the time to think about how you can create a lasting first impression with potential buyers. Here are 8 simple tips that will help your home stand out from the crowd.

Open the drapes and blinds. Sunshine is the world's best decorator and nothing is more depressing than walking into a home where shades, curtains and drapes are closed.

Wash the windows - inside and out. For the same reasons as above, no other small improvement will give you more bang than this.

Clean up the yard. Cut back overgrown shrubs, particularly those that obscure windows or make it difficult to get to the front door. Mow the grass, rake or pick up downed leaves and branches, put away lawn tools, kids' toys and discard or store any outdoor furniture that is rusty or ragged. If season and funds permit, put down some colorful annuals or put a few nicely planted containers on or near the front porch.

Clutter Control. De-cluttering and organizing your home is very important and not just to make the place look neat. A cluttered home looks smaller and less airy. All of the pictures, knick-knacks, even an exquisite art collection are distracting to many buyers.

Clean your kitchen and bathrooms – Be sure to pay attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen may be old but it can still sparkle. Clean the stovetop with a good degreaser and all countertops to remove stains and discoloration. Wash the front of all cupboards and appliances and keep the floor swept and scrubbed for as long as the home is on the market. De-clutter here too, especially the refrigerator door. Ditch countertop appliances, canisters, etc and keep cupboard doors and drawers closed if your hand is not actually in them. It is critical that the bathrooms sparkle. Old bathrooms can be charming and a new shower curtain or fresh flowers on the counter may be all you need. Put out your best towels and, if you have young children, enforce the flush rule.

Refinish hardwood floors. These are a major selling point when selling your home and sometimes a home's most compelling feature. Often they don't need complete refinishing, just to be roughed up and polyurethaned to obtain that killer shine.

Paint/Repaint Your Home. If your taste in decorating is a bit strong, it may pay to hire a professional to tone down some of the more dramatic color rooms. Neutral colors are best for marketing your home for sale.

Buy, borrow or rent what you need. If your furniture shows the effect of raising five kids or if pets have ruined the rugs and upholstery, think about storing or getting rid of your existing furniture and finding just enough more attractive stuff to get by. If your nest is empty and the kids' rooms are beaten up, throw out the furniture, give the walls a quick wash coat of paint and put one or two small flea market pieces - a hobby horse, a bean-bag chair, the old bassinette from the attic - in the room to merely suggest its use.

Let me help you sell your home! Call me if You want to know what you cna get for your home today! All"Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you want!

The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program

The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program

Trying to reduce the rising number of foreclosures in the U.S., the Treasury Department introduced a new federal program that makes it easier to process a short sale for people unable to keep their homes.

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) streamlines the process for doing a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure for distressed homeowners who do not qualify for a federal home loan modification through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) or have missed consecutive payments after a modification.

The HAFA program started April 5, 2010, and ends December 31, 2012. Federal rules require servicers participating in HAMP to implement HAFA. The new program also requires borrowers to be released fully from future liabilities related to their first mortgage, including cash contributions, promissory notes and deficiency judgments.

Participation in HAFA cannot save homeowners from losing their property, but it can eliminate the effects of a foreclosure on their credit. Financial incentives for program participation include a $1,000 servicing bonus for lenders and a $1,500 relocation bonus for displaced homeowners. Lenders of other subordinate liens (e.g., HELOCs) may be allowed to keep a limited portion of the proceeds (up to $3,000 each) of a short sale, with the first-lien lender’s approval.

HAFA is designed for homeowners who have applied to HAMP for assistance but have had no success with their loan modification program. To participate in HAFA, homeowners must still meet HAMP’s eligibility criteria: home is principal residence; first-lien mortgage is in delinquency or default is reasonably foreseeable; loan closed before January 1, 2009; unpaid balance is under $729,750; and the mortgage payment is over 31% of gross income.

For more information on HAFA, go to the following link:
hmpadmin.com/portal/programs/foreclosure_alternatives.html

Work smarter, not harder! Here's how.

