Deb's Lake Livingston Real Estate & Stuff!

The tide has changed...and I mean drastically! Sales use to wash in and close and then wash out back to the sea of contentedness...and now what's happening?

Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac are just not the same entities...they are now the boss.

We, as in Real Estate Agents and Brokers and Mortgage Brokers and Surveyor's and Inspectors and Title Companies are all trying to march to a different beat.

It's a new beat and the drums are rolling. Learn the facts, gain control and step up to the pump. (no puns about gas prices intended)

Remember allll the waaaaayyyyy back to Real Estate School? We were taught that we are there to "MANAGE" all forces that create a successful closing.

Consider yourself the cog of the wheel.            Without each and every spoke of the wheel connecting and supporting one another the cart would crash under the weight.  Never before has it been more important for each and every one of us within our own "individualized businesses" to take responsibility of each step of a transaction as now!

Our market is shaky to say the least.

Any small glitch can and will interrupt your sale and your client's dream.

Stay on top of each and every detail required to close even if it is someone else's job.

Now is the time to begin to cover all bases which are many more than " the bases are loaded (4) "in the world of Real Estate.

 

 

 

If your deal is qualified...it just doesn't matter.

Lenders are looking for any small detail that may not fit the guidelines.

It's time for you to study, learn and practice. None of us are perfect but we must give it our best shot of practice or it just won't happen!

You executed a contract! Good for you.

If you want it to really happen then heed my advice.

Don't take your eyes off the ball! 

 

Good luck....

Really, it's all up to you!

Later in the rain~Deb

This is amazing. I don't want anyone to miss this. Thank you Bob and Kelan. Talk about adding value!

Later in the rain~Deb

I had such a great time with all these wonderful Rainers! Enjoy getting to know each and everyone! Next time, be there~Later in the rain~DEB

  

 

Real Estate is not only a Profession ... it is our lives.

Our business is an integral part of everyone's lives. Not just because we sell Real Estate but because it just is.

We all must be housed.

 

Mama bird builds her nest for protection and comfort.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The lioness finds her security within rock and caves and even ants build magnificent cities.

 

One thing for sure ... we will always need to buy and sell houses, excuse me, homes.

Our Profession goes much deeper within others lives than most Professions.

With each transaction there is an entire realm of emotions. Whether one is selling their own homestead or liquidating an estate from a loved one or simply the sale of an investment property.

People put their hearts into their Real Estate.

The most successful agents are not the ones that have massive numbers of sales or listings.

The most successful agents are the "liaisons" between a desire and a purchase or sale. As agents we should open our hearts to the needs, desires, wants, and purchasing capabilities of our clients.

Once we "hear, see, and feel" their needs we can much better serve them.

So, don't just open the doors to your office. Open your intuition and "radar" to your client's needs.

You will find many more homes and many more friendships along the way.

Later in the rain~Deb

 

 

 

 

 

No? Then you are losing a lot of business. EDITED ... QUOTE BY BARBARA HERSHEY; "So let them be rotten apples...they'll fall off the tree soon enough!"

Yes? Then you are a wise person.

We have all experienced the Agent with an attitude...

What good does this do anyone?

Does it help the client?

Does it encourage a deal?

Does it build a good relationship?

Does it create a strong sphere within your "professional" relm?

Could you have made contracts work if you had not run across the bad attitude?

 

 

 

It just seems to me that we should all support one another, work with an agreeable attitude, give more than we get and it should all come back to us in the end.

Have you delt with an Agent with a bad attitude? Did the deal work? How many years did it take off your life? Was it worth it?

Will you deal with them again?

A bad apple can ruin our whole bunch. Later in the rain~Deb

I had a ball at Real Estate barcamp Houston yesterday!

Some functions are fun and some are not! This was just wonderful! I didn't completely understand what to expect with a "Free form forum" but I will say it was great. The presentations were fun and informative.

I was able to meet so many Rainers that I felt I was home.

 

Is that strange?  After getting to know so many people through comments, following their lives and seeing their pictures each day I felt like it was a homecoming!

Adding hugs, face to face conversation, and sharing space with others just strengthened the bond I feel for these people! And, I got to meet so many for the first time that I will be including in my sphere that I had been missing.

I was thrilled to meet Active Rain's very own Rich Jacobson, Brad Andersohn and Jeff Turner. They are as nice in person as they are in their posts!

Other Rainer's included Jason Crouch (one of my buds), Amanda Hall,  Lisa Heindel,  Marchel Peterson (buddy), Pippa Mac, Greg Nino, Russell Lewis, Stephanie Edwards, Michael Price and so many more!

