Scottsdale, AZ

Tech tools – Rob Jansen, Rob Levy, Nate Maritnez

iPhone – applications

 Jawbone Headset

ColorSplash – standing out

Instapaper on the iPhone or iPod

Autostitch – iPhone

Zillow iPhone application

Tour narrator – alamode.inc

MapQuest navigator

Slydial – goes straight to the voice mail.

PhotoGene

Adobe Photoshop for iPhone

Mobileme – internet cloud, full internet between Mac and iPhone

            Does work with Mac and pc

Knockinglivevideo – iPhone send video phone to phone

Snippets –

Mobilio for blackberry

Auto conference

Hardware

Mac book touch – just coming out

Dell xt2tablet pc – solid state hard drive

MIFI 2200 from sprint that is a wifi – can be shared with 5 people

4g wimax sprint – rolled out by clear wire – only 4 g – be sure to get it from Sprint

Projector from 3m to use from

Dell 1901s

Software

Picasa – 99% can be used for photo

Snagit – Capture. Edit. Share. Organize

Walkscore – tells you what you can walk to

Jing – like Snagit

Premierpro cs4 - $600

Visual communicator from Adobe –

Keyword spy – keyword research

Printlimenator – remove stuff from intern

Website grader

CRM

Platinum Real Pro – idx, people, where leads are, all the team can use from iPhone and blackberry. Calendars. You can go to breakout today for more info

Kodak V750

Poor Mans Steady Cam

Flip Eye-Fi – it does geo code

LCDVF7D – viewer

Lense – sunpak  m power lense – lens .45 x

Canon Rebel T1i

Qrcode.kaywa.com – code

Lead Generation & Conversion – Bryan Bomba, Kristen Cole, Sven Anderson, Thomas Cook

Market and team structure – Bomba -150 leads a months, uses tigerleads, custom web and realtor.com -25% of his business comes from internet.

Cole – VA does lead conversion out of KC. 1800 leads a year.  Steal websites, you have the right message so that you get people to site. They have worked on foreclosure and short sale, that is who they come in. Copy in the lender for the leads.

Cook –

Database – Top Producer 7i – looking for a better solution, Online Agent – admin uses, real pro for drips, Cook uses Top Producer 8i and likes it . Constant contact, get response, and intele contacts

Have over 65000 contacts in email. –Cook

Bomba – Tiger Leads with email conversion, scripts, blogging and direct Mail

Cole – stealth websites, micro marketing to specific sellers, blogging and direct mail.

Cook – craigslist, pay per click, buyer seminars.

Bomba – if there is a phone number with the email – call asap

            Go to Bomba site to get dripped

Cole – VA that does the immediate contacts, then puts into AO and website back end.

            On her website is best buy.

            Using the David Knox videos on short sales and tax credit

Stealth sites – best buy list, foreclosure email, idx search, preset idx searches, public sites

Cook – The thank you site –

            Are you interested in other areas

            Getting information as you warm them up. Get a sign in and then have them

            asking for more information.

            On going training for internet lead conversion

            Pay per click – on Google www.livingintoronto.ca

            Www. Homebuyerworkshop.com

            www.saturdaytourofhomes.com

            20 individual sign up sites – www.libertyvillagecondolist.com

He buys his pay per click when he needs it and flips it off and on. He gets 35- 50 clicks per day.

Print advertising –

            Just listed and just sold cards

            Direct mail – experience matters more than ever.

            List of homes when they were the second Realtor

            Micro marketing – finding sellers that can really sell. Finding seller that

            bought before 2004 with only one loan. Terry Mc that maybe able to find out

            that person.

Blogging with kinetic

Altos research

Stealth ads in the newspaper

Respond to email with in 10 minutes. Response is 4 times better when done by phone.

Top lead generation & top conversion tools

Blogging and adding content to your site that will be market edge type of interest.

Leadrealty.com for listing leads

Small ads in newspaper of your stealth ads

Gooder group on the website

Niche website that generates

Get a good response from Craigslist – call to action after the ad for want a foreclosure list, free CMA, or email list of houses.

Personal contact is the 4 times more effective.

High touch working with the database with client events, asking for Facebook classes,

Banner ad on the newspaper site for CMA’s for $45 per month. Ron Kubek

Hour of power by talking with clients.

Social, economic and keyword adds.

Display ads for being specific to social / economic

Highly targeted pay per click – Patrick Lilly – Greenwich Village town house

Every office meetings team member does 3 thank yous a week

Stealth ads on tag lines on craigslist – Galen 200-300 leads a week with 8 sales.

Market snap shot - that it $99 per month.

Dining card in their area they can pay for ($4) and 2 for 1.

eNeighborhoods.com

Seminars – buyer workshops, women for women, 100 to 150 per month.

