We sometimes crave some peace and quiet, and we sometimes want to be with people and be the life of the party.  Here in lies my story.  As a member of the Mary Baldwin College Alumnae/i board I have the privilege and great responsibility of serving all of the alums of the school and my fellow board members.  On a selfish note, I get to go to Staunton 2-4 times a year to serve the school.  On Friday, I set out in the afternoon, late I might add, to journey to the Shenandoah Valley and the beautiful city of Staunton.  I was so looking forward to the beautiful landscape and the peace and quiet of the drive.  Maybe some tunes or an inspirational CD, but peace and quiet none the less.  Well, not 5 minutes after leaving my driveway, the phone rang and I am sad to report that I spent the 3 hour drive on the phone.  All but 20 minutes of the drive was spent talking to friends and colleagues.  I in no way am saying that I am upset to have talked to these people, but I knew in my body and soul that I needed the down time.

As we enjoy the beauty and colors of this season, take some time to enjoy yourself and if this means being by yourself for some rest and relaxation, then just do it!  Your friends, associates, colleagues, buyers and sellers and even your families will be glad you did.

As for my drive back. I took some back roads listened to some of my favorite artists, and got lost along the way.  Yes, I did take one phone call, but it was from a friend who I never get to talk to!

Mary Beth Pauley
Keller Williams Realty
marybethpauley@kw.com
757-869-4001 Cell

I LOVE LOVE PHOTOS!

Ok for those that know me - I LOVE LOVE photos!  There is nothing better than to be able to share those once in a lifetime moments and capture it all with a camera.  I have been looking around for that perfect camera for me. I am a mom so I need something easy to tote around with my 1 1/2 yr old and 4 1/2 yr old, purse, diaper bag, blackberry, flip camera and now a camera. I just recently purchased a Canon Power Shot S90 from Amazon and have been having a fun time testing it out.  So far I am very pleased!  It takes wonderful night time pictures and I love how easily it fits into my back pocket!  Always a plus!So here it is…I took these photos with my Blackberry…Aren’t you glad I got a new camera?  

Naoma Doriguzzi
New Media Director & Community Strategist
Keller Williams Realty
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach VA 23454
(757) 971-2876 Cell
asknaoma@kw.com

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is strictly an opinion, is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

As a home buyer in today’s real estate market, you must have tons of questions about the process, especially if you have never bought one before.  To make this easier for you, let me share a process that is always successful.

• Find the right Buyer’s Agent to represent you!  Ask your friends who assisted them with their home purchase.  Getting a personal referral from a satisfied friend will give you peace of mind that the agent will provide great service to you.
• Get pre-approved by a mortgage company!  This is vital since every seller wants to be sure that the buyer has the capability of buying their home.  A pre-approval letter from your mortgage company tells the seller that they have reviewed your tri-merge credit report, verified your assets and employment so you are an excellent candidate.  Your agent more than likely has a great relationship with a mortgage lender and will be happy to refer you.
• Understand what you want in your new home!  Think about your current living arrangements and what you like or don’t like.  If you are buying the house with another person, make sure that both of you are on the same page.
• Have a serious buyer counseling session with your buyer’s agent!  This is vital so that your agent selects the right homes that fit your needs.  Tell your agent what you want in you new home and also why you want that particular feature.  It is imperative that they understand fully so that they can better assist you.
• Have a home inspection!  This includes the entire house, termite and moisture and may also include other inspections such as, roof, fireplace, bulkhead, pool, etc.
• Understand the closing process!  Once again, your agent will probably have a relationship with a closing agent who provides exceptional service.  This closing company will handle all of the paperwork that you have to sign in order to complete the deal.  The closing agent will make sure that you understand everything and that you have copies of all of the documents.

Throughout this process, your buyer’s agent will be by your side to ensure that things go smoothly.  They will stay in communication with you and make sure you understand each step as you approach it as well as any time constraints. 

Relax, enjoy the process and then get ready to make amazing memories in your new home.

