Yesterday I found myself in a conversation with Curt, saying to myself as he was talking, "I know, I know."
After the conversation I felt uneasy and somewhat empty.
I got quiet, cleared my mind, and asked the wiser part of me what this uneasy feeling was all about.
The immediate insight I got was that when I say to myself or others the words "I know," I cut off the possibilities for something new and wonderful to occur.
Then the insight came to me that a powerful mindset I can have in any situation is "I don't know," because it actually opens me up to new insight and awareness.
In my experience, my life changes when I change my thinking and my thinking changes when I have new insight, and I get new insight when I approach life with the mindset "I don’t know" versus "I know."
Today I choose to imagine getting more curious about what I don’t know.
On Your Team
Milt
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Be Specific When You Ask
The Top 10 Reasons People Move and Refinance
1. Who do you know who is living in an apartment and would love to own a home of their own?
2. Who do you know whose children are moving out and are finding that their home is too big?
3. Who do you know who has a family that is expanding and is ready to move to a bigger home?
4. Who do you know who lives in a neighborhood that is no longer convenient to where they work and would like to sell their home and move to a more convenient location?
5. Who do you know who might also be selling their business – as you have just done – and as a result may be moving?
6. Who do you know who is about to retire and as a result may be moving?
7. Who do you know who may be going through a divorce or has just gone through one and as a result may be selling their home or looking for a new one?
8. Who else do you know who might be changing jobs in your company and need help relocating?
9. Who do you know who might need to consolidate their debt and could use some help deciding if refinancing their home is a good decision?
10. Who do you know who might need equity from their home to remodel/finance college/buy a second home and could benefit from talking to a loan consultant?
So, as you can see, I really enjoy operating a referral based business and I look forward to providing the same world class service that you have come to expect from me.
Please Don't Keep Me a Secret!!!
1. Who do you know who is living in an apartment and would love to own a home of their own?
2. Who do you know whose children are moving out and are finding that their home is too big?
3. Who do you know who has a family that is expanding and is ready to move to a bigger home?
4. Who do you know who lives in a neighborhood that is no longer convenient to where they work and would like to sell their home and move to a more convenient location?
5. Who do you know who might also be selling their business – as you have just done – and as a result may be moving?
6. Who do you know who is about to retire and as a result may be moving?
7. Who do you know who may be going through a divorce or has just gone through one and as a result may be selling their home or looking for a new one?
8. Who else do you know who might be changing jobs in your company and need help relocating?
9. Who do you know who might need to consolidate their debt and could use some help deciding if refinancing their home is a good decision?
10. Who do you know who might need equity from their home to remodel/finance college/buy a second home and could benefit from talking to a loan consultant?
So, as you can see, I really enjoy operating a referral based business and I look forward to providing the same world class service that you have come to expect from me.
Please Don't Keep Me a Secret!!!
Qualities of My Clients
Over the years I have tried to serve my clients with world class service beyond their greatest expectations.
I have made a list of the qualities or behaviors, that make up my ideal client:
1. They are referred to me
2. They allow me and want me to be the expert
3. They trust me
4. They listen openly to my guidance and direction
5. They have complete faith in me
6. They inspire me to do my best work for them
7. They value my time and never question my intentions
8. They love paying me
9. They believe that I always do my homework
10. They want to introduce me to the people they love
I have made a list of the qualities or behaviors, that make up my ideal client:
1. They are referred to me
2. They allow me and want me to be the expert
3. They trust me
4. They listen openly to my guidance and direction
5. They have complete faith in me
6. They inspire me to do my best work for them
7. They value my time and never question my intentions
8. They love paying me
9. They believe that I always do my homework
10. They want to introduce me to the people they love
Stimulus Bill 2009 - Will it Work for Real Estate?
In February, President Obama and Congress passed the massive $787 Billion Stimulus Plan, which contained some rather interesting provisions that impact the real estate space.
The principal provision designed to stimulate new sales was the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. If a first time home buyer (or someone who has not owned a home in 3 years) purchases between 01/01/09 and 11/30/09 they will be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000 when they file their taxes, and depending on the timing of the purchase the credit can be applied to either 2008 or 2009 taxes. Also, unlike an earlier, weaker $7500 provision passed in 2008, this credit doesn’t need to be paid back.
