Do you know what a flash mob is?  If you saw the video of the food court and people singing…that is a flash mob.  Becoming quite the “rage” you know.  I feel in love with that video and if you havent seen it, please do.

Go to Youtube.com and search for flash mob food court….you will absolutely love it!

If you know me, then you know Matthew, my oldest.  Matthew has treated me to life from a very different viewpoint than many and for that I am thankful.  Realizing how much I loved that video, Matthew, as only Matthew can, found an opportunity for us to participate in a Flash Mob last Saturday morning at the Riverside Arts Festiva.  What a blast, what

a special moment…a great way to truly begin the Christmas season.  Thank you to the people that organized it.  Everyone there enjoyed it so much.  Especially me!

But also, I had not been to the Arts Festival…I loved it and want to go again next week.  If you haven’t been please go and see.  You will be so happy you did.  Do your Christmas shopping, take in the artwork, and even buy fresh produce.

We are so Blessed to live in our fabulous Jacksonville! 

All of us work so hard all year long.  We rarely get an opportunity to view the non real estate side of our team mates and support system in or industry.  Friday night was such a treat as we celebrated or Magnolia Merry Christmas Bash at Deercreek Country Club.  

Gorgeous night, and the “Stars” came out.  We saw each person there in a new light.  The dancing, singing…talents and “not so much” but lots of attitde…shown brightly.  How adorable each person there became to the others.  Anthony is the Dr. of the Dance Floor.  Steve Preis “Mr. Hud, I presme”…is quite the social butterfly, well sort of.  Linda Moore of Drees is a dancing machine.  So is sweet Madelyn Rubin - “Go, Mad!”.

Stephanie White, Bubbles, Diane – dont leave us to sing the night club circuit, I hope there were no talent scouts present!

Thank you, all of you…we had such a wonderful time.  It was the perfect Christmas gift for me!

God Bless us Everyone! 

All of us work so hard all year long.  We rarely get an opportunity to view the non real estate side of our team mates and support system in or industry.  Friday night was such a treat as we celebrated or Magnolia Merry Christmas Bash at Deercreek Country Club.  

Gorgeous night, and the “Stars” came out.  We saw each person there in a new light.  The dancing, singing…talents and “not so much” but lots of attitde…shown brightly.  How adorable each person there became to the others.  Anthony is the Dr. of the Dance Floor.  Steve Preis “Mr. Hud, I presme”…is quite the social butterfly, well sort of.  Linda Moore of Drees is a dancing machine.  So is sweet Madelyn Rubin - “Go, Mad!”.

Stephanie White, Bubbles, Diane – dont leave us to sing the night club circuit, I hope there were no talent scouts present!

Thank you, all of you…we had such a wonderful time.  It was the perfect Christmas gift for me!

God Bless us Everyone! 

I think we have met, but I wanted to bring something to your attention.  I am the Broker and Owner of Magnolia Properties and have been in real estate for almost 30 years in Jacksonville (ouch…!)…anyway. I have been dealing with the property appraisers office and thought it was something I think could be a story.  As you know, the condition of the real estate market is one of the major contributing factors of the condition of our economy.  Homeownership impacts many other businesses such as furniture, carpeting, accessories..yards, etc.  When homeownership suffers so does the rest of the economy.  The tax situation in determining the property taxes is problematic and very much a factor I would think, for many people.  I have personally contested the taxable values on some property.  I am told that in order to determine the value, they cannot use shortsale foreclosures, or stay within a certain vacinity.  For example.  I own two small townhomes in the old kings road/powers avenue area.  There is just a little pocket of townhomes.  I was told that there are no comps nearby so they have to go to Mandarin.  I do believe you can understand the difference if you know those two areas.  All banks and appraisers for sales now must use foreclosures and shortsales as comps and stay within certain areas or neighborhoods.  Why should the property appraisers office be any different?  Times are very hard for everyone, but I believe there should be a consistency in how values are determined. 

If you would like to call me my cell phone number is 465 3951. 

THank you for your consideration 

Well we all know the “flipping rule” is gone (not that it was enforced – forgive the bitter tone)….

but do you know that seller concessions are probably going to decrease from 6% yo 3% and downpayment increases to 5% from 3.5?

On a 200,000 home that is $3,000 more dollars!

Walter Bianchi spoke to us on Tuesday and gave us the impact of these changes on a 200,000 loan…

Seller concession chaneg means there is $6,000 less available.

Monthly MIP increases from .55% to .85% – 48.25 per month!…

Walter is in the know….thanks Walter! well…maybe not “thanks” other than for the info …certainly not thankful for the changes I guess….lol

I just thought I would send out some thoughts… I have had some interesting comments from a couple of closing agents offices….and I just wanted to remind all of us…

Binders have to be collected and returned to the office of the escrow holder by the agent immediately…

not after everything is “accepted”…. unless specified that way.