Visual tour and uploading it to Craigslist

Purchased 5 zip codes from Zillow for leads. $6000 per year.

Micro sites for specific neighborhoods – does a neighborhood a month. – Willow Historic Neighborhood - Phoenix, he uses referral only. Goes after listings.

Banner ads on TV or Newspaper Websites

Radio station advertising - $2200 per month

Keywords – property listings

Form – weekly foreclosure list

Sold cards – sold , in case you missed it, homes I sold

Target market to seniors – went to people who have lived in homes over 20 years through title companies.

Newsletter – neighborhood farming – hand delivers

Three Minutes of Fame

Tupper – does a walk on video like Demetiria with buttons instead of having every time, add banker’s quarterly report.

Leigh Brown – Issuu.com account $19 per month – seller, buyer, relo books

            Don’t print the books just email them to customers

            Green version of the homebuyer workbook

Judy Luna – Magneticlens.com you can get a wide angle or fisheye

Schenfeild – “Free” is my favorite place.

            Calculatedrisk.com – you can tell you a lot of stuff going on in this difficult

            market.

            Google Docs Spreadsheets is for free – put all listings on a spread sheet and

            can view it from the team. Any time a team member changes is changes to

            everyone. It can be viewed on your cell phone. Google is going to rule the

            world.

Orly – Zingding.com with sound enhancements

            Redx – a great expired program

            Shredding event in a neighborhood with a shredding truck.

            Eco-friendly shopping bag Art of Marketing 888

Wynne Achatz – sendoutcards for birthdays, anniversaries

            FAX service, Notary service

Erik Lerner –“Qualify” Architectural Quality of Listing

                                    Enrich your understanding

                        Classicist.org greatbuilding.com notsobighouse.com

Bryan Bomba – Welcome to the Neighborhood Sign for 2 weeks for your buyers.

Scott Pridemore – Canon 50D with wide angle, photomatrix, HDR Techniques and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2

Tim Burrell - Technology & Short Sales – Training for how to go from signing to back approval. Software is www.shortsalecommander.com for working on your short sale. Outsource it to a closing services company for short sale. www.NationalQuickSale.com

www.shortsalenegotiatingspecialist.com

Tami Spaudling – Job Loss Protection Program, mortgage payment protection plan, $500 at closing. Myhelpconnection.com

Valerie Hunter Kelly – Amazon Kindle – paperless, more environmentally friendly. Download 60 books. Much cheaper than buying regular books. Over 1000 blogs. Over 350,000 titles for Kindle. Cost around $260. Free access to Wikipedia.

Susan Camiliere – holiday party, invitation to database 4-5 times over 6 weeks. It is the 1^st Monday of December. Cost $3500.

Virtual Assistants – Sven Andersen, Shane White, Leigh Brown

VA – Using Steve Kantor’s team that he goes over projects for the week and then they implement. Contact management, closing coordinator. It took Sven 7 different VA’s before found one he really worked well with. Creative marketing, post cards, blogs, newsletters, web banners and footers, eCare coordinator (leads for seller, buyer, renter, relo), data base cleanup, better organization and lead management, any thing that doesn’t take a personal touch in office. They become a business expense, no office expense, don’t need to teach, no dead time, no vacation or benefits, 

You can hire for a specific talent.

Order by project.

Finding one by referrals and/or recommendations from agents.

Hourly rate or contract.

What do you think your ROI is for your VA?

VPN to do a remote. Box.net to upload pics,

How to make sure it is the right one

            - things to look for and think about

            - make sure personality, profile fits job description

It is hard to find a good VA.

            www.realsupportinc.com

            www.myreassistant.com

            Steve Kantor

What VA did?

            Updated Real Pro site – babblefish, altos

            Do the brochures – template

            Post cards for just listed, just sold – go to a mail house, special events.

            Listing marketing to craigslist, Zillow, realtor.com, etc

            Monthly marketing eNewsletter

            Posts the blogs, does the Monday Morning Coffee

            Do the drip marketing campaigns, customize it.

            Newsletter can become a blog post

            Referral marketing

            Create stats for houses

            Internet marketing

            Website maintenance

            Internet lead follow-up – leads went from 6% of business to 23%

            Buyer lead management including database organization, phone calls,

                        vetting relo leads

            Enter all leads into central database and attach email campaign.

            Make initial phone call within minutes of prospect registering.

            Schedule recurring follow-up calls

            Access to automated searches

            Send to lenders

            Either they die or buy

            The VA and pick the DISC

            Listing processing

            Calling database

            Closing coordination

Real Pro Systems Upgrade Ideas

John Jones with video that is updated.

