New Years Predictions (Part I)

December 28th 2007 Posted to Bonuses, Holidays, Industry Trends, Personal Thoughts, Real Estate Market, Trends

New Years 2008I’m happy to be ushering 2007 right out the door! Sure, we’ve had a great year in our business. I’ve worked with some of the best minds in real estate, marketing, internet, seminars, etc. But… we’ve also had our share of headaches this year too.

So… we are out with old and in with the new. We’re taking the next ten days to clean out, empty out and start fresh! So far, we’ve got over 9 bags of paperwork ready for the shredder, the house is being cleaned from top to bottom and the office is getting a MAJOR overhaul.

Plus, we’re putting the finishing touches on lots of new things that we’ll be rolling out in January for YOU!

So… What do you think is going to happen in ‘08? Here are a few of my own predictions!

Visit the blog to see Part I of our predictions (and by all means, please feel free to add some of your own!)

1. Increase in Foreclosures…
We’re absolutely going to continue to see a rise in foreclosures, but I think the lenders are going to start working with us…

2. Change in how ‘deals’ are structured
I think we’re going to seller financing and owner held mortgages coming back. We’ll see more and more lease options.

3. Lenders will start to ‘get it’
I think lenders are going to back down and start working with buyers and investors before they get in the business of property management.

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History of the 4th of July

July 04th 2007 Posted to Bonuses, Freebies, Holidays

FireworksI grew up in a small town in New England. I had no choice other than to be patriotic and proud! We took field trips down the path of Paul Revere and visited the cemeteries of our forefathers. We walked on battleships that served in wars and stood in the same buildings that history was made.

Yet now… more than 230 years later, it’s as if we’ve forgotten. We’re so busy fighting wars in foreign lands, closing down our borders and trying to save the world from famine, we’ve lost what it means to be American.

To be an American means so much more than just to be born here, it means freedom: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of choice. America means capitalism, competition, a free market and democracy. To be an American means to have a dream, a goal, a desire, the American Dream.

So, if you are going to pursue the American Dream, then do it passionately and be proud that you are an American. Know that because of where you live, you have opportunities that others don’t. Define your dream and go after it with the same passion that our Founding Fathers had when laying the foundation for our country. Know that in achieving your dreams, you will have sacrifice and you will have loss along the way. Stick with it when it seems like you’re losing ground. Remember… wars are won battle by battle! And wars are lost one battle at a time!

My advice to you is to get in and stay in. The rewards will be worth it in the end and the financial freedom will be yours to enjoy and pass on to your children and your children’s children.

And … no matter what your opinion is on the war(s), take a moment to honor those that have fought for this country and those that have made the ultimate sacrifice so that you can be an American and enjoy our freedom. Happy 4th of July! Take a moment to post your comments about what you’re doing to create your own American Dream!

And now for you history buffs… A friend of mine forwarded this to me and I thought I’d share it with you!

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