We Did It Again Group Blog

What Realtors can learn from Football

2009-11-01T20:53:00.001-06:00

Are You Ready to "Tackle" Your Way to the Top?

Thankfully, the college football season kicked off this past week. As a huge sports fan, this just may be my favorite time of year. Between college football, professional football (kicking off this week), baseball pennant races, the PGA and NASCAR playoffs and hockey training camps, the Fall is a great time to be a sports fan. It's also a great time to be a Realtor.

Proper Expectations are Created During the Recruiting Process

When you became a Realtor, what were your expectations? My guess is no one gets started hoping to be "just average." Maybe you didn't necessarily want to be the superstar but you certainly wanted to be on a great team and have a chance to earn playing time.

College programs look for players with the right skills, work ethic and personalities that they can combine with the players they already have and the systems they run to continue to work towards a championship season. It also helps to understand a team's "system" so they can make sure the players that are recruited will fit in nicely. They promise to train, coach, provide maximum exposure to the best tools available and welcome you to their school and family of alumni, fans and supporters.

Real estate brokers should be doing the same thing, especially in today's ever-changing landscape. If you're with a full service company, you probably met with a Branch Manager or Recruiting Coordinator who discussed how the company can help you get to where you want to be with substantial training, coaching, maximum Internet exposure and national branding.

Training Camp - Turning "Role Play" into "Game Play"

I have never heard of many players who look forward to the grueling days of pre-season training camp. Sure, they are excited to be back with their teammates, back on campus (their "home away from home") and just weeks away from starting another season. In August, everyone starts with an equal chance of hoisting the National Championship trophy at the end of the season. But unless they love pain, they're never looking forward to two-a-day practices, wind sprints and coaches in their faces for three weeks.

It is clearly evident once the season kicks off that the players (and teams) who give 100% effort in this phase of their season will earn the biggest payoff once the games begin. As the old saying "practice the way you play" infers, the more you can put yourself in "game situations," the more prepared you'll be.

Does your company offer a thorough training program? Do you take advantage of training opportunities such as scripting sessions, skill building workshops and on-line educational opportunities? Do you have a written business plan showing how your "season" is going to play out? Are you "lifting weights" by practicing scripts, learning about contractual changes and studying market inventory so when you're in a game situation, you'll react accordingly?

Just like most football players don't like the sweat equity required in August, they know it will help them in the trenches of a close battle with a equally prepared conference foe late in the season.

Will you be ready when face-to-face with a Seller who has a tough objection? Will you be confident when a co-op agent send you a counter offer and tells you you're in "multiple offers"? Will your training help you "act" like a skilled professional instead of "react" like a Rookie when it counts?

Preseason Rankings Matter...But That's Why They Play the Games

Do you ever wonder how people who are part of those pre-season rankings determine who gets their votes? Do they base it on the number of players returning each season? Do they look at the schedules of each team and try to determine the number of wins and losses each team will have? Do they vote for their favorites or perhaps their alma mater?

It certainly helps to start the season towards the top of the rankings because if you do what you're supposed to do (i.e. win games), you'll be at the top when the season ends. If you lose however, you'll need to climb back over people...sometimes with victory and sometimes with a little pizazz and P.R. for good measure.

Much of a team's pre-season rankings can be attributed to their reputation. Can the media (or those voting) count on you handle the pressures of a big game or will they assume you'll choke in a pressure situation? Many people didn't think BYU could beat Oklahomaduring opening week but a untimely injury to Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford and a determined effort by Max Hall and his underdog BYU Cougars led to the first big upset of this season.

What does your personal marketing say about you? Will people have a preconceived belief about you before they meet you? Are you playing for one of the "big names" in town or will you need to have a few "upsets" to start becoming known as a challenger?

One thing is for sure - people love an underdog, so don't worry about your pre-season rankings. A skilled, confident and determined agent can deliver a quality presentation to any Buyer or Seller with the proper preparation. Just don't get caught reading your own press clippings and start believing how good you are. All it takes is one slip up to dramatically affect a season. Treat each client as if they are the only "game" on your schedule and deliver the services you know you can with enthusiasm, energy and service.

League championships and individual awards can't be won in week one but that can be lost. Titles aren't given out during the season just like commission checks won't be earned during a deal, so always be prepared for fourth quarter comebacks and pre-closing obstacles. Until the clock strikes zero or the HUD-1 statement has been signed, remember that the ball is still in play.

Your Schedule Plays a Big Role in Your Success

It's been said by many "experts" that Florida's schedule this season sets up well for the Gators to return to the National Championship game at the end of the season. As a Florida alum (Class of 1991) I am very proud and excited for our chances but will certainly reserve getting too excited until they arrive in Pasadena in January 2010.

In many cases, these schedules are determined years in advance, usually before any of the current players were even a candidate for recruitment. College players don't get to choose who they will play but once that first ball is kicked off in early September, play the games they must.

No questions asked, no excuses about "not being ready," and certainly a team would never just not show up.

A Realtor will be much more likely to succeed when they prepare and follow a consistent schedule. There are basically two sets of activities that should be on most Realtor's schedules: Business Development and Business Support.

What area do you think most agents spend their time on? That's right...business support. Where do you think they should be spending most of their time, effort and energy? You got it...business development.

You see, business support activities will never tell you "no!" Business support activities are easier and usually don't involve any self-esteem impacting events. But it won't take the business-saavy agent long to realize that without business development, there will be no "business" to support.

In addition to the weekly business meetings that will keep you updated with your office, company and industry, a schedule should involve prospecting activities (lead generation calls, follow up visits to FSBO's and Expired listings), listing appointments and buyer counseling sessions, showings and closings. It will also require time for coaching, training, script practice, follow up, inspections and computer research.

Just like a balanced team will need to practice offense, defense and special teams, a good Realtor should be sure to include personal activities into his or her schedule including things like church, children's activities and appointments.

Avoid the Big Injury

Just like Oklahoma will need to proceed without their Heisman Trophy winning QB Sam Bradfordfor an undetermined portion of their schedule, making sure you stay in "playing condition" throughout the season will be a huge key.

Be sure to find some time in your schedule for physical exercise, maintain a healthy diet and listen to your body. Until you've been in this business for a while, you never realize how exhausting the role of a Realtor can be. Don't succumb to the fast paced, fast food filled world of real estate. One sure way to avoid exhaustion is to drink plenty of fluids.

Buy In to What the Coaches Say...and Don't Believe What the Media Might Say

In football and in real estate, your coaches/managers are looking out for your best interests. Magazines, reporters and web sites are looking to sell papers or gain subscribers and readers.

Good coaches and managers will help hold you accountable to the activities needed to achieve the levels of success you desire or expect (see above). They will strive to show you how your actions can positively affect your future.

The media will usually provide detailed accounts of what wasn't done and who was negatively affected.

Only you can choose who you will listen to.

Play with Emotion...Play to Win

No matter how loud the crowd cheers or no matter how good the band sounds playing the fight song, the success of a team will be determined by how well it executes once the whistle blows. Don't winning teams play with passion and enthusiasm? Don't winning teams execute each and every play as if it determines the outcome of the game? Don't winning teams have leaders who step up and challenge their teammates, encouraging them to give it all they've got?

The same philosophy applies to Realtors. No mater how shiny your name tag, what type of car you drive or who designed your suit, it still boils down to how well you know how to deal with people. Are you excited to help people achieve their goals? Are you confident in your ability to help people solve their real estate problems? Do you believe you are the best person for the job?

It's Game Time

So there you have it...a few things that Realtors can learn from college football. As the cool temperatures of Fall arrive and people break out their college sweatshirts to cheer their schools on, think about the "big game" you're facing in your real estate career right now. We're just a few ticks away from the 4th quarter - where games are often won or lost. Will you be ready to execute when your number is called?

Good luck to you and your team as you move through the season.

Down...set...hike!