Work smarter, not harder! Here's how.

Who isn't strapped for time? These days everyone's dealing with a ton of issues every day. Here are some tips from the experts on how to get the maximum done in the minimum time.

1. Stop multitasking. It's easy to get drawn into this modern work habit, with phone calls, emails and social networks clamoring for our attention -- along with all the work we have to do. But studies show multitasking doesn't necessarily increase productivity or help us get things done more quickly. The best approach is to work on just one task at a time till it's finished.

2. Eliminate unprofitable clients. If people take up way more of your time than they're worth, be realistic and let them go elsewhere. These clients are costing you money as well as time -- and keeping you away from more profitable opportunities.

3. Stay focused. Set aside time for work without phone, email or online interruptions. To keep yourself focused and efficient, set time limits for finishing tasks. Try using a timer, but be realistic with your estimates.

4. Delegate. If you're not good at something, or don't have time for it, hand it off! See if the job can be given to someone in your organization or outsourced to a virtual assistant (VA). VAs are available for everything from setting up social networking, to doing blogs, newsletters and online marketing. Or hire an intern. Check with local colleges, social networks, Craigslist or LinkedIn.

5. Document your processes. Write down the steps you take for key tasks you regularly do. This eliminates working out how to do something over and over again and ensures your efforts are consistent. A written-out process is also a big help if you hire someone or outsource the task.

6. Look for new opportunities. Example: a Realtor in New York may use search.twitter.com to get leads for their business, searching key terms like "moving to New York."

7. Phone efficiently. Keep phone calls short and on topic. Don't let the phone interrupt you when working on a project that requires concentration -- let all calls go to voicemail.

8. Manage your emailing. Keep separate work and personal email accounts. Do not check personal emails unless you're taking a break or finished work for the day. Set specific times to check your business emails and don't respond to them immediately unless they're urgent. Wait until you can answer them all.

9. Schedule time for yourself. To work your best, you need to feel your best. Make sure you stay active and enjoy your family, friends and personal pursuits. Book the time for these things -- and don't cancel!

Short Sale: The Basics

Short Sale: The Basics

A short sale is when a home is sold for less than the amount owed on the mortgage for the home. This occurs when the bank agrees to take less than the full amount due on the mortgage.

A seller does not have to be behind on a home loan to seek a short sale. If sellers wish to pursue a short sale, they must owe more than what the home is worth, demonstrate the house cannot be sold for the amount owed, and suffer from a legitimate financial hardship that makes the mortgage unaffordable.

The next step in the short sale process is to assemble a short sale package. This package will include such things as a financial statement showing monthly expenses, income documentation, bank statements, tax returns, a listing agreement, purchase agreement, an estimated HUD statement and a financial hardship letter.

If the home is sold as part of a short sale, there will be a difference between the amount owed and what the bank collects. This is called the shortage or the deficiency. Sometimes this deficiency may be negotiable. Some banks will seek a promissory note for the deficiency, meaning that the seller may be responsible to pay the difference between what the home sold for and what is owed to the lender. Some lenders might choose to file a collection or a judgment for the amount owed. The seller should be certain that any amount of debt, or release from debt, is received in writing. If the deficiency is forgiven, the lender can write off the shortage with the IRS, which means the seller may be responsible for paying taxes on the amount of the deficiency. However, the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally allows taxpayers the potential for relief from tax on mortgage debt forgiveness.

A short sale will affect the seller’s credit score. To minimize the effect on a credit score, sellers should avoid making late payments on their mortgage and work with the bank to report the sale in the best possible manner.

We are not a law firm, nor an accounting firm, nor a credit repair organization. For advice regarding potential tax liability or credit scores, please consult a tax attorney or an accountant

This is what is going on in the market! Let me Guide you through one if you need to get out before you loose it to the bank! Call me!

TAX TIME: Hooray for Homeowners!

TAX TIME: Hooray for Homeowners!