Jo Cross, ABRM, CRB, CRS, GRI, ePRO
Team Leader/Managing Broker
Keller Williams Realty
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757.321.7595  (office)
757.652.9700  (cell)
jocross@kw.com
http://www.jocross.com/

Part 2 Facebook Do’s & Don’ts For Real Estate Professionals

Get a smartphone ( blackberry or iphone) - this can be a huge timesaver so you don’t have to always log in to your computer.  You can easily do updates and reply back to your friends on the go!

Post pictures and videos often - people are very visual and don’t like to see a wall of words.  Make it interactive and have fun with it!

Join relevant fan pages and groups - find people to follow with similar interests and can learn from.  There are tons of real estate focused pages and groups

Read Part 1 of our Facebook Do’s & Don’t for Real Estate Professionals 

Naoma Doriguzzi
New Media Director & Community Strategist
Keller Williams Realty
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach VA 23454
(757) 971-2876 Cell
asknaoma@kw.com
 

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is strictly an opinion, is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

Monday night one of my top agents, Brenda Fisher, and I attended Night Court.  Now, I know what you are probably thinking, but trust me it isn’t that!  Our local association of REALTORS, The Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS, hosted a training seminar that they lovingly call Night Court.  This months topic was Agency.  In Virginia we have the law of Agency; which says that we must disclose to all parties in a real estate transaction who is represented, and by whom.  This can mean single agency, dual agency, designated agency, and limited service agency.  Confused yet?  As I consumer maybe, but as an agent the answer better be no!We had a trainer from a local office discuss the basics, types of agency, establishing an agency agreement, and the disclosure of agency.  He also reviewed with us the duties we have to clients and to customers, and any and all requirements that we must follow.  In essence it was a great way to brush up on our skills in presenting agency to our potential clients.  He followed his discussion with some case studies on video.  This is where the fun began!  In addition to the actors being somewhat amateur, the cases were blatantly obvious violations of agency.   While we all had a good laugh, I certainly hope the point was hammered home on how important this is.  After the laughs, we played a game of jeopardy.  A local attorney reviewed some cases that had been tried before the Virginia Real Estate Board and then we were handed a device that would allow us to play a game.  Here we were given multiple choices on 15 different questions.  The results were interesting to say the least.  The answers were as varied as the crowd in the room on some of the questions.

This is a case in point for why I think training and education should never be missing in the lives of true professionals.  Gary Keller says that the definition of a true professional is knowing what you know, knowing what you don’t know and being able to distinguish between the two.  If you don’t know the answer go and seek the answer or be the source of the source for the answer.  Your clients will thank you and appreciate you for it, and the winning outcome will be satisfied clients and many referrals for years to come.

Mary Beth Pauley
Keller Williams Realty
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach VA 23454
(757) 869-4110
marybethpauley@kw.com

This time both the first time homebuyers (or ones who haven’t owned a home or had ownership in within 3 years) and existing homeowners (those who have lived in their home as their principle residence for the past 5 out of 8 years) may be eligible for the new version of the government’s tax credit.

Here are the specifics:

• Amount of credit:  $8,000 ($4,000 married filing separately) .
• Amount of credit:  $6,500 ($3,250 married filing separately) effective November 7, 2009.
• Termination Date:  This credit terminates after April 30, 2010.
• Binding Contract Rule:  So long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect prior to April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.
• Income Limits on new program:  $125,000 single & $225,000 married.
• Limitation on Cost of Home Purchase:  $800,000.
• Anti-fraud Rule:  Purchaser must attach documentation of purchase to tax return.

If you who didn’t take advantage of this credit the first time, you have just been given a second chance.  Please do not hesitate and miss out on this amazing opportunity.  Please consult with your agent to get more detailed information on this program.

For more information, please call and I will be happy to have one of my amazing real estate agents assist you.

Jo Cross, ABRM, CRB, CRS, GRI, ePRO
Team Leader/Managing Broker
Keller Williams Realty
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757.321.7595  (office)
757.652.9700  (cell)
jocross@kw.com
http://www.jocross.com/

Part 1
Facebook Do’s & Don’ts for
Real Estate Professionals

The hottest topic out there lately is learning all about social networking for your business! I have been teaching many seminars and classes lately around the area on how to grow your business online.The most popular of them all seems to be Facebook. Who doesn’t have a facebook account these days?