Technorati : football, real estate, realtor, robertjrussell
Del.icio.us : football, real estate, realtor, robertjrussell
Zooomr : football, real estate, realtor, robertjrussell
Flickr : football, real estate, realtor, robertjrussell

Luxury Real Estate

2009-10-29T05:34:00.001-05:00

While most luxury real estate marketing professionals are still reeling from the downturn in the market and working harder than ever just to keep up, some are seeing the enormous opportunity that the new era of the internet has to offer and they are starting to reach for the gold ring. Yes, there is a gold rush out there. But, what may not be obvious is what the new gold looks like and how to find it.

The new gold is all about identifying an uncontested niche in your marketplace where you can add extraordinary value; then staking your claim to ownership of that new market space. It is about cashing in on who you are, what you are most passionate about and leveraging the new media tools to reach and connect with your ideal clients in a focused manner.

What Is the Catch?

You need to know who you are, what you stand for, what you are passionate about what you can do better than anyone else in your marketplace. You need to discover you unique voice. Only then will the new media tools make any sense to you in terms of their potential to tap the gold reserve that awaits you. The tools are meaningless otherwise. Only when you become "follow-worthy" will you attract and retain your audience, and also convert that audience into cash flow.

You Must Discover Your Golden Voice

The blog is a great example of a new media tool that is useless without knowing your unique voice. Luxury real estate agents have been hearing, for a couple years, that they need to blog. They have been promised that Google will magically send traffic to their sites if they just spew "content". Never mind that the content that they are writing about or the stories they are reporting are of any interest to a target market. Forget the idea of original content. After mindlessly regurgitating other people's information, most agents abandon their blogs within 60 days concluding that it was a waste of time and was of little value in terms of generating immediate leads, let alone transactions.

What an awesome tool the blog is for those who have discovered their unique "golden" voice, a voice that is "follow-worthy"! Blogs offer anyone the opportunity to become a syndicated columnist because followers can subscribe to their "column", keep up on the latest installments and also engage in discussion with the author and other followers. Plus, it is virtually free! So, is the help you can get from your silent marketing partner, Google. Google wants to help create a perfect match between you and your potential audience, your ideal potential clients because they sell more ads when users experience better search results.

Right now, there is an abundance of unexploited marketing niches right under your nose, where you can become the undisputed market leader. But, you will not perceive these untapped "gold mines" if you do not know your own mind. You first need to discover your own golden voice.

For more information on Luxury & International Properties visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : elite, international, luxury, mls, robertjrussell
Del.icio.us : elite, international, luxury, mls, robertjrussell
Zooomr : elite, international, luxury, mls, robertjrussell
Flickr : elite, international, luxury, mls, robertjrussell

Can a Blog Help your Business ?

2009-10-26T21:02:00.001-05:00

So you have been thinking of creating a blog right ? Well, the time is now to get a blog. A blog, if done right, can act as a

direct and indirect mechanism that brings large amounts of qualified visitors to your site, many of whom may become customers.

This is mostly related to the way blogs interact with search engines and the traffic I am speaking of will come from search
engines, mostly Google.

Before I explain how you can do this to help your website, let me first give some background on how search engines work, Google in
particular.

When it comes to optimizing your website (or blog for that matter) for search engines you must always keep in mind two
things: on-page optimization and off-page optimization.

On-page optimization is the elements of a Web page that better optimize it to be found and ranked well in the search engines.
These elements can include on-page content such as the actual sentences and paragraphs on the page, the headlines (or headers
or Hx tags), the links, the links' text, the title tag and much more.

Off-page optimization means the things that are done on sites besides your own, namely link-building. Off-page optimization is
the process of creating links (or causing others to create links)on other websites that point to your site. Inbound links as these
are often called have a major impact on how well you rank in search engines. Generally speaking, the more inbound links, the
better. But the quality of the sites with these inbound links, or the way the search engines perceive the sites, is even more
important.

To rank on the first couple of pages on the search engines requires work on both on-page and off-page optimization.

Two additional and important pieces of information that you'll need to understand are related to site content and internal
links.

Search engines also very much love new, original and quality content, and they like to see your website regularly adding this
kind of new content. You don't need to add pages every day, just add pages at the same rate over time. So if you add a page a week
to your site, keep it at around that same pace, or increase or decrease gradually.

A website can be considered a living entity in a sense. It certainly shouldn't be static. It should grow over time. And the
fantastic thing about content is that the more of it there is on your site, the more chances you have of getting found in the
search engines.

The idea that inbound links help your search engine rankings that I explained above can be extended to your own internal pages as
well. In other words, the more links to a particular page coming from other pages within the same site will boost that page's
rank as well.

Think of it this way. If you had a ten page site, including a product page and every page on the site contained a link to your
product page and, if all other things were equal, your product page would rank higher than the rest of your site's pages (besides
the home page which is given a little extra weight).

Now let's consider what would happen if there were only you and your competitor in your industry (if only that could be true!)
and your site still had those ten pages while your competitor's site contained one hundred pages. Furthermore, your competitor
set it up the same way as you where he added a link to every page on his site that pointed to his product page. If all other things
were equal, his product page would outrank your product page every time. Why? Because he had 100 internal links pointing to his
product page and you only had 10.

If you put all these pieces together now, on-page optimization, off-page optimization or link building, content creation and
internal linking, can you begin to see why a blog may be a good thing? A blog helps with all of these.

A blog that is regularly updated is providing a mechanism for adding fresh content on a regular basis. Plus, it's so easy to
use a blog that anyone can use them, so even if you or your employees don't know a thing about Web pages and HTML, you'll
still be able to add new content to your site.

Consider this. If you add fresh, quality content to your blog on a regular basis by writing posts, something the search engines
love, and within each post you link to an important page within your site, let's say your product page for instance, you're now
building links to help your rankings using your blog. With this additional link your product page gets that much more boost in
the search engines.

Remember how I explained that links from within your own site help your rankings? Adding links within your blog posts pointing
back to your other important pages that you want to rank well is a great way to help your rankings.

And every time you publish a new post, you're giving the search engines one more entry point into your site. Your site will
quickly get bigger, and with each new page your site gets more visible.

Keep in mind that the links you make within your blog posts should be relevant. Only link to your product page from a post
that has to do with your products. And also, blog posts ought to be useful to your site visitors. The less you talk about your
products and instead offer useful, free information that people can use, the more traffic and repeat visitors you'll get.

Remember that people really don't care about you, your website or your products, they only care about how you can help them. If
you sell furniture, a blog post about how to find the best deals on furniture would be far better than a post about how your
chairs are the best in the world.

One important thing to remember is that if you plan on creating a new blog for your business as a way to augment your website be
sure you put the blog on your actual domain. This means that you would not use a remote service like Blogger.com. Instead, you
must have the blog on your business website's address (or domain). For example, if your website address is
http://www.yoursite.com/ then your blog should be located at http://www.yoursite.com/blog or http://blog.yoursite.com/

By adding a blog to your business website you are creating a way to get more traffic. You'll get direct traffic from your posts,
which get indexed by the search engines and drive traffic to your site from searches. And, you'll get indirect traffic from your
other site's pages ranking well in the search engines because they have links pointing to them from your blog posts.

You'll be regularly adding fresh content to your site, which search engines love, thereby creating more ways to be found in
the search engines at the same time. And each post provides a new opportunity to create a link or two to other pages and blog posts
on your site, thereby boosting those pages' rankings.

Like I suggested at the beginning, if your business website doesn't have a blog, go get one.

Visit http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : blog, internet, optimize, website
Del.icio.us : blog, internet, optimize, website
Zooomr : blog, internet, optimize, website
Flickr : blog, internet, optimize, website

A Day of Computer Prohibition!

2009-10-22T20:47:00.001-05:00

Imagine a day coming to the office and discovering that the Internet lines are down. Is it still possible for companies to operate in these circumstances? Definitely a bad day for the average company big or small, but these circumstances would be very different for the Internet marketer. Let us see why.

Not withstanding the fact that many big companies such as hospitals, airports managements do have their private "generators" to deal with such situations, the computer in the office world can be summed up in three grand chapters namely communications, information and data processing. For the Internet marketer, if these basics are obviously similar they do not tie him down to his computer due to him having created an automatic follow-up for the majority of them.