Background photo on the front page is video newjerseybesthomes.com

Pick your from pic as a reflection of your area, maybe using the seasons.

Sven Andersen with them around the area North of Boston Real Estate – he went to his VA to creatively work with Real Pro to upgrade for front page.

They do free training. Virtual assistants can be the hired from Real Pro for $30 an hour. They know Real Pro Systems.

Find the Sven page for following on FB, Twitter, and LinkedIn

A blog with a video in it.

John Jones does Tuesday Morning Coffee with a video.

What ever you can bring up on a browser your can put on your blog.

Control panel with videos with 15 different things

Altos research to take info and drop into your pages for market stats

Community market statistic – Bearpath market stats

TeamJodi.com for Chapel Hill Stats to check

Made links for an idx search – look at Janet Reilly Monterey County

Blog article by Zac with a list of terms _ bankruptcy

Rob Zimmer and video

Testimonial videos from raving fans.

Tom Cain sets up community vendors

You can have as many custom pages as you want

Idx broker – drilling down to specific neighborhoods to have for quick look

            Bank owned

            Short Sale

            Traditional sales

Look a Rob Levy to see the specific neighborhoods and then by price

You can go to the idx site from your Bank Owned with idx broker

DOING MORE WITH LESS

“Right Sizing”

Story of the forest fire in the Black Hills

I.                    Know your balance sheet.

A.     Use your past 3 years tax returns to begin with

B.     Don’t for get the dollars your paid your company in looking at GCI

C.     Get yourself up on Quick Book

D.     The 50% Rule in Real Estate – 50% your business, 50% for you!

II.                 Don’t Confuse the Business with Yourself – you make money and spend it.

A.     Make a Business Budget- How will you run your business on 50% of GCI

B.     Make a Personal Budget – How will you run your household on the other

III.               IOU Dearly

“When you Output Exceeds Your Input,

Your Upkeep will be Your Downfall.”

IV.              Reserves

A.     Cash in Bank – how much must you have to run your business

One month, three months, or six months –Cash is King

B.     How liquid are your assets

V.                 Inventory

A.     What is good inventory I have now? Any energy vampires?

B.     What is the saleable inventory I should go after?

C.     There is not a seller or a buyer market. It is the market.

VI.              What you need to know!

A.     What is my cost of taking each listing to closing?

B.     What is my cost of taking each buyer to closing?

C.     What is my hourly rate?

GCI $100,000/3000 hrs = $33/hr

GCI $500,000/3000 hrs = $166/hr

D.     Know your market – stats on unit sales, average sales price, days on

market, months supply, value ranges selling, areas selling, etc

E.      What are the percentages of where your of source of income comes?

VII.            Cutting Expense

A. Fixed expenses – leases, taxes, insurance, telephone, etc

      Rework lease with landlord or cars; insurance deductables; types of

      phones with long distance & line charges, take each line by line

B. Variable – staffing, advertising, education, vechiles, etc

      1. Staffing –Question to ask, “If I had to rehire knowing what I know      

          would I rehire?” If not – bye bye. “Who is the most cross trained or

           willing to cross train?” If they say “It’s not my job.” Show the door.

          Build on a core group. Capable of learning. Incredible flexibility.

If some one specializes – cut to half time so they    

          can work for someone else.

      2. Advertising – I use 1 to 5 ratio. If you spend $1000 in advertising it

          should generate $5000 in GCI. If you advertise and it is not generating

          the proper GCI – get aggressive and cut.

      3. Keep asking the question – “Did I cut enough?”

VIII.         Managing your business Week to Week

Some business look at there business on a year to year budgeting. Better business look at their budgets on a month to month. The most effective businesses in these hard economic times are looking at their businesses every week. 9AM on Monday, What sales happened last week,? What listings happened last week? How many new customers did we get last week? Etc

Then – What is the plan this week? Who is going to buy this week? Who is most likely to sell this week? What do we have to do this week to make this one better than last? What are you committing to do this week?

If you concentrate on yourself 80% of the time on what you need, you will lose.

If you concentrate on what your client needs 80% of the time, you will win.

REAL ESTATE IS PERSONAL!

Current new listing in the 2nd quarter that were lender mediated dropped by 5% to 7,369.

The bank owned properties seem to be dwindling quickly but short sale listings are increasing. This maybe that the banks are willing to work with sellers on their homes that they are upside down in. To get help in this area please check out our new web site www.ShortSaleHELPtwincities.com

For the full report on lender mediated sales for the 2nd quarter click here; http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/FSS/fss.pdf

In the enclosed reports you will find that our inventory of homes for sale is dropping, and has in fact been doing that for 2 years. But to get back to inventories of the early 2000's we still need an additional 25% decrease.

