Happy New Year 2011

Hello Friends,

As I sit here and reflect on this past year, I can't help but to think about all that I've accomplished.  Most would naturally reflect upon the negatives and how they'd like to forget about 2010 and start the new year off on a better note.  Not me!  Well not exactly.......

I have to remember what my personal and professional goals were at the start of 2010 and realize where I ended up on that list today.  There are many things on my lists that I just didn't or couldn't tackle in 2010.  I've come to terms with the fact that life just gets in the way and as long as my time is always being utilized in a positive manner, I won't take as many steps into "quicksand" as I did in the past.

My mindset has completely changed to total optimistic forward thinking!  Life is too short to dwell on the can't do's rather than the can do's!

In 2010, I learned alot from my peers, my family, my friends, my colleagues but most importantly, myself!  I take the good with the bad and twist it into positive learning experiences knowing that everything happens for a reason.  People always have these new years resolutions that hardly ever stick and believe me I'm no different!  I think for 2011, I will just plainly hope that I exceed my new personal and professional goals knowing that at the end of 2011, I will feel just as good then as I do now.  If I do that every year, my human natured search for instant gratification will slowly diminish, realizing that hard work really does pay off.  Recharging your batteries once in a while feels better when time off becomes a true reward and not just a common weekend stress relief.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, thanks 2010!  You were a good year and I'm happy to be where I am in life today.  I hope that 2011 is just as good or even better.

"Why settle for less when you deserve more?" -OSH

God Bless, Good Health, Be Prosperous!

Cheers!

Ozzie

If your good friend is a Realtor, are you obligated to use them as your agent?

Q & A ARTICLE I WROTE ON TRULIA IN RESPONSE TO A REAL LIFE SITUATION:

HERE IS THE QUESTION:

A close friend of mine wants to sell her house. She has a very close friend who happens to be a very good agent. The seller wants to get other opinions of value prior to listing. The very good agent, and friend, got upset when seller wanted second opinion. What is your take?

HERE IS MY ANSWER:

Great question John!  I'm sure this scenario comes up more often than not.  We have to remember as professionals, that we provide a service that is viewed by most prospective buyers and sellers as a commodity.  That said, although the "very good" agent is a close friend of the seller, can you blame that person for getting a second or even third opinion?  After all, friendship aside, real estate boils down to strictly business.  The seller needs to look out for their best interest.  If the "very good" agent (friend) is a full time Realtor in that area and is as good as they claim to be, then they shouldn't feel threatened by the seller's actions.  Actually, I would even encourage it since they should already have the upper hand with an established relationship.  Then again, there are lots of people who don't like to do business with friends on either side of the deal mostly because the seller may feel like they deserve extra special preferential treatment.  On the other hand, the agent may approach a listing of their good friend with a lackadaisical approach.  Both approaches are recipe for disaster and that's how friendships are lost!  The "very good" agent will get their friends listing if they are truly deserving!  If not, that "very good" agent shouldn't be upset with the seller, but may start thinking seriously about how "good" they really are in the eyes of their friends?

Corleone Mansion For Sale!

If you know anyone who may be seriously interested in this 8BR, 4.5Bath Tudor Style Mansion in the Emerson Hill section of Staten Island NY, then please contact me ASAP!  This home is the setting for one of the most famous Mobster Movies of all time, "The Godfather" and holds a tremendous amount of movie mystic and film historical value!  An asking price of under $3 million dollars for this iconic home that has been well maintained and holds it's intergity will live on forever in the hands of it's next lucky owner!

For Sale?

A real estate agent was driving back to her office, on her way back from a sales seminar about “For Sale By Owners” when she spotted a charming little farmhouse with a hand written "For Sale" sign out front.

After feeling motivated by the seminar, she pulled up and briskly introducing herself to the startled home owner! The agent cruised from room to room, opening closets and cabinets, testing faucets and pointing out where a "new light fixture here and a little paint there" would help. Pleased with her assertiveness and confidence, the agent was hopeful that the home owner would offer her the listing.

"Ma'am," the home owner said, "I appreciate the home improvement tips and all, but I think you read my sign wrong. It says, "HORSE for sale!"

