Three Skills For Better Negotiation

Dear Friends,

Here are Three Of The Skills For Better Negotiation that we teach in the Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) designation and training seminar.

Negotiating is a make-or-break skill, whether you’re a CEO in charge of a merger or a parent trying to sort out a sibling squabble. Follow these tips to negotiate agreements productively:

Keep an open mind. Brainstorm ideas. Listen to outlandish proposals. Entertain unusual possibilities. This will expand opportunities for agreement.

Treat people fairly. When people feel you’re being fair with them, they’re more likely to make real commitments. If they think you’re trying to mislead them, they’ll walk away in a huff. You won’t get commitment unless the other party feels you’re sincerely trying to do what’s right.

Listen actively. Don’t plan what you’re going to say while the other side is talking. Pay attention to what they’re saying so you know where they’re coming from and what they really want. When your response makes it clear that you’ve really been listening, they’ll be more willing to listen to your suggestions.

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton ITI, CLC, CNE, CSSN, WOW
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047

One of the fastest ways to build a successful business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

http://www.yourprofessionaldevelopment.com/
Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) Designation Training

The Law of Attraction + The Law Of Action

Dear Friends,

Do you remember that first spark of hope you felt when you watched The Secret? I clearly remember the desire that filled my heart, knowing that - Yes, I can make my dreams come true - FINALLY!

But how many of you soon saw that hope dwindle into frustration? How many of you (and be honest now) started muttering things like:

- "It seems to work for other people, but I just can't get it right."

- "I'm frustrated that sometimes I can get it to work, but sometimes I can't. What's the trick?"

- "Why am I having so much trouble?"

- "I think the universe is against me."

- "I'm trying very, VERY hard but still nothing is happening!"

Don't worry, you're not alone. About 97% of people also couldn't make the Law of Attraction work for them the first time round.

Think about it, just like anything else, you have to practice many times before you see success. A child doesn't learn to walk without falling over a couple of times.

But in practice, everything is easier said and done. When you're frustrated, it's hard to stay positive; it's especially hard to stay positive when the evidence all around you is screams negativity like the unstable economy or senseless acts of violence.

And do you know what happens when you fail to stay positive? That's right - you start attracting negative things in to your life.

So how can you make the Law of Attraction work for you - without getting frustrated? How do those who successfully implement the Law of Attraction do it with such confidence and finesse?

Well, here are three quick tips so you will never feel frustrated or tired of begging from the universe, because you know how to start manifesting like a pro.

1. Allow Yourself To Receive

Just like a lost child who approaches a police officer and asks, "Excuse me Sir, can you tell me how to go to the post office? Can you? Can you? Can you? Can you? Can you?" Well, if the child goes on and on asking, the police officer can't even give an answer, right?

Well, it's the same thing with your mind. If the only thing your mind is doing is transmit, transmit, transmit, the universe -- which is trying to respond -- can't give you a single thing because you're not allowing yourself to receive!

So, have the confidence in yourself and stop exhausting yourself by running around person to person begging for riches, and then wondering why nobody is dropping a penny in your cup (Hint: It's because you're running away too fast for them before they can even reach for their wallets).

Just think of your desires and leave it out there, go away, and trust that your cup will be filled with gold coins (or whatever it is you asked for) when the time is right.

2. Be Patient With Yourself

Receiving takes time.

Sadly, many people give up just a couple of steps before the finish line because they've decided that if it's not working by now, it's never going to work at all. Worse still are those who throw in more and more energy because they think that with more resources, the results will come faster.

This is like expecting 9 mothers to conceive and deliver a baby in 1 month. You also can't bake cookies in half the time by doubling the temperature. You'll incinerate those cookies to ashes!

In simple terms: Everything in this world has a natural development time, and this fact will not change no matter what resources you throw at it.

So relax and be patient. Remember that you too, as part of the universe, are also governed by the laws of the universe, and you cannot change the natural development time.

If you remember this, you will less likely work yourself up into frustration, or worse, push yourself into a downward spiral of negativity.

3. Support and Educate Yourself

Like the child who is learning how to walk, you need support. You also need to guidance on how to do it, and also the role models to look up to.

Many people give up because they think that "The Secret" is the "be all and end all" solution. Well, it's NOT. "The Secret" is just a small portion. It was never intended, and has never been, the whole answer.

Coming to the conclusion that the Law of Attraction doesn't work when all you ever did to educate yourself was watch "The Secret" 19 times (without looking at changing the habits of other areas of your life) is like coming to the conclusion that exercising is not an effective way to lose weight because all you did is run on the treadmill for 2 hours a day (but you're still stuffing yourself with fried foods and cheesecakes).

So seek and be hungry for new knowledge. Also, make an effort to be amongst people or communities where you can support each other, learn from each other and also share new knowledge that you have found.

While the Law of Attraction is not an overnight delivery service, it will indeed deliver, if you do your part too!

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me.....
the best is yet to be!

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton ITI, CLC, CNE, CSSN, WOW
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047

One of the fastest ways to build a successful business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

http://www.yourprofessionaldevelopment.com/
Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) Designation Training

New Approach To Problems

Dear Friends,

At work, at home, even on vacation, there are always problems that need solving. Some problems are easy to solve with the same solutions that have always worked. Others call for a fresh thinking, an original approach. Try these tips for generating exciting, new ideas:

Rephrase your problem. Turn your problem around by describing it in different words. Instead of “How can we produce more widgets?” ask, “What’s preventing us from producing X widgets a week?”

Dig deeper. Instead of focusing exclusively on the present situation, explore the background. When did the problem start, for example? What changed? Or, what are some of the underlying causes? What could you do about them?

Avoid either/or thinking. Don’t limit the possibilities. Instead of “We can either raise revenues or cut costs,” look for ways to do both, or find additional options. Maybe you have time to work on only one project, for example, but instead of neglecting the other, perhaps you can find someone else to get it started.