Average sale prices and median sales prices have been declining since 2006 but in these most recent reports you will in an increase in both over the last 2 to 3 months.

Unit sales are up, which is a very good thing. But the great increase in sales has been in the value range under $150,000. At the values over $190,000, sales lag behind last year by 15-25% depending on the value range.

Lender mediated sales (foreclosure & short sale) grew from 6%, 2 years ago to over 50% in 2009. A changing indicator though is that we peaked in percentage of lender mediated sales in the spring of 2009. This trend needs to continue to firm up the values on Twin Cities real estate.

Enclosed are the reports. I would be honored to meet with you to get specific with your property(ies) and how these apply to your specific price range, area, and style.

Monthly Market Indicators: http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/MMI/mmi.pdf

Housing Supply Outlook:http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/HSO/hso.pdf

The Skinny - youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwdCVLCS82A

Traditional sales increase market share

Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 10, 2009) – Traditional, non-lender-mediated homes increased their market share in May, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) based on data from the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc.

The number of traditional home sales is growing. Only 43.0 percent of the pending sales in May were lender-mediated, compared to 59.4 percent in January.

This decrease in lender-mediated market share brought the overall median price up $12,000 from last month to $165,000 in May. Despite the month-over-month increase, that's still a 19.5 percent drop from May 2008. The median May sales price of traditional homes was $214,000, down 4.3 percent from a year ago. Lender-mediated homes posted a May figure of $122,000, down 20.8 percent from a year ago.

There were 5,183 signed purchase agreements in May, up 17.3 percent from this time last year, marking the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year increases.

"With low mortgage rates and the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers we're seeing the recent jump in sales spill over into the traditional market a bit," said Steve Havig, MAAR President.

The number of properties for sale at the end of May was 26,674, down 19.0 percent from this time last year. That amounts to 7.6 months of supply available, down 26.9 percent from this time last year and trending back towards a balanced market of 5 to 6 months of supply. However, there are 9.9 months of traditional supply and only 5.0 months of lender-mediated supply.

"Sales are only up in certain price ranges and on certain property types, so smart pricing and marketing remains extremely important for sellers," said MAAR President-Elect, Brad Fisher.

Established in 1887, the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) is the leading regional advocate and provider of information services, research and education on the real estate industry for brokers, real estate professionals and the public. With more than 8,000 members, MAAR is one of the 25 largest local REALTOR® associations in the nation and serves the Twin Cities 13-county metro area and western Wisconsin.

Enclosed is the most recent "The Skinny" from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors to give a prespective on what is happening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXbOx925NbM

Each area, price range, and style is affected differently by the market. I meet daily with people to discuss what is beest for them in their specific market. Let me know how I can help.

For example if you buy a $100,000 home or condo your down payment would be $3,500. Once you have closed the home you are now eligible for the $8000 tax credit. Instead of waiting until next year to file your taxes your child can amend their taxes and get the $8,000 check from the government this year.

Now as long as your child does not sell their home for the next 3 years then they do not have to pay back the $8,000 tax credit. This holds true whether you have one or more children. In my 35 years of helping first time home buyers buy a home I have never seen such a great way to help them get into a home for virtually no money of their own. It is like our government is paying us to help our kids buy their first home.

If you would like to learn how you can help your children own a part of the American Dream please give me a call at 612-363-6600 or email at steve@stevewestmark.com

What is a foreclosed property? It a real estate property that had a financial lien on it that was defaulted on by the owner and the financial institution followed foreclosure proceeding to gain title to the property. Usaually the default by the property owner goes on for several months before the financial institution begins the foreclosure proceedings. It takes at least six months once the foreclosure proceeding have begun before the financial institution gains the title to the property.

What is a short sale? It is when the encumberances are more than what the property can sell for including costs of sale. If a property has a $200,000 mortgage on it and a buyer was interested in purchasing for $190,000 and the owner doesn't have the money to pay the difference, the owner could contact the financial institution to see if they would accept a payoff of less than the mortgage amount. It is a sale where the bank receives short of what the encumberance is. As a Realtor and training I have received I have helped many a seller in this situation.

Why would a bank consider a short sale? It has been shown that a house that is a foreclosure brings 10 to 20% less than a short sale. Some of the reasons why are that the owner is living in the property and maintaining it, it is not a stripped or damaged house, and it does not carry a foreclosure stigma with it. Also the costs that a bank must go through to cause a foreclosure is very expensive.

Why would an owner consider a short sale rather than foreclosure? A short sale is much better to have on your credit history than a foreclosure. Today banks understand they are better working along with an owner than to work against them in foreclosure. It is a problem solving solution rather than an us versus them solution.

