I was very flattered recently when someone I just met offered me a position with his company.  From the few interactions that we've had, he was impressed with my honesty and my personality.  It was such a great compliment to me that he felt that I was honest and ethical, had a likable personality and was aggressive enough in sales to help out his company.  The questionthat he had was whether or not I had the passion for what he was doing.

  Actually, it was a question that I struggled with myself.  I saw the potential of his business (I'm pretty good at seeing the big picture), but I wasn't sure that this position "fit me."  While it was a great opportunity, I knew my heart was still in real estate.  (At this point, some of you think I'm crazy considering the market, but I do love it).  I've also been told that I've been hired because I was aggressive in marketing the home.  Well, that's good but I have to tell you that it is a fine line between being aggressive or being pushy.  While the market is up and down, I do my best to promote your home in all avenues possible... you never know where the next buyer may come from.

   Now, I've been in real estate for 6 years and if you would have asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up... being a Realtor was not on the list.  In fact, since I'm not the hard core salesperson, some people doubted that I could actually do real estate.  I was once told that I'm too detailed to do this business.  I find that very interesting considering there are so many details (especially behind the scenes) that need to be taken care of.  I used to be a very organized person and still am to some degree (right now, everything is in neat stacks...several to be in fact.  I just have to figure out what stack has what I need.  For peace of mind, don't worry I do find what I'm looking for!)  I also used to be somewhat shy.  Now, I love being around people.  Do you ever think about how you were ten years ago and how you're different today?

   So that was the past.  Onto the present.  This year has been a year that I've tried to enjoy the moment for the moment.  What exactly does that mean?  It means that if I'm driving the kids to school in the morning, than that's were my mind is at. If I'm going on a listing appointment, than I need to focus there.  Currently, the schedule has been a little chaotic with real estate, being a mom and wife, and don't forget all the sports that take up a lot of our nights.  As many of you know, the kids grow so fast and I truly love watching the kids do their thing.  It's a short period of time in our lives, but I'm loving every minute of it and then comes the summer schedule!

   Looking into the future, know that I'm continually keeping up on market trends and furthering my education in housing related fields.  I'm constantly taking notes on how to improve myself and my business and in fact, if you have any ideas, I'm very open to listening to the advice you may have.

  Business is so much like life.  In fact, I don't see how people can be one way in business and be another way in a different setting.  It's just hard for me to comprehend.  I teach my kids (just so you know, they are not perfect... but I'm trying) that whatever they do, there will be consequences, either good or bad and sometimes the bad consequences can have long term ramifications.  I also let them know that they know what is right and wrong, and do what's right (again, it's about those consequences!)  There are other things I teach them but I know that they'll do what I do.  Basically, I have to lead by example and that has to hit all areas of my life.  One Sunday in church we had a sermon titled, "What's on Your Tombstone?"  I remember this sermon well even though it was probably 3-4 years ago.  While there were several good points, the one that stayed with me and that I've thought about often is, When all things are said and done, what will you be remembered for? 

 

To answer the famous question, "What's Going on in the Market?"  Here you are... 

Single Family and Condo Report

Price                                          #Sold through

                                                            June            

$0 to $  99,999                                          1810

$100,000 to $199,999                               1870

$200,000 to $299,999                                 451

$300,000 to $399,999                                 125

$400,000 to $499,999                                  49

$500,000 and over                                       44

 

New Listings Jan - June

2008                  2007

16,035                18,599

 

Total Sales

2008                  2007

5,981                 5,745

 

The number of listings currently on the market is down in comparison to last year and sales are up.  Email me if you would like to see what's going on in your specific neighborhood! This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

WOW! It's been a long time since I blogged on my site.  So sorry to my avid readers!  Life is busy, there is real estate, more real estate and oh yeah, don't forget about life in general... kids, kid's baseball games, activities, maybe supper once in awhile.  You get the drift... life just gets hectic sometimes.

Good things have been happening and greater thingsare right around the corner.  Right now, if I could give you my perspective on things and answer my most asked question, "What's going on in the market?"  I would say that we are going through another change.  (Duh!)

  In all seriousness, consumers are becoming more aware of the cost associated with the higher crude prices, how that affects not only their gas bill but items related to it such as groceries. 

My question to you ~ Are we finally going to become more cost conscience and not be so heavily indebted?  If you haven't realized it by now, the reason for a lot of our foreclosures and other problems were not just the lending institutions overlending or setting people up on A.R.M. (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) but HELLO, we were the ones borrowing the money, right?