It would be interesting to test a day in the office with no Internet access. Are people still capable of hand-writing a message to their colleagues, using a flowchart or even conceiving one? How many offices out there have foreseen an emergency plan and are set-up for such a day, heaven forbid and is it conceivable? My point is that we are very much addicted to our computers granted that they do increase the speed of daily chores, they have albeit indeed stolen human contacts and personal touches and have made every monthly bill from these conglomerates all but humane.

Conversely, the Internet marketer - and we all need to be one* - should enjoy a day or two of computer prohibition sprinkled into our weekly lives. We would use that time very productively by visiting our friends, taking a walk and thereby doing some public relations (in a small manner) as well as taking a little distance from our business to conceive some possible improvements to its approach and future; business that in any case runs without our constant presence, because that is how it must be setup. One website, an auto-responder are the basics, and upon these two essentials an empire can be build with all compatible ramifications that in time get included. The "job" of the marketer will then profit from when the office is closed due to the dreaded local Internet failure.

To find out about internet online marketing visit http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : internet, marketing, robertjrussell, website
Del.icio.us : internet, marketing, robertjrussell, website
Zooomr : internet, marketing, robertjrussell, website
Flickr : internet, marketing, robertjrussell, website

SEO - Search Engine Optimization

2009-10-19T21:31:00.001-05:00

Learning how to get rated by the search engine can be a daunting task. What I have learned is that you don't need to be an expect. Learn to do what you are good at, writing, sales, coaching etc. Get some good content going. Get your blog SEO ready. Start to look for info on You Tube and Google for free, on how to get your site listed on the first page of Google. I have found many free You Tube video that show me how to get higher ranking. Also you can shop around to get out sourcing prices to have someone do it for you. There are so many opportunities and ways to use search engine optimization. Get a coach to help you with things that are hard for you. Start writing out a plan of action steps that you can do daily. A Daily method of operation. Include at these one action step for SEO. Just relax and take one step at a time. You can do it!

http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : SEO, Training, Video, YouTube
Del.icio.us : SEO, Training, Video, YouTube
Zooomr : SEO, Training, Video, YouTube
Flickr : SEO, Training, Video, YouTube

$8000 Home Buyer Tax Credit

2009-10-12T20:18:00.001-05:00

Another quick blog post for We Did It Again Group Blog:

Quick passage by the House last week of a bill extending the $8,000 home buyer tax credit next year for military, diplomatic and intelligence personnel serving overseas increases the odds that Congress will agree to an extension, maybe even an expansion, of the entire credit program well into 2010.

The White House is also signaling that it sees the overall tax credit program -- currently set to expire November 30 -- as an important element in cutting the unemployment rolls and stimulating new jobs next year.

After an economic policy strategy meeting last week in the Oval Office involving President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, congressional aides said Democrats generally support an extension of the housing credit.

Reid already has made clear he wants an extension. He is co-sponsoring a Senate bill that would do so for six months.

Congressman Charles Rangel, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, sponsored the one-year extension of the credit for military and other personnel serving overseas, and is reported by aides as favoring an extension for the entire program.

The White House has not publicly committed to an extension, but has confirmed that the President is seriously examining that option.

An unexpected development that emerged following last week's White House meeting was the possibility of opening up the credit to a broader group of buyers next year - people who sell their current homes and buy a replacement home.

Though details were scanty, Capitol Hill sources said one option on the table would be to provide a tax credit -- most likely at the $8,000 level -- to replacement home buyers whose incomes do not exceed some limit.

The current credit phases out for single taxpayers with incomes above $75,000, and married purchasers earning $150,000.

A politically sensitive issue hovering over the entire debate on extending the housing tax credit is its cost - what it would add to the federal budgetary deficit. Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Economy.com, estimates that widening the credit to all buyers through next August could cost the government upwards of $30 billion.

Rangel's 12-month extension of the credit for service personnel is estimated to cost more than $300 million, but it's mainly being paid for through an increase in penalties levied by the IRS on taxpayers who fail to file corporate or partnership returns.

The New York Times reported that one possible solution to the cost problem would be to divert money not yet spent out of 2009's $800 billion stimulus legislation.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : oval office, robertjrussell, tax credit, white house
Del.icio.us : oval office, robertjrussell, tax credit, white house
Zooomr : oval office, robertjrussell, tax credit, white house
Flickr : oval office, robertjrussell, tax credit, white house

Home Value by Square Foot

2009-10-03T21:03:00.001-05:00

One of the biggest determining factors in determining comparable value is square footage.

When comparing the square footage of homes always try to keep comps as similar in square footage as possible. Figuring out the price of a home on a square footage basis is an excellent way to compare apples with apples. It becomes more complicated when one home has been renovated and another needs work. Don't compare a newly built home's price per square foot with an older home's price per square foot.

There's Square Footage and There's Square Footage

A square foot is defined as a two-dimensional square measuring one foot on each side. If you are looking at a home that seems a little smaller than the stated square footage, it might not be your eyes. Real estate brokers tend to measure square footage by inside room dimensions. Developers like to measure the exterior of the building. This can add considerable square footage to the home.

You also need to find out exactly what has been factored into the equation. Does the total measurement include basement space? Garage space? Deck space? Space on staircases? There's no standard way to measure square footage. Sellers will include every nook and cranny and buyers won't.

Do not solely compare the size of the land the property sits on and the price of the property. Lots sell for different prices than homes and the cost varies greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood. For example, if the house is in terrible shape, or is considered a "tear-down," a developer may only want to pay for the price of the lot, since tearing down and hauling away the existing structure is an added expense.

Side-by-Side Comparison

In some areas of the country, agents do not want to be liable for representing a total square footage of the property. Total square footage is not indicated on the listing sheet, but room dimensions are shown. The room count may not include bathrooms, hallways, closets, and other spaces. You might have to compare every room side by side and guesstimate total size.

In this instance, estimate the total square footage by multiplying the dimensions of each room. For example, if the bedroom is 10 feet by 12 feet, then the area, or square footage, is 120 square feet. Add up all of the room dimensions for a total square foot measurement. You may still have to estimate hallways and other spaces, but it gives you a good estimate.

After determining the size of the home you desire, the equation is simple. Just divide the listing price by the number of square feet and you will get the price per square foot. For example, a 1,000-square-foot condo priced at $300,000 costs $300 per square foot.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

It's always to your advantage to buy a home with a reasonable cost per square foot. A home with a square footage cost lower than other homes in the neighborhood might be a great deal. On the other hand, the home may have a lot of other things wrong with it that need renovation, and unless you had remodeling in the budget, it might not be worth it to you.

Technorati : home value, real estate, robertjrussell
Del.icio.us : home value, real estate, robertjrussell
Zooomr : home value, real estate, robertjrussell
Flickr : home value, real estate, robertjrussell

Looking for a House, Foreclosure or Short Sale ?

2009-10-03T08:32:00.001-05:00

Home Buyers Scouting Report (HBSR) Express. Shared via AddThis

Total Number of Home Listings Down in August

2009-09-28T21:31:00.001-05:00

RISMEDIA, September 24, 2009-The number of homes for sale declined nearly 3% in August 2009, compared to July, and is down more than 23% compared to a year ago, according to a monthly local market survey of home listings based on Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data in 25 metropolitan markets conducted by the national real estate brokerage ZipRealty.

Other highlights from ZipRealty's August Housing Inventory Index include:

-Housing inventory in the San Francisco Bay Area declined 7.6% in August, compared to July, and is down 48.9% year-over-year- the largest month-over-month drop across the 25 markets surveyed.
-Other markets with significant month-over-month declines include Orlando (5.1%), Washington, D.C. (4.7%) and Boston (3.9%).
-Salt Lake City remained statistically unchanged in August with no movement tracked in inventory.
-The worst may be over in Las Vegas, with home listings declining 3.4% in August but the median list price unchanged for the fifth consecutive month. Inventory in Las Vegas is now at the lowest level ever tracked by ZipRealty in the four years that ZipRealty has tracked this information.
-The Florida housing market continues to show signs that it has yet to hit bottom, as housing inventory and median list prices slipped in Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Inventory in Jacksonville increased slightly (.01%), though the median list price declined 1.39% to $177,000.