The moral of this story is: The value of your services may turn out to be worthless if you aren’t fully aware of peoples needs!  -OM

Rent vs. Own: Stop Throwing Your Hard Earned Money Away!

It's staggering when you think about the cost of living, especially if you're a renter and not a home owner. If you are currently paying $1,000 a month for rented housing, over the next three years your property management company will effectively have reaped $36,000 of your hard earned cash. In most cases, you know your rent will go up every year, even if you live in an area that has rent control regulations. You're paying the mortgage for the property owner, when you could be building equity in your own real estate investment.

The tax deductions available to homeowners vary, but there are solid rules the IRS lines out for us. Real estate taxes, mortgage interest, pre-paid interest, and interest on construction loans are all things to take into consideration as tax benefits.

If you or someone you know is currently renting, I urge you to call me to discuss the many loan programs that are currently available to prospective home buyers. My team and I work cohesively with the borrower's financial consultant to ensure the client's long-term goals are met.

Mortgage Interest Rates for Fixed Rate Mortgages*

Rates as of Monday, 1st November, 2010:

*Rates are subject to change due to market fluctuations and borrower's eligibility.

"The highest compliment I can receive is a referral from a friend." "P.S. While my business is good and growing steadily, it is important for you to know that I am never too busy to help those you refer to me: your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers."

What Should I Do?

When I first saw the newest Nike commercial featuring NBA Forward, Lebron James, I found myself thinking, "oh, not this guy again!"

Being a huge NBA fan, I wasn't the only person who had strong opinions about this summer's NBA free agency hype surrounding Lebron James. The 24 hour media circus that ended in a distasteful interview where he announced his final decision to join the already talented Miami Heat with hopes of winning an NBA championship, didn't sit well with me and most NBA fans around the world.

All that being said, I have to admit this commercial is very thought provoking. It basically centers around the reaction towards his decision and what people expected him to do. What everyone else thought was the right and wrong thing to do. How everyone had an opinion about which direction would've been in his best interests.

At the end of the day, we have to live with our own choices. Whether they panned out to be the "right" or "wrong" choice, it's what WE decided at the that time. Everyone has there own agendas and most of us make certain decisions based on our current situation or circumstance.

We all grow up being taught that poor choices bring poor results. But do good choices always bring good results?

In my personal and professional life, I mostly make decisions and choices that I feel have the most favorable outcomes. That's all I can hope for! Anything more than that, not only exceeds my expectations, but the expectations of the people around me. These people are most likely the ones who I seek approval from and praise me for making a difference that truly counted in their lives and ultimately my own.

Timing Is Crucial In Real Estate.....and LIFE!

Approaching eighty-five years of age, Mrs. Harris finally decided it was time to give up her townhome in New York City and move to sunny Miami.  She was given the name of a Florida realtor, who enthusiastically drove her all over Miami, extolling the virtues of every condo they looked at.  "And this one, what a steal," he rhapsodized, "the investment of a lifetime.  Why, in ten years it's gonna be worth three times . . ."  "10 years?", interrupted Mrs. Harris, "Sonny, at my age I don't even buy green bananas!"

MORAL OF THE STORY IS:

Know your client before investing valuable time that some people just can't afford to waste!

 

The Heart of your home is the Kitchen?

There is no doubt that in most households around the world, the kitchen is the heart of the home.  More than any other room in the house, it always seems to be the place where families spend most of there time.  It's where people tend to gather almost as if something were drawing them towards the kitchen versus any other living space in the home.  No matter the occasion, people feel most comfortable in the kitchen - is it because food and drink are produced in the kitchen?  For centuries these things have brought people together, riling up great conversational memories.  It's where families have discussions about the good and bad parts of their days.  It's where most big decisions are made.  It's where we learned about great news and also bad news that are sometimes life altering.