I recently completed course work for my Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation. It is a great course work to help owners work with their bank to resolve situations where they are upside down in the property and work with the bank to keep their dignity and problem solve to a much better solution than foreclosure.

Enclosed is the most recent reporty on foreclosures and shortsales in the Twin Cities. Over 50% of current sales are in that catagory. Two years ago it was 6% of sales, one year ago it was 20% of sales that were in this group. It has be estimated by the CDPE Institute that we may have another 2 to 3 years more of this type of sales because of the predatory lending practices of the past 10 years.

Click here to view the report:

http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/Reports_Analysis/Foreclosure-Short-Sales_2009-Q1.pdf

I am here to help those who are struggling with financial stresses that have been caused by the forces of this real estate and lending marketplace.

Sellers:

1. It can be a convenient way for many people to look in a short period of time at a house.

2. It is an exposure to people that are inquistive and want general information.

3. Sometimes people buy from an open house. (Though it is less than 5% of time how people find their new home.)

Buyers:

1. It is a way to window shop with little commitment.

2. It allows the buyers to look a large price ranges, areas and styles on a Saturday or Sunday.

3. Sometimes the agent holding the open house maybe able to answer specific questions better than an agent taking people from house to house.

I will be holding 4 opens this Sunday and maybe your looking to do some house shopping.

6560 Fox Path, Chanhassen 12 to 1PM $549,000

http://www.westmarkteam.com/property/6560-Fox-Path-Chanhassen-Minnesota

180- West Point Drive, Tonka Bay 1:30 to 2:30 PM  $325,000

http://www.westmarkteam.com/property/180-West-Point-Drive-Tonka-Bay-Minnesota

3345 Crystal Bay Rd, Orono   3-4 PM    $899.000

http://www.westmarkteam.com/property/3345-Crystal-Bay-Road-Orono-Minnesota

6152 Ridgewood Rd, Mound   4:30-5:30 PM    $187,900

http://www.westmarkteam.com/property/6152-Ridgewood-Road-Mound-Minnesota

If you enjoy great values on great properties, please drop by. If you read this blog, say so and I will send you 2 FREE Twins Tickets for upcoming games.

1. The median sales price had an increase for the 1st time in 9 months.

2. The average sales price is still on a decline to for the last 5 month.

3. The afforadablity index is 40% better than last year at this time with lower interest rates and house pricing lower.

4. Inventory on new listings is down 21.7% from two years ago. That is good, but we are still high in comparison to our inventory levels in 2004.

5. Pending sales are up 13.7% from a year ago though the increase in sales is under $150,000 with sales over $250,000 down by about 20%. Each Twin Cities market place varies so each needs a separate look.

6. Lender mediated sales peaked in February at 60%  and now is back in the mid 50% range. A hope of moving towards a more normal market.

7. The total sales volume for sales is down 16.8% from last year, showing that even though total sales are up the homes that are selling are in the lower value ranges. This maybe a reflection on the 1st time homebuyer $8000 tax credit.

Click below for the full report from The Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors:

http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/MMI/mmi.pdf

There is great data available to share with you about your specific area of town. Give me a call if you want more specific information on your area, style of housing and price range.

                          Some of Steve’s Favorite Quotes

·        "A pro is one who does his best work...when he feels the least like
working!"

Frank Lloyd Wright

* "I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career.  I have lost almost 300
games.  On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot,
and missed.  I have failed over and over again in my life...and that is why
I succeed."
- Michael Jordan-

·        "Imagination...is the preview of life's coming attractions."
- Larry Eisenberg

·        Long range planning is not about future decisions. It’ s about the future

results of present decisions.

-Peter F. Drucker-

·        "Ability is what you're capable of doing...Motivation determines what you
do...Attitude determines how well you do it."
- Lou Holtz / Football Coach

·        "Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated...You can't cross
a chasm in two small jumps."
- David Lloyd George

·        "You can't build a reputation...on things you are going to do."
- Henry Ford

Listening to the Right Voices

Listen to God.

Listen to yourself.

Listen to trusted family and friends.

Ignore the crowd.