Other important factors included in the Housing Market section of the Stimulus Bill were:• The FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac 2008 loan limits were put back into place for 2009. At the end of 2008, they lowered the loan limits which hurt the higher end market.• It also includes a 30% tax credit on Energy Efficient upgrades to your home (up from 10%) such as furnaces, windows, and insulation. This credit will be available through 2010 and does include income restrictions.
So, the big question in everyone’s mind is “will this help, and does it go far enough?”
Speaking for myself, I just bought my first home a few days ago. I was already planning to buy, so the stimulus bill didn’t really get me off the fence or anything, but it did factor in slightly in terms of my overall price ceiling and/or how willing I was to take on a house that required some immediate improvements (and cash) sunk into it.
We’re running a poll with our Z57 clients asking them to gauge the impact of the bill – right now it’s running about 40% for “No Impact”, 44% say “Some Impact”, and the remaining 16% saying it will have a “Major Impact”.
I tend to slide into the “some impact” group myself – WHAT DO YOU THINK?
The principal provision designed to stimulate new sales was the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. If a first time home buyer (or someone who has not owned a home in 3 years) purchases between 01/01/09 and 11/30/09 they will be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000 when they file their taxes, and depending on the timing of the purchase the credit can be applied to either 2008 or 2009 taxes. Also, unlike an earlier, weaker $7500 provision passed in 2008, this credit doesn’t need to be paid back.
Other important factors included in the Housing Market section of the Stimulus Bill were:• The FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac 2008 loan limits were put back into place for 2009. At the end of 2008, they lowered the loan limits which hurt the higher end market.• It also includes a 30% tax credit on Energy Efficient upgrades to your home (up from 10%) such as furnaces, windows, and insulation. This credit will be available through 2010 and does include income restrictions.
So, the big question in everyone’s mind is “will this help, and does it go far enough?”
Speaking for myself, I just bought my first home a few days ago. I was already planning to buy, so the stimulus bill didn’t really get me off the fence or anything, but it did factor in slightly in terms of my overall price ceiling and/or how willing I was to take on a house that required some immediate improvements (and cash) sunk into it.
We’re running a poll with our Z57 clients asking them to gauge the impact of the bill – right now it’s running about 40% for “No Impact”, 44% say “Some Impact”, and the remaining 16% saying it will have a “Major Impact”.
I tend to slide into the “some impact” group myself – WHAT DO YOU THINK?
27 Books I Have Read or Listened To In The Last 90 Days
1. Rules of thumb (Alan M. Webber)
2. Excuses Begone! (Wayne W. Dyer)
3. Buying In: Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are (Rob Walker)
4. The Five Most Important Questions (Peter F. Drucker)
5. Crash Proof: How to Profit from the Coming Collapse (Peter D. Schiff)
6. Megatrends 2010 (Patricia Aburdene)
7. The Think Big Manifesto (Michael Port, Mina Samuels)
8. The Science of being Great (Wallace D. Wattles)
9. The Three Laws of Performance (Steve Zaffron, Dave Logan)
10. 17 Lies that Are Holding You Back (Steve Chandler)