Ask for help. No matter how smart you are, an extra brain will usually help you find options you wouldn’t have considered on your own. Someone else’s eyes may see angles you hadn’t spotted before. Go outside your usual circle of advisors for a different perspective.

Keep a log. Carry a small notebook and get into the habit of writing down your ideas as they occur to you, so they’ll be accessible when you need them. Don’t worry about how practical your ideas are in the beginning, or what they might apply to. Just looking through your list may spark a thought you wouldn’t have found before.

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me...
The best is yet to be!

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton ITI, CLC, CNE, CSSN, WOW
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047

One of the fastest ways to build a successful business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

http://www.yourprofessionaldevelopment.com/
Certified negotiation Expert (CNE) Designation Training

Government Regulation Clogs the Pipes

Dear Friends,

It's no secret that many facets of lending and real estate have changed as a result of the credit crisis. In addition to tightened lending practices that resulted from rising mortgage elinquencies, Washington has been heavily involved in altering the way lenders do business today.

Two individual pieces of legislation impacting our business need to be taken into account when determining closing dates for purchase transactions.

Home Valuation Code of Conduct – The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) went into effect May 1, 2009. Intended to shield appraisers from undue influence from loan officers and lenders, this legislation installed a "firewall" between those individuals directly involved in the origination of the loan from the selection of and contact with appraisers.

HVCC also requires that borrowers receive a copy of the appraisal a minimum of three days in advance of closing. Part of the kicker here is that "received" is considered, in effect, three business days after the appraisal has been mailed to the borrower. As HVCC requires a firewall between the originator and the appraiser, the time to receive an appraisal has increased, in some cases by as much as two weeks or more. While this may not always be the case, it is important to takeinto consideration when considering closing dates. Today, conservative closing dates are mandatory to properly manage expectations of all parties.

Housing and Economic Recovery Act – The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) amends and impacts several aspects of obtaining a mortgage, the disclosures required for borrowers, and the timing of their delivery. This impacts the minimum time required to close, and should any changes be made to a loan application that could impact the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), this could impact the closing date.

Other than paying for a credit report, lenders may not accept any additional fees from a borrower until four business days after disclosures have been provided to or mailed to a borrower. This has the potential to delay several aspects of the application process.

Finally, upon making application, a borrower is provided a Truth in Lending (TIL) statement, detailing the total expected costs that could be incurred over the life of the loan. Should anything change in the loan application that could change the APR by more than .125%, a new TIL must be reissued to the borrower a minimum of 3 business days before closing. Items impacting the APR could include a borrower accepting a higher interest rate than initially qualified by floating their rate at application, a change to the loan amount, a change in product, a change in closing date, and any changes to fees.

What Now? – While there is more we can discuss on the specifics of these legislative implications, I felt it important enough to let you know now that I would not recommend you write purchase contracts with short closing time frames.

I will be preparing additional information you can provide both your buyers and sellers to help explain the rationale behind not scheduling closing dates in advance of 30 days at a minimum and ideally not less than 45 days.

Thank you again for your business and if you have any questions, please pick up the phone and call me.

As Always...
On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton ITI, CLC, CNE, CSSN, WOW
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047

One of the fastest ways to build a successful business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

http://www.yourprofessionaldevelopment.com
Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) Designation & Training
Certified Short Sale Negotiator (CSSN) Designation & Training

Travel Tips: the Art of Packing

Dear Friends,

I don't need to tell you that I travel a lot both on business & pleasure, because you already know that. As I pack today for yet another trip, I thought I would share some of my packing tips with you....

With airlines increasing fees for checked and even carry-on baggage, mastering the art of
packing has never been more important for today's smart travelers. The following tips will
help you pack smarter and arrive with everything you need.

Prepare for Success
The first step for the smart packer is to turn on the computer. That's right, don't do anything
until you first visit the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) website for its latest list
of prohibited items. You can be the best packer in the world, but it won't matter if the items in
your luggage are not TSA-approved. While you're there, be sure to take a look at
TSA-approved locks as well, and avoid further delays.

Check with Your Airline
While you're online, visit your airline's website for the latest luggage restrictions. After all, before you can make the most of your luggage space, you have to know exactly what you're working with: the maximum number, weight, and size of both carry-on and checked bags.

The 4-1-1 on the 3-1-1
Start with toiletries, and be sure to follow the TSA's "3-1-1 Rule." According to this rule, liquids and gels of three ounces or less must be packed in a one-quart-sized resealable plastic bag, with one bag per person. Pack this bag in a separate, side compartment to limit any messy accidents and to make it easy for inspection if necessary.


Have a Game Plan
Think about what you're going to be doing and what you're going to need and bring only what is necessary. Color coordinate your wardrobe by mixing and matching garments from a single color palette. Remember, you can always dress things up or down with the right accessories.

Start Packing!
Wear your bulkiest shoes and pack any others first in your bag. Be sure to utilize the space within your shoes – socks and other pliable items – and then wrap your shoes in shoe bags.

Roll or bundle similar garments to help organize and minimize space. For example, start with a shirt or jacket and lay it out flat on your bed with its arms flat. Then add a similar garment on top but inverted between tissue paper. Fold all arms in and carefully roll. Do the same for pants or other items. Do not pack garments in plastic bags and alternate bundles in flat layers.

For some large or odd-sized items, like golf clubs or surf boards, shipping might be cheaper and safer than bringing them along. If you do choose to ship any luggage, be sure to let the hotel know beforehand. Note the date of arrival clearly on the package and indicate that you are a guest. This will ensure prompt service once your bags arrive.

That's it, you're all packed and ready to go. Have a great trip. And when you get back, give us a call and let us know of any other packing tips we should add to our list.