Visit http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : homes, housing, listings, markets
Del.icio.us : homes, housing, listings, markets
Zooomr : homes, housing, listings, markets
Flickr : homes, housing, listings, markets

Do you have an Insurance License ?

2009-09-28T11:16:00.001-05:00

Do you have an Insurance License ? Shared via AddThis

Short Sales Spread across Real Estate Market, Leaving Frustration in Their Wake

2009-09-26T21:54:00.001-05:00

^{RISMEDIA, September 26, 2009-(MCT)-A few years ago, few people in the housing market had ever heard of a short sale. Mention the term today and people, whether they are homeowners or real estate agents, just roll their eyes.The practice, which involves selling a property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, has grown in popularity as an exit strategy for financially strapped homeowners because it doesn't ding a credit report as deeply as a foreclosure. But because the transactions have to be approved by first and second lien holders, they are languishing. Some real estate agents try to steer clear of them entirely and even specify in their listings that a property is not a short sale.}

In mid-May, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner announced plans to streamline the process by offering financial incentives to mortgage servicers and investors that accept short sales, much in the same way that they are rewarded for refinancing or modifying troubled mortgages. Four months later, homeowners, real estate agents and lenders are still waiting for specific details of how the plan would work. A Treasury Department spokeswoman said an update on the program is expected in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, homeowners like Dallas O'Day are in limbo. O'Day, a Chicago attorney, and his family relocated from California in June 2004 and bought a Mediterranean-style home in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood for $395,000. They rewired the house, stripped and refinished the wood floors and the woodwork, and did other work to restore its charm. Last year, personal circumstances prompted them to list the home for sale just as the housing industry's meltdown was picking up steam. With no takers and no longer even expecting to break even on his investment, O'Day relisted the 2,700-square-foot home in January as a short sale.

Four months and three price reductions brought the house down to $384,900, at which point a potential buyer made an offer in late May. O'Day accepted it and submitted the paperwork to the lenders holding first and second mortgages on the home. He has yet to receive a response. Meanwhile, the family has moved into an apartment, the refrigerator has broken in the home and there's evidence of mold in the basement. "The only thing we keep hearing is they keep wanting current payroll stubs, bank statements and taxes," said O'Day's real estate agent, Pam Decker at Prudential Biros Real Estate in Evergreen Park, Ill.

"What has astonished me is that in the presence of one of the softest housing markets I can remember, we're hitting up on four months and they've just had a person assigned to look at it, that they would move at such a glacial pace," O'Day said. "My expectation is I'll be renting until whatever blemish is gone. I've just accepted the fact that at some point it'll be foreclosed upon because I just don't think the banks will pull it together. I feel like I've done everything I can do."

During the second quarter, 14% of all home sales were short sales and they were made primarily to first-time buyers who may have more flexibility to deal with the long wait times, according to a survey by Campbell Communications. The sales volume could be much greater. Two out of three short sales never close. "In general, you have to have three offers for every completed short sale," said survey designer Thomas Popik. "The first offer, the buyer walks before they get a yes or no. On the second offer they walk a good part of the time. The third offer is the charm because it's been in process long enough at the lender that the lender knows they want to do this.

"Home buyers are now putting in half a dozen verbal offers, hoping that on one of them the lender will say yes. What this is doing is bogging down the approval process at the mortgage servicers. It's just gotten to the point that everyone has started engaging in unproductive behavior. It's a vicious cycle."

The process of getting a short sale approved involves a packet of documents that includes bank statements, tax returns, letters explaining any other sources of income and a hardship letter explaining why a short sale is being sought. After the packet is submitted to a mortgage servicer, it has to be entered into the system, a person has to be assigned to it, and an appraisal has to be ordered for the property. On average, it took loan servicers 91/2 weeks to respond to a short sale offer, Campbell's survey found.

"You've got to stay on top of these banks," said James Orrico, a real estate agent at Professional Residential Brokerage LLC in Oak Brook, Ill. "I call on my files every day. If you don't stay on top of them, you'll lose it."

A number of factors are contributing to the delay. Lenders say their top priority is keeping people in their homes, and their own and the government's loan modification programs are taking the bulk of their resources. "The modification program was just like an atom bomb that dropped on servicers," said Matt McCabe of National Short Sale Center, a company that acts as a negotiator between borrowers and mortgage lenders. "They had a really hard time reacting to that increased demand."

Also delaying the process is that if a home can't be saved, servicers are keen on trying to recover as much as possible for what could be multiple investors and that requires a fair amount of due diligence. "The challenge is buyers always want to pay as little as possible and sellers want to receive as much as possible," said Tom Kelly, a spokesman for JPMorgan Chase, which services 10.3 million mortgages. "The bank is the server in the middle."

From a prospective buyer's standpoint, purchasing a short sale property can be preferable to a foreclosure because if the borrower stills owns the home, he or she is likely to take better care of it.

However, with so many distressed properties for sale, and other homes selling conventionally at drastically reduced prices, there's a wealth of inventory available allowing buyers to get a quick yea or nay to their offer. Some buyers make offers on multiple short sales or write the offers so they can walk away if a lender doesn't respond within a certain time frame.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

http://www.homesinflowermound.net

Technorati : dallas, housing, market, real estate
Del.icio.us : dallas, housing, market, real estate
Zooomr : dallas, housing, market, real estate
Flickr : dallas, housing, market, real estate

Another Terror Related Threat hits Dallas and other Cities

2009-09-25T15:29:00.000-05:00

An extended period of relatively little news about domestic terrorist threats was shattered this week. A spate of arrests and reports of fearsome plots have Americans back on edge and struggling to make sense of the suspects and continuous headlines. Below, the recent developments:

-- Last week authorities raided several New York City properties in connection with the arrest of Najibullah Zazi, a legal immigrant from Afghanistan living in Denver who authorities said Friday is believed to have been plotting an attack on the New York City subway system on Sept. 11 similar to the 2004 attacks in Madrid. The AP reported that Zazi criss-crossed the globe hunting for materials to make hydrogen peroxide bombs for al-Qaida, enlisting associates equipped with stolen credit cards to help him purchase massive quantities of hydrogen peroxide, acetone (the main component in nail polish remover) and a component to make the compound called TATP, the main explosive used in the London terror bombings of 2005. Zazi, who operated a coffee cart in New York and drove an airport shuttle in Denver, continues to maintain that he is not a terrorist. He has been transferred to NYC to face charges.

-- On Thursday a Jordanian named Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, 19, was arrested in Dallas after he parked a car he believed to be loaded with explosives, but were in actuality fakes supplied to him by an undercover FBI operative, in front of a downtown Dallas skyscraper. Undercover Arabic-speaking agents first made contact with Smadi, who's been living illegally in a small Texas town north or Dallas, after they discovered him championing jihad against the U.S. on an extremist, anti-American website. The relationship between the undercover agents and Smadi culminated with the FBI supplying him with a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac laden with what Smadi believed was an explosive device similar to the one used by Timothy McVeigh in the Oklahoma City bombing that could be detonated by cellphone. He was arrested immediately after trying to detonate the impotent explosives.

-- Michael Finton, who also goes by the name of Talib Islam, was arrested in Illinois on Wednesday for allegedly plotting to blow up a federal building, an act which led him to being charged with attempted murder of federal employees and attempting to detonate a weapon of mass destruction. Finton, who authorities say idolized American citizen turned Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh, visited Saudi Arabia in 2008 and returned wanting to take action against Israel. He mentioned his intentions to an undercover law enforcement source, who in turn introduced Finton to an undercover FBI agent, who then arranged to supply Finton with an explosives-laden vehicle, just as the FBI did in the Smadi case. On Wednesday, Finton parked the vehicle in front of a federal building in Springfield, Illinois and was arrested after he attempted to detonate the fake bomb with a cellphone.