11. A Simple Formula for Extraordinary Relationships (Robin Sharma)
12. Handling Fear (Marianne Williamson)
13. How the Mighty Fall (Jim Collins)
14. The Three Marriages (David Whyte)
15. A Whole New Mind (Daniel Pink)
16. Predictably Irrational (Dan Ariely)
17. Scientific Advertising (Claude C. Hopkins)
18. Theatre of the Imagination (Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D.)
19. Born to Run (Christopher McDougall)
20. The Five Laws That Determine All of Life's Outcomes (Brett Harward)
21. Jung: A Very Short Introduction (Anthony Stevens)
22. The Answer (John Assraff)
23. The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love (Scott Peck M.D.)
24. Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Lao Tzu, Stephen Mitchell)
25. Who's Got Your Back (Keith Ferrazzi)
26. The Power of an Hour (Dave Lakhani)
27. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life (Dr. Wayne W. Dyer)
2. Excuses Begone! (Wayne W. Dyer)
3. Buying In: Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are (Rob Walker)
4. The Five Most Important Questions (Peter F. Drucker)
5. Crash Proof: How to Profit from the Coming Collapse (Peter D. Schiff)
6. Megatrends 2010 (Patricia Aburdene)
7. The Think Big Manifesto (Michael Port, Mina Samuels)
8. The Science of being Great (Wallace D. Wattles)
9. The Three Laws of Performance (Steve Zaffron, Dave Logan)
10. 17 Lies that Are Holding You Back (Steve Chandler)
11. A Simple Formula for Extraordinary Relationships (Robin Sharma)
12. Handling Fear (Marianne Williamson)
13. How the Mighty Fall (Jim Collins)
14. The Three Marriages (David Whyte)
15. A Whole New Mind (Daniel Pink)
16. Predictably Irrational (Dan Ariely)
17. Scientific Advertising (Claude C. Hopkins)
18. Theatre of the Imagination (Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D.)
19. Born to Run (Christopher McDougall)
20. The Five Laws That Determine All of Life's Outcomes (Brett Harward)
21. Jung: A Very Short Introduction (Anthony Stevens)
22. The Answer (John Assraff)
23. The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love (Scott Peck M.D.)
24. Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Lao Tzu, Stephen Mitchell)
25. Who's Got Your Back (Keith Ferrazzi)
26. The Power of an Hour (Dave Lakhani)
27. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life (Dr. Wayne W. Dyer)
Friday, June 19, 2009
Total Experience Scoreboard
Magic Words
There are two parts to every transaction – the product and the process.
Do you have a favorite restaurant?…Do they have good food?…How’s the service?…
Well, the food is the product and the service is the process. You like (their restaurant) because they have good food and good service.
Let me ask, do they advertise much?…
They probably don’t have to because good food and good service are usually advertised by word of mouth.
Well, that’s how I like to advertise my business – by word of mouth through your referrals. In order to ask you for referrals, I have to be able to help you buy/sell/borrow and I have to make it an enjoyable experience.
This is a graph I use to check to see how well I am doing; I call it ...
The Total Experience Scoreboard
If we can’t help you find your dream home/get the best offer for your home/deliver the best loan, and we don’t troubleshoot the turbulence we encounter, you will be dissatisfied with both the product and the process. You will never do business with us again and you certainly won’t refer others. In fact, you may tell others to avoid working with us.
Have you ever had a problem with service you’ve received?…How many others did you tell about that bad experience?…
At the next level, I may do an “OK” job for you. Maybe we find a home/get an offer/choose a loan, but it’s not your ideal. Maybe we solve problems along the way but don’t deliver beyond your expectations. You’ll be satisfied with the product and the process but not thrilled. You may even do business with us again but you probably won’t introduce me to others.
Our goal is to score at the highest level. When we exceed your expectations with the process and you are delighted with the product, you will be an advocate for us. That is how our company works – we want to be more than just a salesperson doing this deal, we want to be your consultants for life.
When we deliver at that level, we find that clients are eager to refer us because world-class service can be hard to find these days. Are you comfortable with that?
There are two parts to every transaction – the product and the process.
Do you have a favorite restaurant?…Do they have good food?…How’s the service?…
Well, the food is the product and the service is the process. You like (their restaurant) because they have good food and good service.
Let me ask, do they advertise much?…
They probably don’t have to because good food and good service are usually advertised by word of mouth.
Well, that’s how I like to advertise my business – by word of mouth through your referrals. In order to ask you for referrals, I have to be able to help you buy/sell/borrow and I have to make it an enjoyable experience.
This is a graph I use to check to see how well I am doing; I call it ...
The Total Experience Scoreboard
If we can’t help you find your dream home/get the best offer for your home/deliver the best loan, and we don’t troubleshoot the turbulence we encounter, you will be dissatisfied with both the product and the process. You will never do business with us again and you certainly won’t refer others. In fact, you may tell others to avoid working with us.