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton ITI, CLC, CNE, CSSN, WOW
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047

NEW! - $8,000 Tax Credit Can Be Used for Down Payment !

HUD Secretary Announces Monetization of Tax Credit at NAR Real Estate Summit WASHINGTON (May 12, 2009) - Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a downpaypment.

Donovan's remarks came in an address to several thousand Realtors® gathered this morning at The Real Estate Summit: Advancing the U.S. Economy, a special daylong session at the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here.

Secretary Donovan said that important changes, which the National Association of Realtors® has been calling for, will help consumers purchase a home. "We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a downpayment," Donovan said. According to Donovan, the FHA's approved lenders will be permitted to "monetize" the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.

Donovan said the Obama administration plans to further stabilize the housing market. "I do think we have some early signs that the market overall is stabilizing," said Donovan. "Since January we've seen both home sales moving up and down around a relatively stable number and we are seeing the first signs that the rapid decline in home prices is starting to abate."

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said, "As the leading advocate for housing issues and homeownership, NAR continues to take a leadership role in promoting ideas for improving our economy by stabilizing the housing and real estate markets. Today we have the best of the best to begin a dialogue, develop solutions and initiate action toward real estate and economic recovery."

The morning session included a panel discussion that was moderated by CNBC's Ron Insana. The 13 panelists and Realtors® in attendance examined cutting-edge solutions necessary to promote and preserve homeownership and real estate development, stimulate the economy, and protect the nation's taxpayers. They also shared their ideas on what the role and responsibility of the federal government is in the revitalization effort.

The list of distinguished panelists include Dr. Martin Feldstein, professor of Economics from Harvard University; Dr. Barry Bluestone, professor of Political Economy from Northeastern University; John Taylor, CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition; Maria Kong, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers; and Sarah Rosen Wartell, executive vice president for the Center for American Progress.

"Right now the Federal Reserve is the market," said Jay Brinkman, chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association. "What will be the effect when the Fed stops buying?" Brinkman explained that an exit strategy must be planned for the long-term; the federal government cannot continue to support the mortgage markets indefinitely.

"We must make sure FHA and the GSEs are supported," added the Wharton School's Susan Wachter.

"We are thrilled that so many high-caliber individuals were able to join us today at this important meeting to promote stability in the housing market and the U.S. economy," McMillan said. "We look forward to an ongoing dialogue and action toward this goal, during our midyear meetings this week and beyond."

The real estate summit is part of the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here through Saturday. During the week, more than 8,500 Realtors® will attend meetings, visit lawmakers and inspire action on Capitol Hill.

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047


The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # # Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org . News releases are posted in the Web site's "News Media" section in the NAR Media Center.

A Gift They Won't Forget

Dear Friends,

Want to make yourself "unforgettable" to your clients and associates?
Try this novel idea...give a book!

One great benefit of giving a book is that it won't get thrown away. Even if it doesn't immediately get read, a book certainly won't get pitched in the trash. Be honest. Like most people, you probably have a stack of books somewhere in your home or office that have not yet been read, but there they sit, patiently awaiting a quiet, relaxing hour of your time.

Books are also flattering to the recipient as an "intellectual" gift. Even if your recipient isn't a big reader, they will be flattered that you thought that they might be! And many people even claim that a house is not a home without a few good books at hand.

Books are cost-effective. Most great books are available for well under $20, and many are even less than $10. You can save yourself even more money - and time - by purchasing several copies of a favorite book to have on-hand, or ordering multiple copies online or through your local bookstore. Book aficionados might even enjoy a trip to browse through the aisles of the local bookstore, but if a fast search and online ordering is more your speed, try www.amazon.com.

Books are also perfect for the whole family. Most parents would agree that the best way to win their hearts is to be thoughtful of their children. Especially if the family is going through a major change such as moving to a new home, don't forget about the kids.

Books can be easily personalized. A simple handwritten inscription inside the front cover of the book such as, "Very best wishes to you in your new home!" or "This is a great read - hope you enjoy it as much as I did!" followed by your signature really makes the book something personal and special.

And speaking of being personalized, if you really want to do something special, select a book on a specific topic you know they will like. If they're into remodeling or just purchased a "fixer-upper," a how-to book would be perfect. If they've recently retired and are ready to hit the road to explore and travel, find a book about ways to plan terrific vacations. Your selection will show how much you care, in a far deeper way than, say, a fruit basket ever could.

Amazon's website has an excellent search feature. Simply enter key words such as "new home," "gardening," or "road trips" and you will be quickly directed to a great selection of books to browse. You can now even "thumb through" the book online, viewing the front and back covers, table of contents and an excerpt from the book, as well as reviews.

One great idea is to purchase regional books that showcase what might be little-known facts and history of your city or state, secret spots for a day trip, pictures of "then and now." For the young and the young-at-heart alike, try Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree or Dr. Suess's Oh, The Places You'll Go! Simple and understandable, these books are moving, meaningful, and memorable. And for anyone and everyone on your list, George Clason's The Richest Man in Babylon is a home run. It is a quick, easy parable about wealth-building principles, one of the best-selling books of all time.

If there are some books you think I should add to my list, please don't hesitate to give me a call.

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047

One of the fastest ways to build a successful referral based business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

http://www.YourProfessionalDevelopment.com
Coaching - Training - Consulting - Certified Negotiation Expert Designation

Interesting – Or Interested?

Dear Friends,

At any kind of gathering but especially during holiday party time, do you find yourself struggling to make conversation with strangers?

Well, a wise person once said, “Be interested instead of interesting.” In other words, the best way to get a conversation going with someone you don’t know is to be interested in them, rather than offering (perhaps over offering) information about yourself. How do you show you’re interested? By asking questions that aren’t too personal, and elicit more than a “Yes” or “No” answer. For instance:

· How do you know our host/hostess?
· What are your plans for the holidays?
· What do you think about (a current event)?
· I’m looking for a new restaurant to try – do you have one you love?
· There are so many movies coming out over the holidays – can you recommend one?