-- Daniel Patrick Boyd and Hysen Sherifi, two men arrested last month in North Carolina and charged with plotting terrorist acts overseas, were indicted yesterday for conspiring to murder U.S. military personnel by bombing the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. The official indictment against the two provided little information outside of accusing Boyd and Sherifi of obtaining maps of the base and spending considerable time monitoring its activity. Prosecutors say that Boyd, a U.S. citizen, spent time in terror camps located in Pakistan and Afghanistan and fought on the side of Afghanistan against the Soviets in the early 1990s. Sherifi, a native of Kosovo, is a legal U.S. citizen.

-- Two men seen recently taking an extensive number of photographs of the Philadelphia subway system have raised concerns for authorities. Thus far, neither man has been positively identified, though police are hoping to track them down to question them on "the nature or the reason for taking the photographs."

Case officials say the individual incidents do not appear to be linked. As for advice to a worried public, for now it's a return to familiar advice: Remain vigilant, says the Department of Homeland Security, and report any suspicious activity to the FBI via their internet tips line ( https://tips.fbi.gov/ ) or by calling 1-800-CALLFBI.

To find out about relocation visit: http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com

For Information about Life Insurance visit http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

Technorati : Dallas, FBI, Oklahoma, terror
Del.icio.us : Dallas, FBI, Oklahoma, terror
Zooomr : Dallas, FBI, Oklahoma, terror
Flickr : Dallas, FBI, Oklahoma, terror

Overworked is your middle name

2009-09-24T21:17:00.003-05:00

In these troubled times, a man must do everything he can to keep his job lest he end up just another depressing statistic/exemplary member of a vibrant homeless community. Given how high the stakes are (trash as clothing is so 2001), it can be tempting to work your face off an effort to stay at the top of your boss's do-not-fire list. When you wake up under your desk at 3 AM covered in highlighter fluid, though, it's time to reassess your priorities; things have taken a bad turn. Sound familiar? Check our checklist to find out if it's time for a vacation.

You dream about your boss.
You know the dream. The one where you're in the shower, and suddenly your boss shows up and demands a rewrite of the report you submitted weeks ago. You flip out and reach for the nearest towel, but he (or, if you're lucky, she) takes no notice of the awkwardness of the situation and instead berates you for not using Times New Roman (Ed Note: Obey). Unless this dream turns into a hot fantasy involving soap on a rope and domination by a woman in a power position, you're in desperate territory. When even sleep isn't safe anymore, it's time to take a break.

Portions of your face twitch uncontrollably.
Once your friends start mistaking you for a stroke victim, you need to face the fact that you've been logging a few too many hours under the glowing light of the office fluorescents. At this point, your only options are to spend a week "working from home" or check yourself into a rehab facility, and until the 12 steps are covered by your crappy healthcare plan, it looks like you're in for five days of reality TV and mid-morning naps.

People have started to comment on your paper coffee-cup fortress.
Art is a valuable pursuit, but not when it's made out of moldy sandwich wrappers and taking over your workspace. It doesn't matter how many extra projects you complete ahead of schedule if you become the office hoarder by working so hard you're unable to dispose of your trash in a timely and civilized manner. Sure, every once in a while it's fun and healthy to work out your mental roadblocks with a little pencil architecture or stapler

Every conversation you have begins and ends with "at the office" or "while I was at work".
Just like nobody wants to talk to the guy who can't complete a sentence without mentioning his Warcraft avatar, the always-talking-about-work dude becomes the no-longer-has-friends dude faster than you can say "avatar". If your dinner companion's eyes glaze over every time you open your mouth, then you're well on your way to becoming a one-trick pony who is likely to find himself the proud owner of the loneliest fantasy football league.

You're more turned on by pivot tables than by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
Yes, we know. It is super awesome when equations update themselves at alarming speeds, especially when it leads to a pat on the back from the boss and the possibility of a raise when the economy rebounds in 2011. But there is no excuse for letting work take the place of more earthly pleasures, even if it seems like The Most Important Thing Ever right now. Excel will never love you back the way you want it to, and it gets mad insecure when you dabble in Open Office. You don't need that kind of stress in your life.

Relocating from your job ? Visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : employment, job, work
Del.icio.us : employment, job, work
Zooomr : employment, job, work
Flickr : employment, job, work

5 Projects, Plus Proven Strategies from a Professional Organizer

2009-09-23T21:40:00.001-05:00

It happens to the best of us. We're so busy with our summer events and daily to-do lists that things get a little out of place and out of hand. Before you know it, summer's over-and the unresolved clutter from one season starts spilling over into the next.

Preventing this problem is easier said than done. Being organized takes time and energy. And if you haven't done it in a while, it can leave you wondering where you should start and how to get through it.

That's where the advice from a professional comes in. So to help you tackle even the toughest organizational challenges, we interviewed Allison Carter, Chief Executive Organizer and owner of The Professional Organizer, a company that trains and licenses organizers and is dedicated to helping people get organized.

What Should You Do Right Now-Before Summer Ends?

Allison Carter explained that this time of year is crucial to maintaining an organized, clutter-free home heading into the next season. "Before winter, there are some areas of the home, inside and out, that generally need to be cleaned up and cleaned out," Carter stated.

So before you get overwhelmed with other projects or areas of the house you may have been putting off, start with these 5 simple areas before summer ends:

1. The Garden-Gardening hasn't ended until your beds are cleared out and the bulbs are planted. Once that's done, set aside some time to discard the containers you no longer need. Sweep up. Organize seeds and equipment so you know where everything is next year when the warm weather returns.

2. The Closet-As fall approaches, look through the summer clothes you didn't wear even once this year. This is a good time to purge the unloved clothing and donate to someone who can love it. If you store off-season clothing, you can begin the process by storing the clothes that only get worn in summer such as shorts, bathing suits, beach cover-ups, tank tops, and those white shoes.

3. Pool and Water Toys-Pool related toys and equipment should be dried and put into storage bins for re-use next year. Remember to keep it all together, so it's easy to dig out the next time the thermometer climbs back up.

4. Heating-Now is the best time to check your heating and air system, clean out ducts, and perform any maintenance or repairs that are needed. It's also a good time to change your smoke alarm batteries.

5. The Desk-You know they're coming, so why not get ready for those school papers to flow in. Set up an "in box" for each child's papers to be processed. Set up a "keep" box or file for each child's art or paperwork that you want to hold onto for long-term keepsakes.

Being Prepared Makes the Job Easier

To tackle these projects-and other areas of your house that need organization-Carter recommends you have a kit ready to use.

"Many people have a cleaning bucket or a set of tools for the office, but how many people have a kit for organizing? Not enough," explained Carter.

What should you put in the kit? Here are some things Carter recommends you keep on hand to help with your organizing projects:

Masking tape
Sharpie markers
Post-it notes
Boxes that can fold flat when not in use
Scissors
Label maker, stickers or tape
Trash bags-use black bags for items that should be thrown away
Donation bags-to make sure you don't confuse donation items with trash items, use white bags for items that are still usable and should be donated

These items will help you quickly work through your projects and finish them off by storing and organizing your items, as well as donating or throwing away any unwanted items.

Plan of Attack - Organize One Step at a Time

Once you have these items together, it's time to prioritize your projects. Although deciding what to do first, second, third and so on can seem overwhelming, Carter has simple advice to help you decide. "Prioritization is based on how important something is to you," explained Carter.

So she recommends you start by asking yourself a few simple questions:

Why are you doing a project?
What will the payoff be when you're done? Less stress? Being able to find things quickly and easily? Having a neat, clutter free environment?
Is the pay-off worth the time? If so, which project has the biggest pay-off?

Then, follow Carter's ABCs of organizing to tackle each project step by step:

A - Assess your situation.What is the problem? What do you need to solve the problem?

B - Bunch things together if they are used together (for example, paints with brushes). Bunch things together that are like items (shirts with shirts). Banish the things that don't belong there at all.

C - Contain what you keep. Find the right bin, basket, or shelf for the items you are keeping.

D - Designate a spot where the items will live in your home.