The "REAL" Estate Market 

My goal in helping you find that perfect home is to find the home and PRICE RANGE that you can comfortably afford.  I hate coming back to a home and knowing that it's about to or already has gone in foreclosure.  It truly is sad for me to see. 

On the flip side, because of all the foreclosures, it truly is the time to buy.  I don't believe that we will ever see a time like this when we can get so much for our money.  Now, we don't need to overextend ourselves but with the deals that are out there... NOW is the time to buy!  Did you catch that... "NOW is the time to buy!"  The Donald Trumps of the world are not waiting to later.  They buy when the stocks (housing/or other investments) are low and sell when they are high.  That's why he is a multi-millionaire.

So, what's holding you back.  Many people have mentioned that they are just not sure when gas prices are going to stop.  If you have the money to do so, you may want to consider buying a house.  Let's say you qualify for $150,000.00, my suggestion would be to look at a home for $100,000.  You have no allowed yourself room in your budget to handle whatever happens in the outside world and forces we can't control as well as providing equity.  The housing market runs in a cycle and just like economics, it has to come back around.  Call or email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to find the home that is within your budget and will be of great value to you in the future.  Food for thought!

I'm always reading articles about how successful people are "successful" and today is like no other.  Ironically, these articles always come in handy and happen to hit when I may need it the most.  Here's what "successful people" do.  Are you doing them?

1. Be True to Yourself - Basically, listen to the little voice in the back of your head and do what it says.  It's hardly ever wrong.  I've also found that when I try to be someone I'm not or niche into an area that I really don't like, that it just doesn't work.
2. Give Back.  Repay What You Have Been Given - In the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, the point is made that when things are at your worst and you don't know where the next job or paycheck is coming from... give a little bit more because you've now opened the flood gates.  Wow, that's a difficult one for me!
3. Never Aspire for Average - This one I like.  If you strive to be average, you will be.  If you set the bar high and aim for the top, you leave quite a few people in the dust.
4. Never Quit Learning or Reading - Your mind grows stale without new stuff to put in it.
5. Surround Yourself with People Who Make You Feel Better - Now, is not the time to spend time with your doom and gloom friends.
6. Bad Things Will Happen - Be Prepared - This one hit hard as my computer crashed the other day and I've been scrambling to find a new computer as the labtop needs a new motherboard and will be out of commission for 3 weeks!  The Bible says to be joyous in all trials (James 1), I haven't accomplished the joy aspect yet but I think I've handled the disappointment pretty well up to this point.
7. Give Thanks for Your Blessings Daily - We are so quick to complain yet so slow to give thanks.

So, I don't know about you... but I have a few of these to work on.  How about you?

References: Kitchens, Ron. "Education and the seven rules." Business Review Western Michigan. May 15-21, 2008.

Michigan's economic struggles always seem to be in the forefront of the media and on people's minds.  And rightly so, all business sectors have struggled and many people have had to make moves that would be right for their family.  Interestingly enough, as others have moved out of state, Johnny's Lunch has decided to Move Into Michigan. ; Can you believe it?

Johnny's Lunch sees Michigan and Grand Rapids in particular as an opportunity.  Johnny's Lunch is a Ohio franchise with quick-serve hotdogs and burgers with "extremely low" prices (Beeke).  Johnny's Lunch is a 72 year old company with national expansion plans with Livonia, Michigan being their first stop.  Closer to home in Downtown Grand Rapids in the Monroe Center is our first Johnny's Lunch.  Three more franchises are planned to open up in other areas of Grand Rapids as well.

Why did Johnny's Lunch decide to come to Michigan when others have been leaving?  Here's what the president George Goulson had to say, "We knew all that stuff going in.  We also knew in Michigan there's a lot of opportunity to get in on the ground floor." (Beeke).

HMMMM!  Aren't Enterpreneurs looking for the ground floor opportunities?  Noodles & Co. franchises have also benefited from the low cost products as people may be trading down from the upscale restaurants to more "casual dining".  Did you know, that the Michigan market for Noodles & Co. has outpaced any of their other markets?  Interesting.

Good things are happening in Michigan and in Grand Rapids.  It depends on how you want to look at the cup... is it half full or half empty?  Johnny's Lunch believes its over half full!

References: Beeke, Candace. "Retailers debate coming to Michigan." Business Review Western Michigan. May 15-21, 2008.