Your first reaction when you think of taxes may not be “hurray,” but if you’re a homeowners and you have made certain improvements to your property during the past year, you very well many have cause to celebrate.



The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extended many consumer energy tax incentives. So if you purchase and installed energy-efficient windows, for example, you may qualify for a tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to $1,500.



Not all products, however, qualify for a tax credit. To see if you can take advantage of this savings, visit www.energystar.gov and look for the button that says “Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency” on the home page. Or go to www.dcireusa.org . The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The Art of Active Listening

The Art of Active Listening


Listening carefully to those closest to you will bring you much success and power. Sound like a fortune cookie? Maybe, but this token of wisdom is what separates good sales people from the great. Mastering the art of active listening will help you nurture your customer relationships, build trust with new clients and ultimately help to grow sales.

Simply stated, active listening is the difference between hearing and listening. Active listeners identify with and validate their customers by rephrasing what they've heard and repeating it back. With active listening, you gain the power to fill your customers' needs and close the sale.

Make a powerful impact with your clients when you follow these active-listening strategies:

Stay focused — Lock your focus in on the customer. Avoiding distractions like cell phones and email shows your clients that your sole focus is their needs.

Show them you understand — Restate what your customer has to say in a new way to show you've listened. Not only will you validate your client, but this may build further dialogue.

Take Notes — Create a form that you can fill in during meetings. Make sure you transfer the key details to your customer database — you'll send a powerful message when you're able to present these details back to your client in future communications.

Develop your listening skills by employing these strategies during each step of the sales process, from approach through close. Listening is power; master the art of active listening and find your own fortune.

I will allways listen to your needs! Call me so I can prove this!

Social media for busy professionals

Social media for busy professionals


Online social media networks are becoming very important to the people we want to reach. For the week ending March 13, Facebook was reported as the most visited Web site in the U.S. This was the first time it surpassed Google for an entire week!

No wonder more and more business professionals are using social media. But it does take time. To make sure you're using that time well, here are some tips to get the most out of online networks.

1. Keep your eye on the goal. The ultimate goal in using a social media platform is to get involved in conversations that create online relationships or produce followers for your business.

2. Schedule specific times for social media each day. Experts suggest spending 30 minutes on social media in the morning after checking emails and 30 minutes later in the day. It may be hard at first to do everything you want in 30 minutes, but you will get more efficient as time goes on. Keeping to an hour a day means you're not taking time from the other important things you do for your business.

3. Use a social media drip marketing site. This lets you easily post links to multiple social media networks. An example is hootsuite.com.

4. Maintain a source list. This has the top 10 sites you visit for content -- news sites, recreational sites, your own Web site or blog. Visit these daily for links to content you want to share.

5. Post useful content daily. Mix items of personal interest with items of business interest.

6. Act interested. Take a few minutes each day to comment on things your friends or fans have posted.

7. Be interesting. Post cool photos, ask thought-provoking questions, share surprising facts and insights. Social media is like a dinner party. Be the guest everyone wants to talk to.

Always remember, practice makes perfect. You don't have to spend lots of time on social media, but do put some time into it every day. That's how to make it a client and prospect touchpoint with real marketing power.

Let me know If there is anything I can do to help you make your move in Real Estate!

All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you want!

ZIP Realty Post $2.1 M 4Q Loss

ZIP Realty Post $2.1 M 4Q Loss

Here is an article from Inman. They ONLY LOSS $12.9 million in '09

Well in the last two years they lost about $26 million dollars. That means they are looking to cut cost wherever they can. Now if they are giving you a rebate and they have to cut cost too. So let me ask you this, is that the type agent and company you want handling your equity? Of course not... let's do the right thing... and simply... sign the contract... so I can help you get what you want in the time you want... won't that be great?

Here is the article


ZipRealty Inc. boosted revenue by 14.6 percent in 2009, to $120.7 million, helping the company trim its annual loss to $12.9 million, down 3.4 percent from 2008.