E - Evaluate.Every day, week, month and year, evaluate your situation and re-organize what has become undone.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

When it comes to actually tackling your projects, each one will take a different amount of time. But there can be a fear of over-organizing or continually re-organizing.

To help overcome that problem Carter offered the following tip. "One key to staying organized is to learn when you have reached 'good enough' and not strive for perfection...because there is never a perfect."

Another common mistake is not using the space well, including room at the top of pantries or closets. "Adding shelves can maximize the space," explained Carter.

Should It Stay or Should It Go?

When organizing a space, there are bound to be a number of items that you just don't know what to do with. How many sheets should you keep in a full closet? What about that gift you received six years ago?

To help you quickly determine what to keep, what to throw out, and what to donate, Carter suggested the following tips:

Ask yourself questions about how often you use things, how much you enjoy things, and if you really need the items at all.
Set maximums by space. For example, designate a space and then only save 3 sets of sheets, 1 box of ornaments, and so on if that's all that will fit in that space.
Set maximums by number. For example, keep only 10 scarves, only 40 pair of shoes, only 2 sets of silverware; when you buy a new one, make the tough choice as to which one goes away.
Set standards…and stick to them. For example, don't keep anything broken, stained, or redundant. Who really needs 4 can openers? If things are broken and need repair, set a time limit. If you haven't repaired an item in 3 months, then it's probably not that important to you.
Don't just pile everything up and toss it. Keep separate piles. If something's still useful, but doesn't meet your criteria to keep it, put it in a pile to donate to a worthy cause.

Finally, remember that it's okay to get rid of things that were once prized possessions.

"Just because you loved something once, doesn't mean you still have to keep it," Carter stated. "Taste changes and it's okay to be done with items you don't love any longer."

Timesaving Tips Straight from the Pro

To help you work quickly and efficiently, Carter offers two important tips:

First, group tasks together so you can get the most done in one location or area. Have all your supplies ready before you start organizing a space. Don't leave the room to put things away. Gather up everything that goes elsewhere and put it away after you finish organizing the space or during a break.

Second, don't confuse grouping tasks with multi-tasking, which can be problematic. According to Carter, you shouldn't multi-task on two projects that both require thinking.

"It takes up more time to switch back and forth from task to task," Carter stated. "If you need to do more than one thing at once, only one project should require thinking. The other should be mindless-like folding laundry while having a conversation."

How to Avoid a Major Re-org Every Year…

Regular maintenance is needed to keep your space organized. This means putting things away after you use them.

"Even if you don't do it right away, you should put items away in a reasonable amount of time," Carter explained. "If you work full time or are busy with kids, you might find that you do a big 'put away' session on the weekends. And that's okay."

Don't be afraid to re-organize when you see things aren't working. And, every time you bring something new into the house make sure you have a specific place for it. "If it doesn't have a home, it will become clutter," Carter said.

Keep It Real…And Keep Your Sanity

In her final words of wisdom, Carter reiterated that organizing is an ongoing process, not a one-time thing.

"Most people buy more than they actually need-and that's great for capitalism, but bad for clutter," Carter stated. "If your home is full, think twice and three times before making new purchases. And if you do want to buy something, take a minute to toss something out or donate an item."

In addition, to help stay organized, Carter recommends keeping a donation box in a closet and adding to it every time you find things you no longer need. You can also find a nearby donation center or a charity that will pick up items from your home to save time, energy, and your sanity.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : Garden, Organizer, Summer, robertjrussell
Del.icio.us : Garden, Organizer, Summer, robertjrussell
Zooomr : Garden, Organizer, Summer, robertjrussell
Flickr : Garden, Organizer, Summer, robertjrussell

Get Paid To Surf The Net

2009-09-23T11:32:00.001-05:00

Get Paid To Surf The Net Shared via AddThis

Do you want income or wealth ?

2009-09-23T08:36:00.001-05:00

Income Creation Vs. Wealth Creation

Whatever their reasons, the simple fact is that people in the job track will never create true wealth because they are copycatting an income creation system, which is based on linear growth, as opposed to a wealth creation system, which is based on leveraged growth.

People copycatting the income creation system are locked into a time-for-money trap. They trade a unit of their time for a unit of dollars. With income creation, 10 hours of work, equals 10 hours of pay. Unfortunately, most of the time, income creation is an endless treadmill. If you don't do the work, you don't get paid. If the treadmill stops, the income stops. People following the income creation system become slaves to temporary income, and they are accidents waiting to happen. If they fall victim to illness, or injury, or long layoffs, or burnout, they are income-less.

Those brave souls who have broken away from the ranks, who have realized that there are other systems out there to copycat -- wealth creating systems -- are choosing to copycat a system that allows them to leverage their time. They don't fall victim to the time-for-money trap because they do not trade time for dollars. For them, 10 hours of work means 100 hours of pay... or even 1,000 hours of pay. Moreover, their efforts create residual income. Unlike temporary income, residual income keeps earning money whether they show up to work or not!

Want to find out more? Click the link > http://10035.powerbarclub.com

Technorati : eincome, money, residual, wealth
Del.icio.us : eincome, money, residual, wealth
Zooomr : eincome, money, residual, wealth
Flickr : eincome, money, residual, wealth

Are you making money online ?

2009-09-21T20:31:00.000-05:00

How To Build An Online Income

If you are serious about making some extra money, or you want a bonafide income online then there are a few places that you can start.

The thing about the affiliate marketing route is that it is often the most talked about as it can be simple to do.

Key Words

The thing that always bugged me about affiliate marketing is the fact that no matter how fast you can write or how good a writer you are, the fact remains that if you can't get your head around learning to find great, low competition keywords, then you've almost lost before you start.

If you can't formulate a decent keyword strategy the you probably won't get any traffic. If you have no traffic then forget any income and so the story goes.

If you can somehow get the best keywords and then write well, there is still the little matter of building links.

If your keyword article is great but it has no links then it is possible that some other smarter webmaster may decide to cut in on your dance and rewrite your article and then build twice as many links as you......it happens. In fact it happens often.

Own Your Territory

When your territory gets poached you end up relegated in the search engine results and the competitor ends up on top. That sucks!

If you build enough links and the links have value, then you'll be close to untouchable (but not out of the woods completely). If you do have keywords and links, the thing you'll have over your competitors is age and age of the information does matter.

visit our website: htt://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : income, links, marketing, online, words
Del.icio.us : income, links, marketing, online, words
Zooomr : income, links, marketing, online, words
Flickr : income, links, marketing, online, words

Obama: Health insurance mandate no tax increase

2009-09-20T09:14:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says requiring people to get health insurance and fining them if they don't would not amount to a backhanded tax increase. "I absolutely reject that notion," the president said.

Blanketing most of the Sunday TV news shows, Obama defended his proposed health care overhaul, including a key point of the various health care bills on Capitol Hill: mandating that people get health insurance to share the cost burden fairly among all. Those who failed to get coverage would face financial penalties.

Obama said other elements of the plan would make insurance affordable for people, from a new comparison-shopping "exchange" to tax credits.

Telling people to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase, Obama told ABC's "This Week."

"What it's saying is, is that we're not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore," said Obama. "Right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase."

Obama faces an enormous political and communications challenge in selling his health care plan as Congress debates how to pay for it all.

He told CBS' "Face the Nation" that he will keep his pledge not to raise taxes on families earning up to $250,000, and that much of the final bill - hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years - can be achieved from savings within the current system. Coming up with the rest remains a key legislative obstacle.

Obama put his support behind the idea of taxing employers that offer high-cost insurance plans.

"I do think that giving a disincentive to insurance companies to offer Cadillac plans that don't make people healthier is part of the way that we're going to bring down health care costs for everybody over the long term," Obama said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Obama's network interviews were taped Friday at the White House. He became the first president to appear on five Sunday network shows in the same morning, an extraordinary effort to build public support for his top domestic priority.

The goal is expand and improve health insurance coverage and rein in long-term costs.

Yet despite so many weeks of speeches, town halls and interviews, Obama said he has found it difficult at times to make a complex topic clear and relevant.