Finally: Listen to the person’s answer, make eye contact, and prompt further conversation by nodding when appropriate and saying “Really?” or “How interesting!” And who knows? That person you were nervous about talking to just might become a friend.

Have a Great Holiday.
On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton ITI, CNE, WOW
Your Trusted Advisor For Life
347-466-3047

Tips To Save Time

Dear Friends,

Need more leisure time?

These days that’s a pretty common problem and goal. We’re working more hours and spread pretty thin, but don’t despair. Here are a few time management tips that work well in both your business and personal life:

Use a daily planner.
Electronic or paper, it doesn’t matter. Choose one that gives you at least one page per day, and then make sure you always keep it with you. Jot down your commitments as you go.

Get rid of your to-do list.
Why? To-do lists often end up being frustrating and futile, something you never quite get to. Transfer the items on your to-do list to a particular time and day in your daily planner. You’ll be amazed at how much your stress level goes down and how much you accomplish when you do this.

Set aside a block of time to return phone calls and answer emails.
Choosing early morning to do this is often best since the other person will have the rest of the day to respond. Of course, return urgent messages and phone calls in a timely manner.

When talking on the phone or in face-to-face conversations,
Give the other person your full attention. Don’t scroll through your email inbox or fill out your daily planner when you’re talking to someone. Make sure that your communication is clear and focused, which will reduce the need for clarification and other time-wasters in the future. Don’t multitask when you deal with people; it never pays off.

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me...
The best is yet to be!

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life


One of the fastest ways to build a successful referral based business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

HUD MARKS 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT

Last year, more than 10,000 discrimination complaints filed, most from disabled persons

FAIR HOUSING (4 CE Hours In NY)
This course fulfills the Department of State Fair Housing requirement
April 8, 2008 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Richmond County Real Estate Institute
Staten Island Board Of Realtors
1535 Richmond Ave, Suite 3
Staten Island, NY 10314
Attention: Debbie Learner 718.979.0007
This courses is FREE to SIBOR members in good standing.
Non-members cost $40

WASHINGTON – More than 10,000 people filed housing discrimination complaints last year, most from persons with disabilities, according to an annual report released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD also found that race-based housing discrimination was the second most frequent reason individuals filed complaints.

Meanwhile, President Bush today issued a proclamation marking the 40th anniversary of the passage of Fair Housing Act.

Of the more than 10,000 complaints filed last year, 43 percent alleged discrimination against persons with disabilities while 37 percent alleged racial discrimination. Most complainants claimed to be victims of discrimination in the terms and conditions of the sale or rental of housing, or outright refusal to rent.

“Forty years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act, an alarming number of families are still being denied housing and still need the protections this landmark law offers,” said Kim Kendrick, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “This report underscores the importance of HUD’s continued enforcement, education, and outreach activities to ensure that all Americans have equal access to housing opportunities.”

The report describes the enforcement activities of HUD and its state and local partners during FY 2007. For example:

• A case that resulted in a $75,000 settlement for an African-American woman in California who was allegedly denied the opportunity to rent an apartment because of her race.
  


• A case that resulted in a $14,000 settlement for a woman in Illinois who was allegedly denied the opportunity to buy a townhouse because she has children.
  


• A case that resulted in a $10,000 settlement for a man with a disability in New Jersey who was allegedly denied an accessible parking space as a reasonable accommodation for his disability.
  


• A voluntary compliance agreement with the Atlanta Housing Authority that resulted in a commitment by the Authority to create at least 310 accessible units for persons with disabilities by 2011. This figure represents 5 percent of its housing stock.
  

In addition, the report details HUD’s fair housing education and outreach efforts. For example:

• HUD placed fair housing advertisements on more than 900 movie screens throughout the country. These advertisements informed viewers that it is unlawful to discriminate in the sale, rental, or financing of housing and provided HUD’s toll-free telephone number, 1 (800) 669-9777, for those that may have experienced or witnessed unlawful discrimination.
  


• Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST, a HUD-funded training program, trained 1,351 individuals in 22 training sessions in 17 states on the Fair Housing Act’s design and construction requirements for multifamily housing.

HUD’s annual report was released at the beginning of National Fair Housing Month, which HUD celebrates every April to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act. This year the release coincides with the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Fair Housing Act. To commemorate this anniversary, HUD will hold a fair housing policy conference in Atlanta, Georgia from April 8-11 for policymakers, advocates, and housing-industry professionals. The theme of the conference is, “On the Sunlit Path” which comes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, “I Have A Dream speech” where he said, “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice…” The conference will discuss ways to promote Dr. King’s vision for equality and justice in housing.

For those who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination they should contact HUD at 1 (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY)

Join me for:

FAIR HOUSING (4 CE Hours In NY)

This course fulfills the Department of State Fair Housing requirement
April 8, 2008
6:00pm – 10:00pm
Richmond County Real Estate Institute
Staten Island Board Of Realtors
1535 Richmond Ave, Suite 3
Staten Island, NY 10314
Attention: Debbie Learner
718.979.0007
This courses is FREE to SIBOR members in good standing.
Non-members cost $40

The One Constant: Change

Dear Friends,

Change is, for most people, an unnerving experience. But as the old saying goes, the only constant is change. So how can a person manage the rough seas of change without going under?

The first necessity is to learn to appreciate change. Without change, everything would be the same – always. The world would stagnate, and life wouldn’t be very interesting. Change brings new ideas, new life, and new circumstances into being and keeps the river of life flowing.