Monday, I spent three hours in a broker management continuing education class on short sales taught by a famous real estate attorney in Virginia.  The class was filled with real estate brokers and managers from Hampton Roads and, at times, became rather spirited.  We all learned was that the challenges the sellers face in this situation is rather daunting.  Before taking the short sale route, there is so much information that needs to be evaluated and assembled. 

If you are considering going this way, I would suggest you contact your lender and find out what their procedures are.  Please do not wait until the last moment or you may realize that it is too late to take advantage of a short sale.  Contact a Certified Short Sales Consultant at Keller Williams Realty who has the knowledge and expertise with this process and let them assist you. Please remember that timing is critical in this situation.

Buyers wishing to purchase a “short sale” need to remember that it could take as long as six months before settlement occurs, if it even occurs.  Therefore, buyers need to evaluate their personal situation and decide whether or not they have the flexibility and time to wait out this process.  Buyers also need to remember that in a short sale, the price needs to be reasonable.  If the offer is so far out of the ballpark, chances of it being approved by the lender are rather slim.

Please bear in mind that real estate agents cannot offer legal or accounting advice so it is recommended that you seek legal counsel and that of your accountant as well.

Jo Cross, ABRM, CRB, CRS, GRI, ePRO
Managing Broker/Team Leader
Keller Williams Realty - Hilltop/Virginia Beach
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757.321.7595 Office
757.652.9700 Mobile
757.321.4374 Fax
jocross@kw.com

As days pass by and you seem to be surrounded by frustration, it just may be the right time to evaluate your current affiliation.  Let’s look at some of the signs.

• You avoid going to the office.

• You don’t have any listing appointments.

• You don’t have any buyers.

• The buyers you have just won’t buy.

• You start to believe all of the gossip.

• You are beginning to feel like a failure.

When you find yourself in this situation, you may need to look at your surroundings. 

• Are you in a positive environment?

• Is your office technologically advanced without costing you a fortune?

• Is there activity around you?

• Do you have opportunities to learn and polish your skills at all levels?

• Do the phones ring with calls from those who want and need your services?

• If your current firm has opportunity time, are you picking up potenial buyers or sellers?

• Are you getting the lion’s share of the total commission earned?

• Are expenses in line with your income?

• Are passive income streams available to you?

• Do you have the advantage of nationally based educational opportunities?

These are but a few of the areas you need to evaluate if your business is not up to where it should be.  If your answers to the top group of questions is “Yes” and your answers to the bottom group of questions is “No”, then it’s time for us to get together.  Call me for a confidential opportunity to review your current situation and let me help you with this process.  A future of success is only a phone call away.

Jo Cross, ABRM, CRB, CRS, GRI, ePRO
Team Leader/Managing Broker
Keller Williams Realty
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757.321.7595  (office)
757.652.9700  (cell)
jocross@kw.com
http://www.jocross.com/

Some say back to school is the most wonderful time of the year!  As a mother of a 10 year old boy I would have to say that I have mixed feelings about this time of year.  It is both exciting and sad at the same time.  Exciting because the new year brings new challenges and adventures, but on the other hand sad because time is fleeting.  My parents used to say that as you get older, time truly does fly by.  As a parent, I find myself saying the exact same thing.

 What are your thoughts at this back to school time of the year?  Are you green and growing or ripe and rotting?  No matter what our age or stage in life we should always be learning.  Being learning based is what makes the difference between a successful person and a person who is succeeding at a high level.  Take a look at your career, and ask yourself, am I advancing myself or  am I standing still?  If Real Estate is your chosen profession, take a look at all of the educational opportunities that surround you.  Make this back to school time, back to learning for you.  Earn a designation, take more than just the required CE classes, and participate in a training program at your office.  Keller Williama always has something stirring in our training room, afterall, we are a coaching, consulting and training company that just happens to be in the business of selling real estate.

 Well, I better close and make sure the homework is done!  What, the eve of back to school, my son has been back for almost two weeks!  Afterall, school is never out for the curious.

 If you are looking for great training in a great environment, call me today.

Nary Beth Pauley
Team Leader, Penninsula
Keller Williams Realty
1709 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach VA 23454
Cell 757 869-4001
eMail:  marybethpauley@kw.com