·        "The man who does not read good books...has no advantage over the man who
can't read them."
- Mark Twain

* "Keep away people who try to belittle your ambitions...small people always
do that...but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become
great."
- Mark Twain

* "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
- Albert Einstein

·        "The secret of success...is making your vocation your vacation."
- Mark Twain

·        "Great works are performed not by strength...but by perseverance."
- Samuel Johnson

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Michaelangelo

·        "If you want people to be glad to meet you...you must be glad to meet
them - and show it."
- Johann von Goethe

·        * "I am an optimist...It does not seem too much use being anything else."
- Sir Winston Churchill

·        * "Discipline yourself to do the things you need to do when you need to do
them...and the day will come when you will be able to do the things you want
to do when you want to do them."
- Zig Ziglar

·        * "In spite of the cost of living...it's still popular."
- Kathleen Norris

·        "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of
comfort....but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

* "It's better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one...than to
have an opportunity and not be prepared."
- Les Brown

* "Until you value yourself.....you will not value your time; until you
value your time.....you will not do anything with it."
- M. Scott Peck, Author

* "A year from now you may wish you had started today."
- Karen Lamb

* "Imagination is more than important than knowledge."
- Albert Einstein

* Proactive people focus on what they can influence and don’t worry about what they can’t influence. In contrast, reactive people focus on the Circle of Concern, losing sight of those things they can truly influence.

* One today is worth two tomorrows. - Benjamin Franklin

* What is the use of running when we are not on the right road? – German Proverb

* Live each and every day as if it were your last- because one day you’ll be right. – Bob Moawad

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Geniuses will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” -Calvin Coolidge 

1.Associate with people who are better at what you do than you are.
2.WIIFM – What's in it for me? - All your customers and clients care about.
3.Always just ask questions, you will avoid most of your business woes.
4.Passive income is far better than an old age home.
5.Having an ideal day and ideal week is the best way to maximize time management and increase efficiency.
6.What you are doing should be fun everyday, if it isn't do something else!
7.We are here on earth to learn lessons; challenges are opportunities for us to learn.
8.If more than 25% of your business is repeat and referral, you aren't growing your business enough.
9.The more detached you get from an outcome, the more attached it gets to you.
10.If you don't have a personal assistant, you are one.
11.Ask yourself often, “What am I supposed to learn from this experience?”

 "There is no traffic jam... on the extra mile."
- Business axiom

* "It's easy to have faith in yourself when you're a winner, when you're
number one...  When you've got to have is faith in yourself when you're not
a winner."
-Vince Lombardi

36 spiritual ways to reduce stress

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happens tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. PRAY

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more.

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry spiritual readings with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you, Lord."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans8:31)

Action points for committed Dads

• Notice and praise a job well done or progress in something your child is doing. Tell him in person—or on the phone or by e-mail, if necessary—"I'm proud to be your dad."
• Say, "You can do it" or "I believe in you," as your child is facing a challenge.
• Assign your child a challenging task and express trust that she can handle it.
• Break out Battleship or another game to play with your child. If you're apart from your child, find a game you can play over the phone.
• Ask God to give you opportunities to teach your children about Him. Plan to have a family devotion time sometime in the next six day

Psalm 23
                   This is an eye opener... Some probably never thought nor looked at this Psalm in this way... Even though they say it over and over again.
                   
                     The Lord is my Shepherd
                     That's Relationship!                 
                  
                      I shall not want

                      That's Supply!                    
                   

                    He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
                    That's Rest!
                   
                    He leadeth me beside the still waters.
                    That's Refreshment!

                    
                    He restoreth my soul
                    That's Healing!
                    
                    He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
                    That's Guidance!
                    
                    For His name sake
                   That's Purpose!
                    
                    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
                    That's Testing! 

                    
                    I will fear no evil.
                    That's Protection!
                    
                    For Thou art with me
                    That's Faithfulness!
                    
                    Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,
                    That's Discipline!
                    
                    Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
                    That's Hope!

                    
                    Thou anointest my head with oil,
                    That's Consecration!
                    
                    My cup runneth over.
                    That's Abundance!
                    
                    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
                    That's Blessing!
                    
                    And I will dwell in the house of the Lord.
                    That's Security!                    
                    
                    Forever
                    That's Eternity!                   
                    
                    Face it, the Lord thinks you are special.  
                    What is most valuable, is not what we have in our lives;
                    But WHO we have in our lives.

Ever get that “burned out” feeling? You’re operating at maximum capacity and doing a darn good job of it, but the inspiration and the motivation start to wane. Don’t feel badly about it – after all, you can only really hit a slump when you’ve been experiencing a streak of success! Slumps do not happen to “losers,” because frankly, they’re always in a perpetual slump!

So what can be done when you hit a bump in the road? Dr. Robert H. Schuller once observed that “when you can’t solve the problem, manage it.” Maybe you can’t control whatever outside forces are weighing down on your ability to move forward. You can, however, take a break and take a step back to look at things you actually can control.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  (Galatians 6:10)

As Christians in the workplace, you and I have been set free of sin and have the awesome liberty to do good to employees, customers, suppliers, investors, and the general public.   Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can have so much fun doing good that we don't have the time or the inclination to do evil!  Isn't that a wonderful way to live?