I have been told by a closing agent holding binders that binders dont need to be delivered to them by the agents until everything is signed….”NOT”>>>>!!!!!

If the contract states that a check has been collected but will not be presented for deposit until acceptance by all parties with some sort of time limit…say within 24 hours of acceptance…

okay…but….I hope agents are not assuming that binders dont need to be turned in until acceptance because the escrow agent told them so….

came up twice in the last two days…

Just sharing…or maybe venting…or LOL a little of both!

Have a beautiful day!

Who do you listen to? It is a good reminder that what we hear, even if we do not agree, remains in our mind and thinking, our history so to speak. That old saying “You are known by the company you keep”

also is reflected in all things we expose ourselves to. Our mood, attitude and all affected by the things, people and sounds we surround ourselves with.

Why do you listen? because you have to as in hearing something from someone with authority over you. Because you want to learn about something being said. Just curiosity. Think of this…with the intent to argue…. listening…an interesting sense with very large implications.

What do you want to hear? What do you want others to hear? Everyone wants to be heard.

Jeff Gitomer wrote an artile on listening and he said…the best way to listen is by taking notes. Think about it. Wouldnt each of the clients or customers, agents or other resources, be impressed if you took notes when you talked. Wouldn’t you be impressed if someone you wanted to express yourself to, your needs, thoughts or ideas, wrote them down!

I thought I would share this idea. Listening and taking notes makes it very difficult to not understand or be understood.

Ever been confused with the importance of the elements in a conversation. Unsure of what someone was trying to tell you or express. Boy, I have.

I think I will try this today. I think it would help me understand what someone is really telling me rather than my own interpretation of their thoughts.

Now…let me get my pen and a piece of paper…what do you think?

We have our own version of the “Mod Squad” at Magnolia Properties…. only we call them the HUD Squad.

Our three, Ricky, Steve and Bubbles (yes, Bubbles) handle the Hud owned home listings and they do a great job. Teresa (anyone who doesnot know Teresa should get to know her…she is the most amazing, best manager in the world!)…said they reminded her of the Mod Squad, so we have nicknamed them

the Hud Squad. She and I thought that was so funny…until we realized that two of the three had no idea who or what the Mod Squad was…

Teresa said, sort of like Charlie’s Angels… they (except Bubbles!) did not even know what Charlies Angels were….

oh my…. boy did I feel old… but not for long! I am just young in the legend in my own mind…lol!

e

PS…anyone wants help with a HUD buyer, just call our office and ask for one of our Hud Squad members!

we will gladly help!

I had the privilege in participating in a phone seminar called “THE iNNOVATORS”. Spectacular idea,

great information, and on to the social event at Sahara’s…..hope there will be a good turn out.

Jeff Marks, as usual, shared not only great info but answered questions. How many lawyers will give you that kind of time and benefit of such extensive experience! Who ever are the brainiacs behind this….Thank you. I am going to push this wonderful program to all agents I know and I hope anyone who has not attended by phone (we wouldnt know if you were still in your pj’s or in a bathing suit)…please note the next one and attend. You will be very happy with the return on your time investment.

I am out the door to Saharas!

I am sure, that you are asked constantly, as I am, how is the market? is it improving? do you see improvements? Everyone, everywhere, are anxious to hear good news. Isnt it interesting that all eyes are on our industry, what we do, what we think. The entire economy revolves around real estate.

We are in a constant struggle. Struggle of sellers who still care about their property and what it is worth.

Lenders who really dont seem to want to lend, really. Short sales are the most popular loss mitigation tool, really. A Shame. Because as we, as realtors, continually lose patience and drive down the pricing, those prices come back to haunt us the next go round…because they are our comps. They impact refinances, loan modifications and most importantly sales. I know that bank foreclosures are up 44% over last year and as lenders are trying to carefully regulate the foreclosures on the market – by managing the number of homes foreclosed on….the short sales, in my opinion, dont help the values in the market, and most probably, hinder it.

I hear agents say all the time, I hate shortsales!… dont we all, for so many reasons. But we have to work through this to get to the other side. The best thing we can do is work for the best possible scenario within the framework of successfully selling the short sale and move on to the next one.

Lets take the pledge; To honor our industry, to honor each other. To faithfully work toward fair pricing, not

pricing just to make a sale. To truly find comps of value and do our best to protect our market.

Lets work together to return some semblance of sanity to the marketplace. God Bless our country, our neighborhoods, our families struggling financially.

God Bless us as realtors, trying to find the best scenario….to assist our sellers and our cooperating agents, to do the best job we can.

Amen!