If change is one of the few things we can count on in life, how can we better learn to navigate the evolution in our lives? One tactic is to learn to stay in the present without veering off too far into the past or future. Ruminating over past events or worrying about future outcomes is generally a waste of energy. Try to stay in the moment. Focus on what you’re hearing, feeling, and seeing in the physical world. When you master this skill, you might find that your powers of intuition and insight increase significantly – because you’re not pouring your energy into unproductive areas of the mind.

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life


One of the fastest ways to build a successful referral based business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

Quick Short Sale Tip

Dear Friends,

I wanted to share another brief short sale tip that I think will help you:

If your local Multiple Listing Service guidelines allow with regard to a "subject to third party
acceptance" sale contingency, ensure your listing remains in "active" status prior to formal
written third party acceptance.

This tactic will accomplish two things:

1) It will provide continued maximum exposure to your listing in order to generate stronger
purchase offers AND

2) It will create a listing history which can prove tantamount to building a strong value
support case in the future.

If you would like more information on Short Sales click here for my short sale tips

Are you interested in a Non-CE Short Sale Workshop tailored to your office?
Please call me or email jstanton@0downaskmehow.com

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life

PS. One of the fastest ways to build a successful business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

Short Sale Tips: Dealing with the Lender

Dear Friends,

Representing a client in a short sale will require negotiating with the lender (or lenders if there is a first and second mortgage on the home) to accept a payoff less than the balance due on the loan.

As you already know the Richmond County Real Estate Institute of the Staten Island Board of Realtors will be hosting my Short Sale/ Pre-foreclosure Secrets Revealed Work Shop on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 9:00am - 12noon.

Here is part of what you will learn on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 at 9:00am, since the class is filing quickly (this may be your last chance, reserve your seats now) this will also help those of you who haven't called yet here are a few quick tips and items to be aware of when dealing the lender.

• Get the sellers to send a brief letter to all mortgage holders, giving them permission to speak with you. Otherwise, privacy laws will prevent them from talking to you about the loans.
  
• Ask for details of the loan by sending a loan information request letter signed by all sellers.
  
• Finding the decision maker is one of the biggest initial challenges for the short sale agent.
  
• Be sure you contact the lender’s (bank’s) loss mitigation department, which will be the group to decide whether to accept a short sale, rather than the collection or customer service department, which is only interested in recouping past due loan payments.
  
• Before the mortgage lenders will consider a short sale, they need to know financial information about the seller and why the seller cannot pay the loan. The seller will need to submit information to the lender to assist the lender in deciding whether to accept a short sale.
  
• The seller should submit a package which includes:
  W-2 forms from employers (or a letter explaining the seller is unemployed)
  bank statements
  two years of tax returns
  other financial documents with income and debt obligations
  
• The sellers should also submit a "hardship letter", explaining the circumstances that make it impossible for them to pay the full amount of the loan. The sellers must show true financial hardship before the lender will agree to a short sale.
  
• The bank will also need comps or a broker’s price opinion showing your estimate of value.
  
• Most lenders will want a broker’s price opinion or even an appraisal before you and the sellers set a price. Offer the lender comps of recent sales.
  
• When the lenders agree to accept a short sale, be sure to get the consent in writing. Once the agent and seller have made an agreement with the lender(s), the agent is ready to enter into a listing agreement with the seller and begin marketing the property.

Remember there is substantial risk and reward involved in this extremely complex and often drawn out process.

One of the fastest ways to become a short sale expert is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to attend:

LAST CHANCE
SHORT SALE Pre-Foreclosure Secrets Revealed
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
9:00am – 12:00pm
3 CE Hours (NY Only)
Special Price $30
Richmond County Real Estate Institute
Staten Island Board Of Realtors
1535 Richmond Ave, Suite 3
Staten Island, NY 10314
Attention: Debbie Learner718.979.0007
Download The Registration Form Here

Are you interested in a Non-CE Short Sale Workshop tailored to your office?
Please call me or email jstanton@jeffreysjournal.com

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life

Related Topics: The Short Sale: A Unique Selling Proposition for Real Estate Agents , My Six Short Sale Rules , SHORT SALE Pre-Foreclosure Secrets Revealed

Small changes, change your ways. Quantum leaps, change your paradigms.

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite books of all time is "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Dr. Stephen R. Covey. Dr. Covey's book sometimes takes a few times to read before fully grasping what he is talking about but once you do, you will be fully awakened into a world of success.

One of the first topics that he covers in his books is paradigms. A paradigm is basically the lens that we look through when we view the world. He maintains that if you want to make small changes in your life, change your ways. But if you want to make "quantum leaps" as he calls them toward a more enriched life, change your paradigms.

He tells a story about getting on a quiet train one Sunday morning. Some people are asleep, others are reading the paper, and some are chatting softly. All of a sudden, the door opens and a man gets on the train with his kids. The kids are extremely obnoxious; running around screaming and yelling. Dr. Covey and a few others on the train can't help but to look over at the man to see if he is going to discipline them in some way, shape or form.

The man however, is just sitting there staring into space with a blank look on his face; almost oblivious to the way the children are behaving. After a few more minutes of the disturbance and the man's lack of action to do anything about it, Dr. Covey felt obliged to say a few words to the man.

He asked him if he was going to do anything about the obnoxious behavior and began pointing out exactly how erratic the children were in fact acting.

The man looked over at the children and then looked over at Dr. Covey and said "you're right, they are acting obnoxious but after all, they did just come from the hospital where their mother passed away a few hours ago."

Shocked and then instantly embarrassed, Dr. Covey's feelings immediately changed from the need to instruct the man to the need to console him and show him empathy for his loss.

What had happened was Dr. Covey's paradigm changed. The situation remained exactly the same. The train was still silent. The children were still disrupting everyone and the man was still doing nothing about it. What changed was the lens that Dr. Covey was viewing these events through.

The point is this. Many times people can look at the same thing and see different things. The reason for this is that we all the see the world through a different paradigm.

