HEART TO HEART

"'I'M BANGING OUT' OR TAKING A BREAK UNTIL THE NEW YEAR"

DID YOU EVER HEAR OF BANGING OUT...........I heard that expression years ago from a guy from Jersey City, when he would call in sick he was "banging out"!  ............ My way of thinking right now is I am taking a break until after the New Year, this year was the worst I have seen in more then 20 years in Real Estate, It started up rotten and just kept going.......................I have decided to just enjoy the next couple of weeks and see all my (friends) and fellow Realors' and celebrate the worst year ever in Real Estate. It truly is a national thing..............they should give us our own holiday like Labor Day, we can call it "Independent Contractors Day" or better known as no pay day. No sale, no commission.

We did lots of charity work this year, paid to advertise houses that we knew were very iffy to sell for what they were listed for, a loss, negotiated every way possible, by giving the selling agent the better part of the commission or perhaps just begging or have the seller offer a bonus (sizable) whatever it took to have the house sold, another loss, "we don't know all but, we can run the true comps on your property ". The sellers' do not like us anymore as a matter of fact neither do the buyers' because they can't understand why "in this market" they; meaning the seller will not accept at least $100,000 less then the asking price.

I am a people person and a dreamer, so now I think I will just make believe this year did not happen. I will forgive the names I was called I will take one for my profession and also I need to concentrate on the sellers' that have to be sold quickly; it would be called a Short Sale. My thought is if you are not compelled to sell, maybe you should take your home off the market, and stay with us right here!!!   

It's the holidays I have friends who were in positions' of power (salaried +) with BIG companies when this year started they were sought of like the stepford wives. They have since been kicked to the curb, put on unemployment after many years of service all due to this horrible market there was no way they could be blamed for that, not their fault, nor their agents fault. I dodged that bullet by taking myself out of that situation a year ago September and taking a chance on my own. I have to admit it took at least 6 months for me to relax without having to answer to anyone about my performance or how I present "the company image" what I wear, etc. I call them Traditional Real Estate, I could go on forever about them and how we all were believers' in what they offered Agents' each one was a cut above the rest, right?  That was until the market soared and the homes had to be advertised more than two or three times...........................

I am under the biggest franchise name of all RE/MAX  I am my own boss and sometimes, I wear jeans, how's that big company.  Sometimes I am in the pool or at the movies or even out on the golf course and get a lead on my cell, I don't have to sit in the office and answer the phone anymore, it still rings, I don't have to put the extra miles on my car or waste my gas to go and sit to do "floor time" for no money. My leads just come right to my cell 24/7. I love this freedom, I should have done this years ago; for once I know I made the right decision. We will be back on top New Jersey, next year  ..................

In the meantime, I am going to see my friends and family and enjoy what is left and I am going to see how bad the market is in Florida and visit my in-laws and see all my nieces and nephews and the babies. I have many old friends also in Florida that became (2 State) we call them snowbird Realtors' and had a wonderful career going 6 here 6 there; until this market took them down. I am getting my Florida Brokers' License as we speak. I am also buying a home in Florida, see I trust the future.  List your home with me next year, I will make it happen for you!!!

I just ordered 2000 new business cards for next year want one, I'm ready, I will be passing them out all the way to Florida and back.

This is from a great Mortgage Broker, I know; I may be back before the Holidays' otherwise HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY 

"WE'RE SO BUSY WATCHING OUT FOR WHAT'S JUST AHEAD OF US...THAT WE DON'T TAKE TIME TO ENJOY WHERE WE ARE." Bill Watterson in the comic strip, Calvin & Hobbes And while these are certainly wise words for the upcoming holiday season - they also aptly describe the mood in the market.

Another interesting bit of recent news is that major mortgage entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be moving to "Risk Based" pricing models, meaning that consumers with credit scores that traditionally have been considered "average" may soon be subject to higher interest rates. The best defense is always a good offense - so get in touch with a mortgage person to discuss your own credit, even if you don't necessarily have the need for a home loan in the cards at this moment.

WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

If you're like most Americans, quite a few credit cards, that are already getting warmed up for upcoming gift buying sprees. In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of credit card issuers, and perhaps more confusingly, the types of rewards being offered with those credit cards. So now, not only do you need to consider the rate and terms of your credit card...but what rewards or other benefits it offers. So what types are out there - and which is best for you?

Airline Miles: If you travel frequently, then maximizing your airline miles may be the very best reward. And if you primarily fly on a single carrier, you will do the best to take their affiliated credit card, as they typically offer 'bonus' opportunities to earn extra miles. If you do fly multiple carriers, you may need to use another option, but most reward cards offer airline miles as a choice. But watch carefully, as there are usually restrictions or blackout dates on when you may be unable to use your rewards-earned airline miles.

Cash Back: Discover was the first card to offer a cash back incentive program, and in fact, that marked the beginning of rewards programs in general. There are several items to consider when focusing in on cash back cards, most importantly being the fine print. Some of the better cash back offers do have tiers where you do not earn the most cash back until after certain amounts of spending on a yearly basis. So if you do not use your credit card very often or do not spend enough to make the required spending levels, you can lose out.

Store Cards: Cards issued by particular merchants can be some of the most valuable cards out there if you are a frequent shopper at that store. Typically, you will be given special offers or invitations to sales events, discounted prices, even up to 5% cash back or earned gift cards with that store.

Points Cards: Many rewards cards offer general purpose points that can be redeemed for a wide variety of items, including airline miles, cash back, gift cards from a variety of places, gifts to charity or simply merchandise. These cards can be very beneficial due to the flexibility that they offer - but here are a few general suggestions.

First, do not buy merchandise directly from the reward program. These products, often electronics, are routinely of poor quality or old models. Best way to purchase is to redeem your points for a gift card at a store you can buy the item at, which generally provides more bang for your points than straight cash back anyways. Next, look carefully at all of the reward levels, as sometimes you can get a better reward ratio if you save up your points over time. For example, 1000 points often translates to a $5 gift card, but saving up 6000 points may translate into a $50 gift card - ten times the value for only six times the points! Last, some vendors offer a statement credit versus a cash rebate - and generally offer a higher dollar amount for a credit rather than cash, although the money spends just the same.

The most important advice is to look carefully at the cards you are presently carrying - and know the terms and benefits. If you would like me to help you look over your credit situation in general and ensure that your debt is positioned properly - just give me a call. I am glad to help, and have strategies and suggestions that might make your credit situation much merrier this holiday season.

Best Regards,
 

Published Friday, December 07, 2007 6:47 PM by Kathy Stanavitch QSC,ABR,CDPE