Have you ever had a problem with service you’ve received?…How many others did you tell about that bad experience?…
At the next level, I may do an “OK” job for you. Maybe we find a home/get an offer/choose a loan, but it’s not your ideal. Maybe we solve problems along the way but don’t deliver beyond your expectations. You’ll be satisfied with the product and the process but not thrilled. You may even do business with us again but you probably won’t introduce me to others.
Our goal is to score at the highest level. When we exceed your expectations with the process and you are delighted with the product, you will be an advocate for us. That is how our company works – we want to be more than just a salesperson doing this deal, we want to be your consultants for life.
When we deliver at that level, we find that clients are eager to refer us because world-class service can be hard to find these days. Are you comfortable with that?
High-end sales boost home prices
A pickup in sales of homes financed by jumbo loans in May helped boost median home prices in the San Francisco Bay Area and the "Southland" region surrounding San Diego and Los Angeles, MDA DataQuick reported.
In the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, the median home price was up 12.3 percent from April to May, to $341,500, DataQuick said -- an 18 percent increase from the low of $290,000 seen in March.
The jump was attributed to an increase in sales of homes financed by "jumbo" mortgages above $417,000. Sales of homes requiring jumbo mortgages accounted for 25.5 percent of the Bay Area's home sales in May, the highest since October.
Two years ago, sales of homes financed by jumbo mortgages accounted for more than 60 percent of sales in the region, and the median home price was $665,000, DataQuick said.
Sales of $800,000-plus existing single-family houses accounted for 13.2 percent of all resales in May, up from 9.8 percent in April and also a high not seen since OctoberThe number of existing homes sold in the San Francisco Bay Area increased for the ninth month in a row, to 7,447, a 19.8 percent increase from the record low seen a year ago.In Southern California, the median home price in the six-county Southland area increased by 0.8 percent from April to May, to $249,000 -- the frist increase since July 2007, DataQuick said.
A total of 20,775 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in May, up 1.3 percent from April and the 11th consecutive month of sales growth. Homes priced $500,000 and higher made up 17 percent of sales, up from 15.2 percent in April and the largest share since last October, when those homes represented 19.9 percent of sales.About 12 percent of home sales in the Southland region during May were financed with jumbo loans, compared with 40 percent before the credit crunch hit. Jumbo loans became more expensive and harder to obtain in August 2007, when the secondary market for mortgage-backed securities not guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae dried up.
This is why Median Home Prices are not the way to judge the Residential real estate Market.
When the Market is (in happier days) in a cyclical upswing - it sounds good to watch the Median Home Price rise. Most of the various price levels are all rising and the more high end sales, the better the lower priced buyers feel about their purchases, as the Median Home Prices rise sharply. It's phoney but is a "feel good" scale.
When the Cycle is in a downturn - the Median Home Price is NOT reflective of the actual Market, by any means. This can be the really bad time for such an indicator scale.
Example: Maybe there are a lot of post foreclosure sales and the high end sales are stagnant. There's a low Median Home Price for the area. Now, a little later, say the post foreclosure sales prices are still dropping, but there's a flurry of high end sales, with buyers not necessarily affected by the downturn. Suddenly the Median Home Price reflects the few high end sales, and rises sharply - falsely signalling an upswing in the Market as a whole.
This can bring on a flurry of buyers that had been waiting in the wings, into the lower valued property range - only to find in a few months, those new purchases were not at "the bottom" of the price scale, and there are some "sorry" new home owners out there, watching their new purchase home values drop.
If you would like to discuss this with us please call 714-743-0888 or email mgalbraith@socal.rr.com
In the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, the median home price was up 12.3 percent from April to May, to $341,500, DataQuick said -- an 18 percent increase from the low of $290,000 seen in March.
The jump was attributed to an increase in sales of homes financed by "jumbo" mortgages above $417,000. Sales of homes requiring jumbo mortgages accounted for 25.5 percent of the Bay Area's home sales in May, the highest since October.
Two years ago, sales of homes financed by jumbo mortgages accounted for more than 60 percent of sales in the region, and the median home price was $665,000, DataQuick said.