In the final three months of the year, the Emeryville, Calif.-based brokerage company handled 6,355 transactions, a 46.6 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

Revenue was up less dramatically, growing 35.4 percent to $33.9 million, as average net revenue per transaction fell by 7.6 percent from a year ago, to $5,199.

ZipRealty nevertheless posted a $2.1 million loss for the quarter, down from $2.7 million a year ago.

At the end of the year, the company employed 3,085 agents, up 9.5 percent from the same time a year ago, but down 3.7 percent from the 3,205 agents employed at the end of September.

In a press release, ZipRealty President and Chief Executive Officer Pat Lashinsky said the company is committed to continued growth in market share and listings, and will target referral revenue by "partnering with brands that are relevant to our growing user base."

He said key metrics driving the improved results for 2009 included record Web site visits, higher agent productivity and growing transaction volumes.

ZipRealty expects the trend to continue, projecting that net revenues for 2010 will grow between 10 percent and 20 percent over 2009 levels, and that the company will continue to narrow its net loss.

For the week of March 1, 2010

For the week of March 1, 2010

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE

New home sales fell 11.2% in January to a record low level. Existing home sales weren't very pretty either, down 7.2%, though they're UP 11.5% over a year ago. Let's remember that last Fall we all thought the tax credit was going away at the end of November. Many sales got pushed into October and November, causing sales drops the next two months. But the median new home price is down just 2.4% year over year and the average price is now UP 3.7%. For an existing home, the median price is unchanged from a year ago and the average price is UP 2.6%. More evidence home prices are stabilizing, with some analysts expecting modest gains for the year. Supporting this, the Case-Shiller home price index was UP 0.3% in December, its seventh straight monthly rise.

Even more interesting was the news that this has actually been a very good decade for home prices. From January 2000 to December 2009, prices were UP 46%, making residential real estate a clearly profitable investment. And that's not even factoring in the mortgage interest and real estate tax deductions homeowners get!

Finally, we've reported that the Fed will stop buying mortgage bonds at the end of this month and experts feared rates may edge up. Now analysts say mortgage rates might not move much at all. This stems from the fairly calm market reaction to last week's hike of the Fed's discount lending rate (which is NOT the key Fed funds rate). Seeing little or no move in today's low mortgage rates is good news for the near term.

>> Review of Last Week
MINOR SLIP... Another volatile week on Wall Street, as investors drove stock prices down two days, then up two days, with all three major indexes slipping just slightly for the week. Things got off to a weak economic start with Consumer Confidence dropping sharply in February, much like the temporary drop in January 1996 when, curiously, there was another big blizzard on the East Coast.

Folks didn't much like the drop in new home sales either, but good news did come with the Richmond Fed Index, which showed that manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region went from -2 in January to +2 in February. Then there was Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's monetary policy report to Congress, which he serves up every six months. Bernanke assured everyone rates will remain low, a message loved by investors.

The up-and-down news continued with durable goods UP a solid 3.0% for January, showing business is investing in equipment, usually a precursor to their investing in jobs. Not just yet, though, as weekly unemployment claims edged up a tad. Then Friday we had the blockbuster news that real GDP for Q4 was revised UP to a 5.9% annual growth rate. People who still can't see a recovery should also look at the Chicago PMI. This gauge of Midwest manufacturing hit a five-year high of 62.6 for February.

For the week, the Dow was down 0.7%, to 10325.26; the S&P 500 was down 0.4%, to 1104.49; while the Nasdaq skidded down 0.3%, to 2238.26.

Bonds ended the week pretty nicely as investors sought safety in a week featuring strong Treasury auctions. The FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond we watch ended UP 87 basis points, closing at $101.09. As a national average, mortgage rates inched up a little, but still remain at very low levels.

>> This Week’s Forecast
INFLATION, MANUFACTURING, HOMES, JOBS... This week has everything! We start off with PCE, the Fed's favorite reading on inflation, followed by the ISM take on the state of manufacturing, a sector that's been leading the recovery. Thursday, Pending Home Sales looks to the near future of the housing market. Then the week ends with the all-important February jobs report. We will be looking for some encouraging signs on that front.