The sessions covered everything from upcoming technology to how to utilize today's technology! The keynote speaker, Paul Chaney is as inspiration in person as his blogs portray.

Don't miss the next one. I will let you know ahead of time before the next sign up as space will be limited. Michael Price wants to keep it intimate enough for some great networking and exclusivity.

 

 

 

Thank you so much Michael Price to you and your wife Laurie  and all that helped provide this wonderful experience!

Later in the rain~Deb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey everybody, you know and love our Margaret and our BB. Let's give them some support...k? Thanks a bunch.

Later in the rain~Deb

I consider myself lucky each and every day the sun shines. Or, I simply awake and stretch and breathe and realize I'm here. I then take the steps I can to make it a good day. Good or great. That's all I have.

I was given a gift of major magnitude today and I must share it with you.

Let me qualify myself with this by saying I'm really not that great with bugs...certainly not scary big ones.

This gift is a rare and beautiful sight I was blessed to see today and I want you to enjoy it too. I knew not what it was till I grabbed my handy google page and looked up...

giant worm green texas...

Up came the pictures. Luckily when I saw this gorgeous creature crawling across my porch today I felt no threat. I just felt intrigued and in awe of the creativity of our nature and powers.

Introducing the most wonderful and so they tell me "common"...Hickory Horned Devil (caterpillar), also known at the Citheronia Regalis (regal moth).

Once I completed photographing him...I took him out into the garden and told him "thank you" and let him go. I couldn't wait to see what I had just photographed.

Enjoy. He was easily a half a foot long and lovely. I wasn't scared....even though I had never witnessed anything like this. It was like a miracle of life crossing my path.

I feel lucky and blessed to have been able to photograph this beautiful creature. 

Amazing isn't he? Here's the wide shot. He was easily 5.5 to 6" long and was lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I scooped (very gently) him up in my cup and carried him to the garden. If I am doubly blessed he will live a a long and wonderful life.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He looks small in my huge cup. He's upside down and trusting me. He is an 8 horned thingy. Meaning

he's larger than normal. I'm glad I'm not a screatcher! I opened the door and there he was on my

welcome mat! What a hoot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a shot of the incredible creature he is destined to become. Behold...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this...I sure did. Later in the rain~Deb

Are you using today's technology to your best advantage?

We, as Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Stagers, Insurance Reps, and others have a host of Technology at our fingertips.

And, if you're like me....you may not be utilizing it to your fullest advantage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active Rain is instrumental in opening my eyes to the archaic methodology that lingers from the past within our industries. There are so many viable ways to utilize the technological advances that are being made every single day to aid us in our businesses.  

I have found myself in awe of techies and their geek speak. Many will be attending Houston's REBarCamp next week and are looking forward to learning more there!

Here's the rub...is there anyone out there that can draw a diagram of what technology goes to what? Is there such a thing as a step by step A goes to B goes to C type document or program or class or teacher or trainer that could help with this?

I find myself not knowing what phone to buy...how to use it once I have it...how to make my softwares compatible on my different computers so I don't have to go to different computers to work on different tasks...

Is there anyone that you know of that actually goes into a business or tutors one on total compatibility based on our needs within our business?

Or, is this a potential job position that one could create that would be the next level of "technology tutors" that could come in and organize one to be able to function at their peak performance, save time, save money, and increase business?

Are you using today's technology to your best advantage?

I know I'm not. Any ideas? Any offers? Hum...let me know.

Later in the rain~Deb

Quickie laugh. I was just visiting with Marchel Peterson of Spring Texas. Marchy and I have been able to network and make money TOGETHER with the help of Active Rain.

I was visiting with her about the Real Estate BarCamp Houston we both plan to attend on Wednesday the 22, of October...

All seemed fine as we were giggling about Real Estate and other things and I heard this BLAM-thunkity-thunk-BLAM.

My reaction was Marchel are you okay??? Are you okay????

A long moment later she says...I'm fine, I'm fine, I just went over a curb!

I don't see well at night with my astigmatism....OMG,

Marchel??

Should you be driving? No she says...I don't usually drive at night...oh, here comes a very slow..ssslllooowww deer. She saw it! She saw it!

 

 

Whew. By the time she got home I was a nervous wreck.

She said, I don't think I knocked anything out of alignment!

My plea...MARCHEL PLEASE DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT!

Your friend,

Deb

AFTER THOUGHT...I WONDER HOW MANY REALTORS ARE INVOLVED IN THE HIGHWAY STATISTICS?

SCARY.

Later in the rain~Deb