• You have the awesome opportunity to love your employer and your employees.  If you love them, you will pay them fairly and won't abuse them or take advantage of them.
  ­
• You have the awesome opportunity to love your customers.  If you love them, you'll provide genuine added-value and will not deceive or manipulate them.
  ­
• You have the awesome opportunity to love your suppliers.  If you love them, you'll let them make a profit and you'll pay your bills on time.
  ­
• You have the awesome opportunity to love your investors.  If you love them, you will not take advantage of them, you will keep accurate books, and you will not begrudge them for expecting a reasonable return on their investment.
  ­
• You have the opportunity to love the general public.  If you love them, you won't pollute and spoil their environment.  You'll invest time, talent, and treasure in the community.

God's Will is that each and every person you come into contact with would receive the gift of eternal life in heaven by trusting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

Though my day starts with reading of Scripture, I have found many great ideas and thoughts to implement in my life. I hope you find this to be a good resource for you.

Steve Westmark’s Recommended Books

Time Management and Organization

            First Things First – Stephen Covey

            Is It Worth Dying For? – Dr. Eliot

            If you haven’t got the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it

                        Over? – Jeffrey Mayer

            The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey

            Eat That Frog! – Brian Tracy

            Managing Your Time – Ted Engstrom & Alec McMackenzie

            Half Time - Bob Buford

            Time Traps – Todd Duncan

            Overcoming Overload – Steve Farrar

            Life Strategies – Phillip McGraw

            Now, Discover Your Strengths – Marcus Buckingham

            Why You Do What You Do – Bobb Biehl

            The Difference Maker – John Maxwell

Business Growth

            Good to Great – Jim Collins

            Fish – Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, John Christenson

            212 – the extra degree – S. I. Parker

            QBQ- The Question behind the Question – John Miller

            The Pursuit of WOW- Tom Peters

            17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork – John Maxwell

            The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding – Al Ries

            Who Moved My Cheese – Spenser Johnson

            Lateral Thinking – Edward DeBono

            The Psychology of Winning – Denis Waitley

            The E Myth Revisited – Michael Gerber

            Seeds of Greatness _ Denis Waitley

            Think & Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

            The Magic of Thinking Big – David Schwartz

            Cashflow Quadrant – Robert Kiyosaki

            Raving Fans – Ken Blanchard

            Integrity – Henry Cloud

            Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands – Terri Morrison

            the 4-hour workweek  Timothy Ferriss

Hug your Customers..Jack Mitchell

Hug your People  Jack Mitchell

The Starbuck Experience..Joseph  A Michelli

Starbucked ..Taylor Clark

Monday Morning Choices..David Cottrell

Shift – Gary Keller & Dave Jenks

The New Rules of Marketing & PR – David Meerman Scott

Leadership

            21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John Maxwell

            Management: A Biblical Approach – Myron Rush        

            The 360 Degree Leader – John Maxwell          

            Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham – Harold Myra

            Courageous Leadership  - Bill Hybels                                                 

Leadership Gold – John Maxwell

            Strengths Based Leadership – Tom Rath

Money

            The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas Stanley

            The Richest Man in Babylon – George Clason

            Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki

            Roaring 2000’s –Harry Dent

            The Platinum Rule – Art Fettig

CDs or DVDs

            Star of the Month                     Star Power       www.gostarpower.com

            Your Scripts for Success          Star Power

            Real Estate Live!                      David Knox      www.davidknox.com

            The Mentor Series II                David Knox     

            17 Laws of Teamwork John Maxwell   www.injoy.com

            Trombone Player Wanted         Marcus Buckingham

Team Personality and Strengths

            Now, Discover Your                Marcus Buckingham & Donald Clifton

                        Strengths

            DISC                                       www.onlinediscprofile.com or

                                                            www.gostarpower.com

            Personality Assessment www.winslowresearch.com

            Personality Assessment www.caliperonline.com

Christian Reading

            The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren

            As Iron Sharpens Iron – Howard Hendricks

            Experiencing God – Henry Blackaby

            Dying for Change – Leith Anderson

            Anchor Man – Steve Farrar

            Honest to God – Bill Hybels

            Making Life Work – Bill Hybels

            Ordering your Private World –Gordon MacDonald

            Rebuilding Your Broken World – Gordon MacDonald

            Lord of the Marketplace – Myron Rush

            Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do – Robert Schuller

            Peacemakers

Family

            Raising of a Modern Day Knight – Robert Lewis

            The Blessing – Gary Smalley & John Trent

            His Needs, Her Needs – Willard Harley

            The Hidden Value of Man – Gary Smalley & Gary Trent

            The Tribute – Dennis Rainey    

            Real Family Values – Robert Lewis

            Love is a Decision – Gary Smalley

            The DNA of Relationships – Gary Smalley

            Love and Respect- Emerson Eggerichs

            Boundaries – Henry Cloud

There are always areas of grow to be considered in whatever market you are in though many times it means a large change. If you business was "buggy whips" when the automobile was being introduced, it was wised to reinvent you transportation parts department.