Sales of $800,000-plus existing single-family houses accounted for 13.2 percent of all resales in May, up from 9.8 percent in April and also a high not seen since OctoberThe number of existing homes sold in the San Francisco Bay Area increased for the ninth month in a row, to 7,447, a 19.8 percent increase from the record low seen a year ago.In Southern California, the median home price in the six-county Southland area increased by 0.8 percent from April to May, to $249,000 -- the frist increase since July 2007, DataQuick said.
A total of 20,775 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in May, up 1.3 percent from April and the 11th consecutive month of sales growth. Homes priced $500,000 and higher made up 17 percent of sales, up from 15.2 percent in April and the largest share since last October, when those homes represented 19.9 percent of sales.About 12 percent of home sales in the Southland region during May were financed with jumbo loans, compared with 40 percent before the credit crunch hit. Jumbo loans became more expensive and harder to obtain in August 2007, when the secondary market for mortgage-backed securities not guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae dried up.
This is why Median Home Prices are not the way to judge the Residential real estate Market.
When the Market is (in happier days) in a cyclical upswing - it sounds good to watch the Median Home Price rise. Most of the various price levels are all rising and the more high end sales, the better the lower priced buyers feel about their purchases, as the Median Home Prices rise sharply. It's phoney but is a "feel good" scale.
When the Cycle is in a downturn - the Median Home Price is NOT reflective of the actual Market, by any means. This can be the really bad time for such an indicator scale.
Example: Maybe there are a lot of post foreclosure sales and the high end sales are stagnant. There's a low Median Home Price for the area. Now, a little later, say the post foreclosure sales prices are still dropping, but there's a flurry of high end sales, with buyers not necessarily affected by the downturn. Suddenly the Median Home Price reflects the few high end sales, and rises sharply - falsely signalling an upswing in the Market as a whole.
This can bring on a flurry of buyers that had been waiting in the wings, into the lower valued property range - only to find in a few months, those new purchases were not at "the bottom" of the price scale, and there are some "sorry" new home owners out there, watching their new purchase home values drop.
If you would like to discuss this with us please call 714-743-0888 or email mgalbraith@socal.rr.com
The Law of Attraction
We don't attract what we want, we attract who we are.... today who you?
Today I choose kind, wise, prosperous, generous, open and willing.
Who are you today?
The Galbraith Team
Ricci Realty
Today I choose kind, wise, prosperous, generous, open and willing.
Who are you today?
The Galbraith Team
Ricci Realty
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Can "School Days" Be "Good Investment" Days?
Dear Friend,
Here’s a quick note to let you know how I can help you or anyone you feel comfortable introducing me to.
As fall approaches, kids are getting ready to head off to college — and many parents are wondering how they’re going to pay for it. To save the expenses of dorm living, some parents purchase a property near the college campus as a residence for their child. Two or three roommates’ rent covers the monthly payment, and the property becomes a valuable investment for the parents.
The next time you’re in a conversation with a friend, family member or neighbor and they mention their child is going off to college, if they’re interested in saving money and investing for their future, would you stop, take out your cell phone, look up my number 714-743-0888 and call me immediately? I’ll send you my free report to give them: How to Buy a House with Little (or No) Money Down.
Milt Galbraith
714-743-0888
mgalbraith@socal.rr.com
http://www.orangelovelyhomes.com
P.S. People with young children should be thinking “college costs,” too — this report will benefit them as well.
Here’s a quick note to let you know how I can help you or anyone you feel comfortable introducing me to.
As fall approaches, kids are getting ready to head off to college — and many parents are wondering how they’re going to pay for it. To save the expenses of dorm living, some parents purchase a property near the college campus as a residence for their child. Two or three roommates’ rent covers the monthly payment, and the property becomes a valuable investment for the parents.
The next time you’re in a conversation with a friend, family member or neighbor and they mention their child is going off to college, if they’re interested in saving money and investing for their future, would you stop, take out your cell phone, look up my number 714-743-0888 and call me immediately? I’ll send you my free report to give them: How to Buy a House with Little (or No) Money Down.
Milt Galbraith
714-743-0888
mgalbraith@socal.rr.com
http://www.orangelovelyhomes.com
P.S. People with young children should be thinking “college costs,” too — this report will benefit them as well.
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