People who preserve their health by eating the right foods and exercising see their health through a different paradigm than those who do not. The funny thing is that many people who do not preserve their health actually want to because they are unhappy with themselves but they simply cannot because their paradigms won't allow them to.

The same goes for any other area of one's life including building wealth. Most people I know want to be financially independent. They have big dreams but they still wind up having to work for a paycheck for the rest of their lives.

Then you have people that seem to do almost nothing and wind up rich. Is luck a factor? Perhaps.

But I think a more realistic description of why stuff like this happens has to do with the paradigms that wealthy people see the world through versus the ones poor people see the world through.

The sad fact is that no matter how many programs, tapes, cd's, courses, videos, affirmations, goal setting techniques, time management resources you use, if your paradigm is not set for
success and building wealth, you will either never achieve it or your results will be short lived.

When is now the best time for a paradigm shift.

I would like to offer you my expert experience that will guide you now to a paradigm shift. It's not a secret... I'm On Your Team.

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me...
The best is yet to be!

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life

Related Topics: Stephen Covey

PS. One of the fastest ways to build a successful referral based business is by training. Now, with me, I like to invest significant time immersing myself in training, while some people prefer to take it in bite-size chunks. Whatever your preference is, now is the best time to contact me.

You read Jeffrey's Journal every week because you, like me want the best for yourself. And you like me, want to build a strong referral based business.
If you have found this tip useful, please share it with any friends, family, colleagues and associates who you think will be interested. Feel free to print it (with credit and subscription information) and continue to enjoy the tips. I am always grateful for any comments, criticisms or other feedback that you may have. Please send them to feedback@jeffreysjournal.com

The Short Sale: A Unique Selling Proposition for Real Estate Agents

Dear Friends,

While a short sale may be a last resort for many homeowners facing foreclosure, it also represents a great opportunity for potential home buyers and real estate investors.

As you already know the Richmond County Real Estate Institute of the Staten Island Board of Realtors will be hosting my Short Sale/ Pre-foreclosure Secrets Revealed Work Shop on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 9:00am - 12noon.

Here is part of what you will learn on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 at 9:00am, since the class is filing quickly, will also help those of you who haven't called soon enough to reserve your seats (there are still some seats available don't delay call now) answer a few basic questions about the substantial risk and reward involved in this extremely complex and often drawn out process.

What is a Short Sale?
A short sale is a legally−binding agreement to allow a home to be sold for less than the amount that is owed. And, while short sales are not by any means common or easy, because of increasing inventory levels and foreclosures in some parts of the country, lenders are much more eager to negotiate with borrowers who are having trouble paying their mortgages. For potential home buyers and real estate investors, a short sale also offers a great opportunity to purchase property at a significant discount.

However, don't expect a lot of help from the lender without first providing a sales contract from a qualified buyer and all the information required by the lender's loss mitigation department.

Of course, lenders are not looking to bail out "flippers" or other borrowers who simply overextended themselves. In most cases, a borrower must have suffered a serious financial hardship that directly caused him or her to default on the mortgage: the loss of a job, a serious illness, or the death of a loved one. In addition, the borrower must be at least 91−days delinquent before a lender will even discuss a short sale.

A written declaration and supporting documentation demonstrating financial hardship will definitely be required by the lender. This may include pay stubs, tax returns, and liquid asset statements, among other documentation.

Key Considerations to Keep in Mind
The lender will likely issue a 1099 to the seller for the difference between what is owed and the final amount the lender collects after the costs of the sale, including real estate commissions and possibly other charges. This means that the difference or deficiency can be considered as taxable income to the borrower. Some lenders may even attempt to get the existing homeowner to sign a note for the remaining amount due.

If there are multiple liens against the property, all lien holders will have to be involved in the negotiation process, not just the first lien holder. Therefore, communication and patience are essential components of any short sale. This is why an experienced real estate agent and mortgage professional become so valuable to this process.

When is now the time to take your business to the next level utilizing the short sale process?

Call Now to join us on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 9:00am - 12noon. at the Richmond County Real Estate Institute of the Staten Island Board of Realtors for The Short Sale/ Pre-foreclosure Secrets Revealed workshop and Learn how we can market short sales and other foreclosure alternatives to potential buyers and sellers as a unique selling proposition that clearly separates us from the competition.

Seating Is Limited and the class is filing up fast.

SHORT SALE Pre-Foreclosure Secrets Revealed

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
9:00am – 12:00pm
3 CE Hours (NY Only)

Special Price $30

Richmond County Real Estate Institute

Staten Island Board Of Realtors

1535 Richmond Ave, Suite 3

Staten Island, NY 10314

Attention: Debbie Learner
718.979.0007

Download The Registration Form Here

Are you interested in a Non-CE Short Sale Workshop tailored to your office?
Please call me or email jstanton@0downaskmehow.com

Related Topics: My Six Short Sale Rules , SHORT SALE Pre-Foreclosure Secrets Revealed

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life

Happy Halloween: Urban Legends & Internet Scams

Urban Legends & Internet Scams: Sorting Fact from Fiction

Halloween brings up many Urban Legends and scary stories just check out Snopes.com Halloween Page .

Urban legends have been a part of popular culture for years. We've all heard suspicious stories that supposedly happened to a "friend of a friend" but which couldn't be verified.

Remember the story about Mikey, the Life® cereal spokes child, whose stomach allegedly exploded from mixing Pop Rocks and soda?*

The Internet has added a new twist to the urban legend phenomenon by making these stories easy to spread to a large audience over a short amount of time. What's worse, these stories are often distributed in the form of a plea for help from an unfortunate victim who could be saved if you just contributed a few dollars.

After the tsunami disaster, several fraudulent emails were circulated, some of which contained links to phony charity websites. The same problem occurred after September 11th. Whether it's a plea for money, an email containing false links, or a virus alert that isn't true, these scams have made it difficult to trust anything you hear via email.