Is this why people are so concerned and focused on the "look" or "feel" of a kitchen when they are considering buying a home?  Real estate professionals have always lived by the law that the kitchen is one of the most important rooms, if not the most important of a home when trying to sell or buy.  Why is it that at every Open House you visit, the Realtor is mostly "set up" to greet you in the kitchen, filled with their marketing propaganda, home information flyers and sign in sheets?  Do Realtors subconsciously realize why their clients place such huge emphasis on the impotance of having a "great" kitchen?  It seems like two things are a deciding factor in determining those "good feelings".  The kitchen either has to be updated if not exactly but even close to their taste, or maybe just a kitchen with lots of potential so that someday, the client can make it their own.

We must realize that as time goes on, peope change and evolve so naturally the kitchen will follow.

Are photos really that important when trying to sell my home?

Ever hear the saying “a picture is worth 1000 words?” It’s almost as if they were referring to real estate listings when they said it originally…LOL!

The first step in advertising your home for sale online is taking and posting great pictures! According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), approximately 93% of homebuyers look online for their next home. This means that if buyers come across your listing and you don’t have enough pictures or quality pictures that show your home in it “best light” then guess what….they quickly move onto the next listing! All because your pictures are NOT a good representation for how nice your home is in real life, showing the “pride of ownership”. I’m sure you’ve spent countless hours getting your home “show room” ready to sell and to display your hard work through crappy pictures can be truly insulting and embarrassing and ultimately a big disappointment when the buyer your home deserves is not there.

The limited characters allowed my most MLS’ can only go so far but then again, today we are more of a visual society rather than taking the time to read through every single nook and cranny while buyers search for their next home. Most home buyers are attracted and drawn towards quality photos, access to conventional still image virtual tour and maybe even a cool video walk thru of your home or as I’ve created the “Virtual Open House Tours” as seen on OSHTV.

Multiple interior and exterior photos that portray the house well are the most basic and if those aren’t done well, how would you expect prospective buyers to become motivated to see your home in person? Buyers are mostly super busy with “life” as we know it ourselves and for them to take time out of their busy schedules to view homes in person, they need to know it could be worth their time and effort.

Statistics show that a home that is advertised with spectacular photos versus unflattering photos will have fewer days on market and sell for a better price. Savvy marketing techniques with a little extra pep gives your listing that needed edge in today’s competitive high inventory market!

For more information getting your home ready to SELL, contact me for a FREE marketing consultation!

New Home Sales Bounce Back

New Home Sales Bounce Almost 27% Higher in March 2010

Sales of new homes broke out of a four-month winter slump with a bang in March 2010, soaring 26.9% over February; the government recently said..READ MORE

(Source: RISMEDIA - April 28, 2010)

Feds vs. Raw Data - Both Positive Market Outlook

Should you listen to the Feds or the latest pending home sales numbers?

Feds recently found positive signs in consumer spending and manufacturing output increasing despite snow storms and all around bad weather for most of 2010.  Both are key indicators of improving economic conditions.  Consumer spending accounts for approximately 70% of US economic activity and directly effects employment growth.  Consumer spending also increased one half of 1% in January outpacing income growth for the fourth straight month!  What does this mean you ask??  Basically it means consumers are slowly regaining confidence and beginning to feel good again about buying more goods and services.

NAR states pending home sales/signed contracts came in 12% higher in January 2010 than last January.  These numbers should hit significant highs as a large percentage of the existing buyer pool rush to secure home contracts before the home buyer tax credits expire.

Overall it seems we are taking economic steps forward and there is a positive outlook in the market! 

For more information about home buyer tax credit, please go to: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215827,00.html

Happy House Hunting!

Early Signs of Spring

I’ve been so busy already this year as it seems people are really getting aggressive with their home sales & purchases. From what I can tell, there are three BIG reasons for all the great activity!

1. The fact that home prices in most areas of the US have stabilized considerably.
2. The home buyer tax incentives, that unfortunately will expire by the end of April 2010.
3. Interest rates still seem favorable but word on the street is that won’t be the case too much longer.

For more info about our strengthening real estate market or to be added to my FREE monthly market newsletter, send an email to ozzie.marten@cbmoves.com.  You are obligation free and may opt out at any time.  My newsletter has grown to reach over 1000 homes and has brought targeted, up to date, comprehensive market area information to families and friends in N.J. and across the U.S. 

Happy house hunting!