Remember that ALL Real Estate is Local! Laet me know if I cna help you!

No more Transaction Fees- Just a percentage and a Flat Fee

No more Transaction Fees- Just a percentage and a Flat Fee

Below is an article from Inman News

Real estate brokerages may collect both percentage-based commissions and flat fees, disclosing the combined charges on a single line of the HUD-1 settlement statement, as long as the charges are spelled out in the real estate broker's listing agreement or buyer's broker agreement.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's top lawyer, Helen Kanovsky, detailed procedures for disclosing real estate broker and agent commission fees in a Jan 22nd letter to Jay Varon, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney who represents real estate brokerages.

HUD, in rolling out a new standardized disclosure forms under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) last year, "probably wasn't as explicit as it could have been in saying there's nothing wrong with charging a flat-fee component as well as a (percentage-based) commission," Varon said. "Now there is no doubt that it can be done."

Varon is one of the lawyers defending JRHBW Realty Inc., a brokerage that does business in Alabama as RealtySouth, in an ongoing class-action lawsuit over a $149 "Administrative Brokerage Commission" the company instituted in 2003.

The lawsuit alleges RealtySouth violated RESPA by collecting a fee for which "no service is rendered," or "a duplicate fee for services already rendered" from more than 30,000 clients Many agents have also questioned such fees, which have been instituted by numerous brokerages.

But Varon and other RESPA experts say brokerages can avoid lawsuits by making clear that the fees are part of the brokerages' overall commission, and not a separate fee for specific activities like record-keeping, operating a Web site, or administrative services.

On listing agreements and buyer's broker agreements, they say, the commission should be defined as equal to "X" percent of the sales price plus "Y" dollars on buyer agreements and listing agreements.

The total dollar amount of the resulting commission is entered on Line 700 of the HUD-1 settlement statement, Kanovsky said.

HUD had previously provided a space on the HUD-1 to enter the percentage used to compute the sales commission. On the new HUD-1, only a dollar amount is entered. That caused some confusion about reporting commissions based on both a percentage of the sales price and a flat fee.

The issue is addresed only in passing on a "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) guide HUD offers on a http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/res/respa_hm.cfm at HUD.gov.

"The percentage used to compute the sales commission has been removed from the HUD-1 to better reflect current practices in the real estate industry," the FAQ says.

HUD supplied a copy of Kanovsky's letter to Inman News without comment. Copies of the letter were also sent to Joseph Ventrone, the National Association of Realtors' vice president of regulatory affairs and real estate services, and Susan Johnson, executive director of the Real Estate Services Providers Council Inc. (RESPRO).

Kanovsky warned that her letter "does not constitute a rule, regulation, or interpretation" of law, and that "no person may rely on it to provide protection from liability under RESPA" or regulations HUD has put in place to implement the law.

If the total real estate broker fees on the HUD-1 exceed the amount in the real estate broker's or agent's listing agreement -- or, if applicable, the buyer's broker agreement -- Kanovsky said HUD might review the excess charge to determine whether additional services were provided.

"Any charge for which no or nominal services are performed or for which duplicative fees are charged would violate RESPA," HUD's general counsel said.

If a listing broker charges a buyer an administrative fee without having a contractual relationship with the buyer, the broker might be violating RESPA, she said.

HUD's new procedures won't help RealtySouth defend itself from the class-action lawsuit filed by its former client, Vicki Busby, on behalf of herself and other clients. RESPA allows injured parties to claim triple damages, and according to the most recent filings in the case, claims could total about $13 million.

But Varon said Kanovsky's letter should help other firms avoid such pitfalls by providing "a clear road map for how brokers can charge both percentage and flat fees without runing afoul of RESPA."

"I think the main thing I, and a lot of my clients will take away from this, is that it takes away the uncertainty the Busby case has raised about whether you can do this," Varon said. "I think you can."