Here are some resources that can assist you with discerning what's real and what's not!

Emails − The next time you receive a dire virus warning or a chain email promising great wealth, visit http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/. This website contains information about over a dozen different categories of hoaxes, ranging from virus warnings to scam chains. If you receive an email that looks suspect, chances are this site will have a listing about it.

Charity Websites − If you are unsure about whether to give to a particular charity, visit http://www.charitynavigator.org/. This website examines over 4,300 charities and evaluates how well they are using your donations. It also contains tips to assist you in choosing where to give and how to document your donations for tax purposes. Once you've selected your charities, you can usually make your contributions online. Just be sure to visit the organization's official website, rather than using a link in an email. This will ensure that your contribution is going where it should rather than into a scammer's pocket.

Urban Legends − Is there an urban legend that you've been wondering about for years? Visit http://www.snopes.com/ and find out once and for all if it's true. They have urban legends categorized by subject matter and even provide a bibliography at the end of their listings to reflect their research! The Discovery Channel is also exploring urban legends through their television show, MythBusters. To learn more about the show and the myths they have pursued, visit the Discovery Channel website at http://www.dsc.discovery.com/ and click on MythBusters.


Happy Halloween!

On Your Team
Jeffrey Stanton
Your Trusted Advisor For Life

Do you have a favorite Internet resource that you'd like to share? Please call me or email jstanton@0downaskmehow.com and tell me all about it!

*Mikey was played by an actor named John Gilchrist. He is alive and well and is currently working as an advertising executive!

Six Degrees of Virtual Separation: Networking in the 21st Century

Dear Friends,

You like me have all heard the expression that change is the only constant. While changes can be frightening at first, they often bring us to a better place than where we started. This is especially true when we take charge of our destiny by setting goals and actively pursuing them. Perhaps you would like to obtain a new job, or move to a new neighborhood or even a different part of the country. Whatever the case, there are many resources at your fingertips!

One of the first places you should begin is with your referral network, also known as your Center of Influence. This phrase is usually used to describe business contacts, but it really encompasses everyone you know. Here are some online resources that are helpful in this regard:

Educational Websites: If you attended a college or university, visit their alumni website. In addition to offering career planning and placement resources, you can learn about local alumni clubs in your region. See if there is an online alumni directory, and contact former classmates you may have lost touch with. (Use http://www.google.com/ to locate your school's official website.)

LinkedIn™: This website is a way to virtually assemble and broaden your network of contacts, all at no cost to you. The process begins with you inviting friends and colleagues who you respect and trust to join your network. They, in turn, can invite other individuals to participate. Before long, you have a large group of people assembled who have all been carefully selected by others within your circle. You may then search the network to find individuals who can assist you with whatever you're seeking, ranging from a job in a certain industry to the name of a good attorney.
If you have a need that a fellow member can fulfill, send your request to one of your personal contacts and enlist their assistance in forwarding it on to their contact. A personal introduction will help to ensure a prompt and positive response! http://www.linkedin.com/

Monster.com: Job seekers and companies alike use Monster® to fulfill their employment needs. But did you know that the website can also be used as a networking resource? Monster enables you to post a profile outlining your background and experience which you can choose to make visible to other members.

Once you've created a profile, you can search through thousands of other member profiles to locate people with similar experiences and interests. If there is a particular company or industry you've been curious about, this is an excellent way to gain insight from someone who is a current or former employee. You may even set up "people search agents" so that matches will be emailed to you automatically as new profiles are added.

Searching and viewing profiles is available at no cost, but if you find someone you'd like to contact, you'll have to pay a nominal subscription fee. http://www.monster.com/

If you or someone you know is in need of a referral, I would welcome the opportunity to assist you. My Center of Influence includes financial planners, real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, human resources directors, and other business professionals from around the country.

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me...
The best is yet to be!

Your Trusted Advisor For Life
Jeffrey Stanton

PS. Do you know a great online networking site? When would now be a good time to share it with us?
You read Jeffrey's Journal every week because you, like me want the best for yourself.
And you, like me want to build a strong referral based business.
Who else like you, like me loves referrals that you can share this blog with right now?

THE SECRET OF SUCCESS

Dear Friends,

Imagine what it would be like to know The Secret Of Success...
Today I would like share with you a story one of my mentors Dr. Richard Bandler told me once.

THE SECRET OF SUCCESS

There was once a boy who wanted to seek the secret of success.

One day he approached a wise man living up in the mountain.

When he found the wise man at the hut, he asked, "Wise man, can you tell me the secret to becoming successful in life?"

The wise man was silent for a while.

After a moment of silence, the wise man led the young lad to a nearby river. They kept walking into the river until the boy's head was fully submerged in the water. The boy struggled to keep his head above the water. To his astonishment, the wise man did not help him. Instead, the wise man held the boy's head in the water. After a few minutes the wise man pulled the boy out of the water and they proceeded to walk back to the hut. At the hut the wise man asked the young boy what he desired most when his head was submerged in water.

To this the young boy quickly responded, "Of course, I wanted to breathe, you old fool!" To which the wise man replied, "Son, if you desire success as much as you wanted to breathe, then you would have found the true secret of success."

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

Success is a matter of choice....
You always have a choice in everything that you do. I have heard people say "I had no choice... I had to...", that statement is never true. Because you always have a choice. you can make the choice of not choosing.
Are YOU going to make the choice to succeed?

If we have enough strong reasons, there is nothing that we cannot do.
Once we have the reasons to do something, we will surely find the ways to do it.
A mere wish would not make things happen.
It is a burning desire, turned into an obsession that will generate the energy to bring you to achieve any goal that you may desire.

When is now the time to choose to desire the path to success?

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me...

The best is yet to be!