Hope you find the enclosed article helpful.

LEARN HOW TO GROW

Growing your office isn’t just a numbers game these days; it’s a focus on people and education According to the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, there will likely be no growth in the real estate industry until late 2010.

“A lack of liquidity remains the major obstacle to a recovery in the commercial real estate markets at least until the end of this year,” says real estate finance expert Stan Ross, chair of the USC Lusk Center. Ross doesn’t see commercial or residential real estate markets starting to recover — and then only slightly — until the fourth quarter of 2009, with another full year before they grow again.

1. Housing affordability went up 17% for the year from 2007.

2. Total homes sold were down 3.3% and total sales volume was down 16.6%

3. Lender mediated sales grew from 10.4% in 2007 to 31.7% in 2008.

4. New construction sales were down from 2007 by 26%.

5.The greatest increase in median price was in Southern Dakota County at 7.3%.

6. The greatest decrease in median price was in Minneapolis North at 47.3%.

Enclosed is the real estate review with every area and suburb with a vast amount of information. As a real estate professional I always look forward to meeting with people to help decipher this information and what it means.

http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/RREAR/RREAR_2008.pdf

Click here to read article.

http://www.teravisiontech.com/majesticconsulting/postcards2.0/showvideo.php?postcard_id=15&typv=1

I think this article has great and thought provoking information for you as you consider purchasing a home.  Enjoy!  Steve

Commentary by Mike Parker

FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT

As Modified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Major Modifications Italicized

February 2009 FEATURE	CREDIT AS CREATED JULY 2008 APPLIES TO ALL QUALIFIED PURCHASES ON OR AFTER APRIL 9, 2008	REVISED CREDIT – EFFECTIVE FOR PURCHASES ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2009 AND BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2009
Amount of Credit	Lesser of 10 percent of cost of home or $7500	Maximum credit amount increased to $8000
Eligible Property	Any single family residence (including condos, co-ops, townhouses) that will be used as a principal residence.	No change All principal residences eligible.
Refundable	Yes. Reduces (or can eliminate) income tax liability for the year of purchase. Any unused amount of tax credit refunded to purchaser.	No change Purchasers will continue to receive refund for unused amount when tax return is filed.
Income Limit	Yes. Full amount of credit available for individuals with adjusted gross income of no more than $75,000 ($150,000 on a joint return). Phases out above those caps ($95,000 and $170,000).	No change Same income limits continue to apply.
First-time Homebuyer Only	Yes. Purchaser (and purchaser’s spouse) may not have owned a principal residence in 3 years previous to purchase.	No change Still available for first-time purchasers only. Three-year rule continues to apply.
Revenue Bond Financing	No credit allowed if home financed with state/local bond funding.	Purchasers who utilize revenue bond financing can use credit.
Repayment	Yes. Portion (6.67% of credit or $500) to be repaid each year for 15 years, starting with 2010 tax filing.	No repayment for purchases on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009
Recapture	If home sold before 15-year repayment period ends, then outstanding balance of repayment amount recaptured on sale.	If home is sold within three years of purchase, entire amount of credit is recaptured on sale. Applies only to homes purchased in 2009.
Termination	July 1, 2009 (But note program changes for 2009)	December 1, 2009
Effective Date	Purchases on or after April 9, 2008 and before January 1, 2009. Repayment to begin for 2010 tax year.	All revisions are effective as of January 1, 2009

                    ·         Provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases  any home

·         Amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less

·         Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation’s enactment

·         The tax credit would not have to be repaid

·         The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return

·         Only purchases of a principal residence

·         Recapturing the credit if the home is sold within two years of purchase

·         Would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment.

 This has passed the Senate, but the entire bill does need to go back to the House, and be signed by the President. There could be many changes before this happens, or not pass at all. But is it a bright piece for us in the Real Estate industry and would help the housing crisis immensely as you can imagine.

Great news for homes buyers and a relief to homesellers.

Several highlights you will find are that:

1. Sales were slightly up for 2008 over 2007.

2. Average and Median Sales Price in the Twin Cities were down.

3. Inventory of homes for sale has decreased.

4. Months of inventory has decreased since 2007.

5. The biggest positive is that affordability of housing in the Twin Cities is 36% better than at this time last year.

If you would like more information don't hesitate to contact me.

Click on link below for all details from this report:

http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/MMI/mmi.pdf