"I've tried to keep it digestible," Obama said. "It's very hard for people to get their arms around it. And that's been a case where I have been humbled and I just keep on trying harder."

Obama told Univision's "Al Punto" ("To the Point") that the strong opposition to his plan is part of a political strategy.

"Well, part of it is ... that the opposition has made a decision," he said. "They are just not going to support anything, for political reasons."

By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer Ben Feller, Associated Press Writer

To get quotes on health insurance - visit: http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

Technorati : affordable, health, insurance, president, texas
Del.icio.us : affordable, health, insurance, president, texas
Zooomr : affordable, health, insurance, president, texas
Flickr : affordable, health, insurance, president, texas

Check our Texas Listings - Click on the picture to see more info & pictures

2009-09-19T11:34:00.001-05:00

http://www.robertjrussell.com/mls11275676 For more information or to listen to our Audio Tour - Call 1-800-224-1995 ext 2401

Texas Insurance, Free Online quotes, Fast and Easy, Online Applications, Many A+ Rated Insurance Companies,

2009-09-18T20:42:00.001-05:00

Texas Insurance, Free Online quotes, Fast and Easy, Online Applications, Many A+ Rated Insurance Companies

Texas Insurance, Free Online quotes, Fast and Easy, Online Applications, Many A+ Rated Insurance Companies,

2009-09-18T20:40:00.001-05:00

Texas Insurance, Free Online quotes, Fast and Easy, Online Applications, Many A+ Rated Insurance Companies, Shared via AddThis

Coaching for Profit

2009-09-13T20:50:00.001-05:00

No matter whether you are an individual or a large corporate body, you will always strive to make profit by boosting your sales. No business can do without profit as profit proves to be the most important motivational factor for any individual and business. Today we discuss more on coaching for profit. In fact to put it bluntly, if the company does not make a profit, then everyone is out of a job.

Coaching for profit refers to methods and techniques imparted by a coach to people as to how they can earn rich rewards for the efforts that they have put into the business. Coaching is necessary to understand how to maximize the use of various resources in an organization to optimize output. Coaching covers every aspect of the organization from production to the marketing of the products and to their sales. Business requires employing the right kind of marketing mix whereby the best combination of factors like product, price, place and promotion are can all be derived. Every employee of the organization should be made aware of his exact authority and responsibility. You would actually be amazed at how often this does not happen.

Personality development also becomes a very important component of coaching for profit. This is because it is the way that you market yourself and the goods and services that will make a world of difference. You have to make the people believe in the product and service your organization provides. It becomes very necessary to motivate your sub ordinates, executives and even HR managers. We should remember that it is the collective effort of all these people that will lead to sales and hence generating extra profits.

Remember there is no I in T E A M.

Coaching for profit stresses on the confidence that you will be able to exude in front of your audience. Also coaching in the beginning of your career will go a long way in helping you choose a profession or business that you will enjoy doing and also get excellent returns. Coaching helps you to find the right combination of the nature of the business or profession that you enjoy doing while making a handsome profit from it.

Coaching helps you to be innovative in business. It helps you to improvise on the existing systems or come out with whole new systems. Coaching helps you to gain the early bird advantage as it teaches you methods and techniques to implement and action your innovative ideas. In case you are the team member or owner of the organization you have to develop leadership skills as well. This is because it is only through proper leadership that sub ordinates under you will be able to deliver and the organization will be able to earn good revenues.

However not all the profit that the organization makes has to be taken home. A considerable amount of revenue has to be invested back in business to not only cover up the running costs and expenses but also to come out with new innovations and better technology to make quality products. The world today is very much service oriented and the best example of the service oriented organizations would be information technology and the travel industry which are some of the fastest growing industries.

Hence coaching for the service industry in relation to earning profits is very much different from coaching in the manufacturing industry. Though the techniques are different in both the types of industries, the goal is the same at the end of the day and that is making profits.

For more information - visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : business, coaching, motivation, personality
Del.icio.us : business, coaching, motivation, personality
Zooomr : business, coaching, motivation, personality
Flickr : business, coaching, motivation, personality

The Best & Coolest Real Estate Sites I have ever seen!

2009-09-10T21:23:00.001-05:00

I am amazed at how advanced websites have become that are designed to help you find just about anything! Here are some of my favorite sites! Enjoy!

http://www.hoodeo.com

"As The Neighborhood Matchmaker, hoodeo learns about you - your hoodeo profile - then matches you to your top 10 'best places to live' by zip code. You are matched based on lifestyle, property type, and the price you are looking for." Hoodeo.com

http://www.homescape.com

"Homescape provides local, comprehensive property listings and rich content to home buyers and sellers nationwide, while delivering a suite of advertising solutions that offer choice and results that enable real estate professionals to grow their business." Homescape.com

http://www.beatyouthere.com

"We are a real estate search engine that provides you with the most accurate listings and information possible so that you can make an educated decision based on your search." BeatYourThere.com

http;//www.insurancepricedright.com

"As Texas Realtors are always looking for health benefits, this website provides health insurance quotes in a easy and understandable format where consumers can purchase health, dental, vision and Rx plans."

http://www.propbot.com

"PropBot.com's goal is to provide FREE unlimited property listings to REALTORS, brokers, property managers, for sale by owners (FSBO's), and the average landlord; while advancing property search and listing technology." Propbot.com

Follow me on Twitter - CLICK HERE

Robert J Russell, REALTOR, International Real Estate Specialist, Insurance Broker

Real Estate Website - http://www.robertjrussell.com

Insurance Website - http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

Apartment Locator - http://www.FreeDFWApartments.com

Technorati : insurance, real estate, robertjrussell
Del.icio.us : insurance, real estate, robertjrussell
Zooomr : insurance, real estate, robertjrussell
Flickr : insurance, real estate, robertjrussell
For more information visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Obama: Time for 'bickering' is over on health care

2009-09-09T20:43:00.001-05:00

Obama: Time for 'bickering' is over on health care

AP - President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress on healthcare at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, …

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Shaking off a summer of setbacks, President Barack Obama summoned Congress to enact sweeping health care legislation Wednesday night, declaring the "time for bickering is over" and the moment has arrived to protect millions who have unreliable insurance or no coverage at all.

Obama said the changes he wants would cost about $900 billion over decade, "less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans" passed during the Bush administration.

In a televised speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama spoke in favor of a provision for the federal government to sell insurance in competition with private industry. But in a remark certain to displease liberals, he did not insist on it, and said he was open to other alternatives that create choices for consumers.

Obama said he remains ready to listen to all ideas but added in a clear reference to Republicans, "I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than to improve it."

In an unusual outburst from the Republican side of the House chamber, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted out "You lie" when the president said illegal immigrants would not benefit from his proposals. The president paused briefly and smiled, but from her seat in the visitor's gallery, first lady Michelle Obama shook her head from side to side in disapproval of the interruption.

In general, the president shied away from providing lawmakers with a list of particulars he wants to see included in the legislation, and there was nothing in the speech to invite comparisons with Bill Clinton's pen-waving veto threat more than a decade ago on health care.

Obama's speech came as the president and his allies in Congress readied an autumn campaign to enact his top domestic priority. Republican opposition, contentious town hall meetings and drooping polls have contributed to their woes. An AP-GfK survey hours before the speech showed public disapproval of Obama's handling of health care has jumped to 52 percent, an increase of 9 percentage points since July.

While Democrats command strong majorities in both the House and Senate, neither chamber has acted on Obama's top domestic priority, missing numerous deadlines leaders had set for themselves.

In a fresh sign of urgency, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., announced that his Senate Finance Committee would meet in two weeks to begin drafting legislation, whether or not a handful of Democrats and Republicans have come to an agreement. The panel is the last of five to act in Congress, and while the outcome is uncertain, it is the only one where bipartisanship has been given a chance to flourish.

Obama said there is widespread agreement on about 80 percent of what must be included in legislation. Any yet, criticizing Republicans without saying so, he added: "Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics" and ideological warfare that offers no hope for compromise.

"Well, the time for bickering is over," he said. "The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action."

"I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last," he added.