Your Trusted Advisor For Life
Jeffrey Stanton

You read Jeffrey's Journal every week because you, like me want the best for yourself.And you, like me want to build a strong referral based business.Who else like you, like me loves referrals that you can share this blog with right now?

All the Money in the World

Dear Friends,

I was reading a book recently called "All the Money in the World"which is all about successful and wealthy people on the Forbes 400 list. To even be eligible to be on the list, you have to have a net worth of at least 1 billion dollars.

The book basically tells the story of how these super successful people made, spent, lost, invested, grew or inherited theirfortunes. As you can imagine, names like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet,Steve Jobs, Paul Allen, Donald Trump can be found all over this book.

You can also find people that you may never have heard of as well.
But here's the thing, all of them (with the exception of the heirs -who only account for a small percentage of the people on the list) are self made billionaires.

They reached the ultimate height of success through sharp methods of investing, aggressively building businesses and solving problems. They are super powerful entrepreneurs. And any
entrepreneur will tell you that to be successful, you have to either come up with a new idea on how to improve or change something.

To do this, one essential element is needed. It's called creative thinking. Creative thinking is that platform which seats the level to which successful people - such as those named above - build their achievements on.

How else would Donald Trump have known to decide to invest in New York real estate when everyone else was running from it? How else would Steve Jobs have been able to bring Apple back to life through the Ipod? How else would Sergey Brin and Larry Page have known that
they could create the most powerful and successful search engine in the world?

They did it all through creative thinking. They looked at a situation that others considered problematic or sub-par and began to figure out how they can improve upon it.

That's one of the things that truly separate successful people from those who fail. Successful people can constantly think of ways to create new answers to problems. And as they encounter more problems on their journeys, guess what? Instead of getting frustrated and giving up like most people do, they creatively think of new ways to keep on going.

The fact of the matter is this; if you really want to achieve a goal, you need to be able to think creatively. For that is what will separate you from anyone else who tried and failed....including yourself.

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me...
The best is yet to be!

Your Trusted Advisor For Life
Jeffrey Stanton

You read Jeffrey's Journal every week because you, like me want the best for yourself.
And you, like me want to build a strong referral based business.
Who else like you, like me loves referrals that you can share this blog with right now?

As the saying goes: “Everything old is new again”.

Good Morning,

Before today's 3 Minute Tip, I would like to take this opportunity to say that these tips are not intended as business generators for my team or myself. While we have appreciated the opportunity to work with most of you in the past and would enjoy working with you again, these updates are intended to keep us all working … period!

As you may know one of my 'Guiding Principles' or base core values is to "Lead With A Giving Hand." I will continue to do so, I will keep you informed as info is available and will pass along issues that we have seen or been through as this credit crunch situation continues to develops so that we can all be better prepared to succeed in this volatile market.

Okay, on with today’s 3 Minute Tip:

As the saying goes: “Everything old is new again”. We’ve been through this before (with over 20 years experience, how could we not!) Here’s a few things we’ve learned from our own experience or from speaking with some of your veteran peers over the last few days:

Get on the phone with your buyers!

• Give them some of the info noted below. They’re probably nervous so just hearing from you will probably make them feel better.
  
• Encourage them to call their mortgage contact person and make sure everything is moving forward
  
• Make sure that they have turned in any and all documentation. This point is especially critical if the buyer is obtaining any type of alternative financing. We’re receiving e-mails daily from our wholesale lenders telling us about programs that are being removed and establishing criteria for loans already in process but not approved or locked. If they’re missing paperwork that’s holding up approval, they may not be allowed to close under that program!

Get on the phone with your sellers!

• Again, update them on the current market conditions. Changing program availability will likely reduce the number of qualified buyers so as we move forward over the next weeks and months “priced right” homes will be the ones that sell!
  
• Do this in conjunction with your mortgage person. Sometime’s 3rd party validation helps get the seriousness of the market conditions across and will help clients make better decisions with more confidence.

All listing clients should be pre approved for their next home.

• Ask them to call their mortgage person if they are pre approved to make sure that market conditions have not changed their approval status, program options or interest rate range so that they have current information about the financing of their next home.
  
• Ask them to call your mortgage person if they are not pre approved to make sure that they have a way to move into their next home when you sell their current one! A good tip here is to ask them in an e-mail: “What time would be good for me to have Jane Smith from Wicked Good Mortgage Company call you?”. When they respond, forward the e-mail to Jane. This allows Jane to call your client even if there phone number is registered with one of the Do Not Call lists and you’re not waiting for your client to make a call. This will save you a lot of time, money and effort in marketing a property that the owner may not be financially able to move out of!
  

Your mortgage person (or their’s) should also be assisting them with a “Seller Net Worksheet” so that they are:

• Educated on their financing options and how much or how little they need to put down on their next home
  
• Prepared for price reductions (knowing that there are options that don’t require a lot of equity gives them more confidence with a lower offering price)
  
• Prepared for the harder negotiations that will most likely come in this market (they are more prepared to be reasonable if they know what they need to, realistically to net from the sale)

Get on the phone with the co-broker!

• Make sure that their listing client is all set with their financing so that doesn’t delay closing or at least there’s time to offer help or make accommodations if necessary.
  
• Make sure that their buying client is doing all that’s necessary in a very timely manner to clear any conditions on their loan pre approval or commitment letter or, again, there’s time to offer help or make accommodations in the contract.
  

IT WILL TAKE THE VERY BEST EFFORTS FROM ALL OF US TO ENSURE THAT HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS, CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

The more we focus our energy here, the better the chance that we, all of us, endure and succeed in this market.

To our success!

Thanks for spending 3 minutes with me...
The best is yet to be!

Your Trusted Advisor For Life
Jeffrey Stanton

You read Jeffrey's Journal every week because you, like me want the best for yourself.And you, like me want to build a strong referral based business.Who else like you, like me loves referrals that you can share this blog with right now?