The president was alternately bipartisan and tough on his Republican critics. He singled out Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for praise at one point. Yet, moments later, in a line apparently aimed at McCain's former running mate, Sarah Palin, Obama accused Republicans of spreading the "cynical and irresponsible" charge that the legislation would include "death panels" with the power to hasten the death of senior citizens.

In one gesture to Republicans, Obama said his administration would authorize a series of test programs in some states to check the impact of medical malpractice changes on health insurance costs.

Responding on behalf of Republicans, Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., said the country wants Obama to instruct Democratic congressional leaders that "it's time to start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care while improving quality."

"Replacing your family's current health care with government-run health care is not the answer," said Boustany, a heart surgeon.

In a reflection of the stakes, White House aides mustered all the traditional pomp they could for a president who took office vowing to change Washington. The setting was a State of the Union-like joint session of Congress, attended by lawmakers, members of the Cabinet and diplomats.

The House was packed, and loud applause greeted the president when he walked down the center aisle of the House chamber.

Additionally, the White House invited as guests men and women who have suffered from high costs and insurance practices, seating them near first lady Michelle Obama. Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., was also on the guest list. Kennedy, who died last month, had made health care a career-long cause, and Obama spoke movingly of his efforts.

Obama intends to follow up the speech with an appearance Saturday in Minneapolis, the White House announced.

Despite deep-seated differences among lawmakers, Obama drew a standing ovation when he recounted stories of Americans whose coverage was denied or delayed by their insurers with catastrophic results.

"That is heartbreaking, it is wrong, and no one should me treated that way in the United States of America."

The president sought to cast his own plan as being in the comfortable political middle, rejecting both the government-run system that some liberals favor and the Republican-backed approach under which all consumers buy health insurance on their own.

Obama said the legislation he seeks would guarantee insurance to consumers, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as other protections. "As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most," he added.

The president assured those with insurance that "nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have."

Obama also said the legislation he seeks would help those who lack insurance to afford it. "These are not primarily people on welfare," he said in a line that appeared aimed at easing concerns among working-class voters. "These are middle-class Americans."

The president also said he wants legislation that "will slow the growth of health care costs for our families."

Obama said a collective failure to meet the challenge of overhauling health care for decades has "led us to a breaking point."

The so-called government option that Obama mentioned has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in the monthslong debate over health care, with liberal Democrats supporting it and many moderates inside the party opposed. An early draft of Baucus' plan calls for an alternative consisting of nonprofit co-ops. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, the Republican who seems most inclined to cross party lines on the issue, favors a different approach, consisting of a standby in which the government could sell insurance if competition fails to emerge in individual states.

To find out more about health insurance - visit http://www.insurancepricedright.com

Technorati : associated press, doctor, health, insurance, insurancepricedright
Del.icio.us : associated press, doctor, health, insurance, insurancepricedright
Zooomr : associated press, doctor, health, insurance, insurancepricedright
Flickr : associated press, doctor, health, insurance, insurancepricedright
For more information visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Seniors Increasingly Realizing Nest Egg in Life Insurance Policies

2009-09-07T05:32:00.001-05:00

RISMEDIA, September 2, 2009-(MCT)-Seniors battered by the tough economy are selling their life insurance policies to replenish their retirement nest eggs.

Unlike younger investors, older adults may not have the time to wait for the market to recover all of their losses, so they're turning to this previously overlooked asset to see whether they should sell it and use the money to pay medical bills or other expenses.

Seniors sold life insurance policies with a face value of $11.8 billion last year, almost double the value of policies sold just two years earlier, according to the U.S. Senate's special committee on aging, which recently held a hearing on such transactions. A "life settlement," as a sale is called, may be an attractive option for seniors who determine they no longer need their life insurance policy, said Doug Head, executive director of the Life Insurance Settlement Association, an industry group.

Policyholders typically sell their insurance through life settlement brokers to investment companies for lump sums that are usually several times greater than they would receive if they surrendered the policies to the insurance companies, he said. The new owners pay the remaining premiums on the policies and become the beneficiaries when the original policyholders die.

But a life settlement doesn't always make sense, insurance experts caution, and seniors considering such a sale should consult with an independent financial adviser to figure out whether it's the best move for their particular circumstances.

"If you're thinking about selling your life insurance mostly because you're strapped for cash, there may be other ways to tap the value of your policy without losing your coverage," said Houston lawyer and insurance expert David McDowell. "You may be able to take out a loan against your policy or receive a partial payout through an accelerated death benefit," he said. "It's worth visiting with your life insurance agent and exploring the options before sacrificing your coverage."

Life settlements are also ripe for questionable business practices, so prospective sellers need to work with licensed brokers screened or monitored by state regulators, said Susan Voss of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Started in AIDS Crisis

The life settlement business grew out of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. In what were called viatical settlements, people living with AIDS sold their unwanted life insurance policies for cash they often used to cover medications or treatments.

As medical breakthroughs extended the lives of many people with AIDS, the industry shifted its focus from the terminally ill and toward seniors in their mid-60s or older, said Scott Gibson of Lewis and Ellis, an actuarial consulting firm in Richardson.

"The best candidates for a life settlement are now people in their 70s or older who have a life insurance policy valued at $500,000 or more that they no longer need, perhaps because their spouses have passed away," Gibson said. The industry hit a bump earlier this year as capital dried up. But now that investors are returning to the market, buyers' offers for policies have improved, said Russel Dorsett, co-managing director of the Select Life Settlement Corp. in Houston.

Though the amount that seniors receive for their life insurance will vary depending on their age, gender and overall state of health, the average payout today is slightly less than 20% of the policy's death benefit, he said. "That's still three or four times more than they'd get if they simply surrendered their policies to the insurer," Dorsett said.

Bill Clark, managing director of the Clark Financial Group in Frisco, said he sees a number of circumstances in which older policyholders may want to consider a life settlement as part of their retirement and estate planning. "A policy may not be needed anymore," he said. "The beneficiaries may have become financially independent and aren't counting on the policy's proceeds, or the policyholder determines the estate no longer needs life insurance to pay death taxes."

Complex Transaction

As more people become aware of life settlements through financial planners, Clark said, more policyholders will at least check out the price they could get for an asset they once regarded as virtually untouchable until death.

Still, selling a life insurance policy is often a complex transaction involving time and paperwork, so consumers should turn to financial advisers who know the risks, said Ana Smith-Daley, a deputy insurance commissioner for Texas. "An independent adviser can help you decide whether selling your policy is in your best interest," she said. "If it is, the adviser will probably call on a broker to shop around your policy to determine what kind of price it will fetch."

Seniors also need to understand that their medical records will be examined as part of the sales and that the buyers of their policies will occasionally check on them to determine when to collect the death benefits, she said.

Smith-Daley said sellers may also pay taxes on the proceeds from a life settlement and lose their eligibility for Medicaid or other government benefits, so anyone contemplating a sale should consult a tax adviser or lawyer. But even with those considerations, industry officials expect life settlements to exceed $100 billion over the next couple of decades as boomers convert unwanted or unneeded life insurance to cash to bolster their lagging savings.

"Under the right circumstances, it's a viable and valuable option that will only become more popular," Gibson said.

What to consider before you sell your life insurance:

PROS:
-You have no other assets and need the money.
-Your beneficiaries don't need the death benefit.
-You can't afford your premiums anymore.
-Your payout will be higher than your policy's cash surrender value.

CONS:
-You may be unable to buy life insurance again.
-Your beneficiaries won't receive the death benefit.
-You won't get a fair price for your policy.
-Your payout may be less than 20% of the death benefit.

(c) 2009, The Dallas Morning News. By: Bob Moos

Read more: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Technorati : Insurance, InsurancePricedRight, Life Insurance, Nestegg, Seniors
Del.icio.us : Insurance, InsurancePricedRight, Life Insurance, Nestegg, Seniors
Zooomr : Insurance, InsurancePricedRight, Life Insurance, Nestegg, Seniors
Flickr : Insurance, InsurancePricedRight, Life Insurance, Nestegg, Seniors
For more information visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com