October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Happy October!!!

I finally got a chance to go take a pictures of one of the pink fountains in Kansas City! Isn't it great!!! Of course they changed them pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I got my first mamogram this year - and it wasn't too bad!!!

October also marks the ONE year anniversary of my switch to Re/Max!! It was a tough decision, but one of the best ones I made! I'm so glad I made the switch!!

"Just Because You're Knocked Down Doesn't Mean You're Knocked Out" - Sugar Ray Leonard

I'm catching up on my monthly Realtor Magazine and came across the preview for a Real Estate Conference coming up. I'm not attending and typically just breeze past those pages, but I decided to look and see what some of the previews of the presenters had to say.

The first one I read was by Tara Hunt - Boost Your Whuffie Factor: Online success comes from being part of the community, not by pushing your services. I knew most of what she said. I try to do a good mix of personal & professional things on all of the online social networking sites I use. I personally hate seeing professionals that are always "tooting" their own horn or talking business....I like to see a little fun thrown in there, so I try to do the same.

The second preview I read was by Sugar Ray Leonard - Don't Give Up Easily: Envision your success to emerge from a rut and reach your professional goals. It starts off by saying that Boxing & Real Estate have a lot more in common than you might think. (I can see that). The key to success in either arena is to focus on a positive outcome, even after you've been knocked to the ground. "Just because you're knocked down doesn't mean you're knocked out," says Leonard, who is now a television broadcaster and motivational speaker. He offers the following tips for Real Estate Professionals who are looking for direction in tough times. (I think these can also be used for many other professions and life in general!!)

1. Don't give in to doubt. It's important to keep those dreams, dream even bigger, and not listen to others when they tell you it can't be done.

2. Focus on a positive outcome. Everyone has this ability, but not everyone activates it.

3. Build a support network. Surround yourself with family and colleagues who'll support your goals, encourage you to achieve them, and keep you well-grounded. (I have this...and some great friends who help as well!)

4. Maintain composure. In today's market, buyers and sellers are looking to you for guidance and stability, so use your knowledge and skills to confidently lead them in the right direction.

5. Prepare to do better next time. After you've fallen down, analyze what went wrong and how you can do things differently next time. Draw out a blueprint for success.

6. Stay fit, mentally and physically. Physical activity will keep your mind sharp and focused.

$8000 Tax Credit Ending Soon!

For those of you who know me, I'm NOT a good writer!! BUT, I still want to blog sometimes and make sure I get out information to my friends, family & more importantly my clients!!! In thinking about doing a blog about the $8000 First-time home buyer tax credit ending soon, I decided to use my favorite tool - Google - and see what I could find. I found this GREAT blog that could not have stated it better.

The Mortgage Experts said it best:

There is much news these days about an extension to the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. There is also talk that it might be expanded to include second homes and investment properties. PLEASE don't believe it. The tax credit is set to expire on November 30, 2009. Under the current IRS rules, if the closing is after that date, then the buyer does not get the credit.

Congress might extend the credit, but they might not. They might expand it to include second homes and investment properties, but they might not. If there is one piece of advice that we can pass on to anyone, it is this: It is extremely foolish to assume that something will happen in the housing or mortgage industries just because we all want it to happen. Remember stated income loans? 100% financing? Houses that went up in value? Everyone in America loved all of those things and they still went away.

At the moment, it is best to assume that the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers will end on November 30, 2009. If it doesn't, that's great, but assuming that it will be extended could very easily shatter the trust you have built with your clients, or cost you $8,000.

CALL ME and we can start looking so you too can take advantage of this tax credit!!!

Kansas City Susan G Komen Race for the Cure

Sunday was the Kansas City Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. This year I helped out on the team committee. It was a great experience and not as time consuming as Relay for Life. They must have a zillion volunteers, which is awesome!!!! My "job" was pretty easy. I had to call and email some of the teams and help sort shirts. I signed up to be in charge of team photos...which I didn't realize meant I had to be on site at 6am!! I was up and got there on time...thanks to Carolyn driving...and it was probably best b/c it was already pretty darn crowded!!

There were 28,000+ people at the race!!! It was amazing! It's great to see all the survivors and people walking in celebration and in memory of loved ones. And some of the teams shirts were just GREAT!!!

I highly recommend participanting in this great event and I plan on doing so again next year!!! (I walked last year and a few years before that).

Oklahoma Joe's

I was catching up on my People Magazine (my guilty pleasure) and in the July 27th issue there is an article on The Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain's top picks for local joints and he includes Kansas City's Oklahoma Joe's!!! I just LOVE that place. There are currently two locations but I have only gone to the original, in the gas station! I like to refer to it as the "gas station bbq" and I've taken many a visitor there and have had NO complaints!!! My brother (who lives in St Louis)gets jealous of it every time I mention it!

Way to go KC!!!

YOUR OWN MENTAL ATTITUDE IS YOUR REAL BOSS.

This was the thought for the day sent by my broker Lisa (aka, my boss). I really enjoyed it and hope you do too!

While your time and your labor may be subject to the demands of your employer and others, your mind is the one thing that cannot be controlled by anyone but you. The thoughts you think, your attitude toward your job, and what you are willing to give in exchange for the compensation you are paid are entirely up to you. It is up to you to determine whether you will be a slave to a negative attitude or the master of a positive one. Your attitude, your only master in life, is entirely within your control. When you control your attitude toward events, you control the eventual implication of those events.

Meth....

Home Buyers Should Be Wary of Meth labs
Methamphetamine residues, left behind by sellers who manufactured the toxic drug, is an increasing problem for home buyers.

As many of you know, I always "joke" that you need to watch out for a Meth House...but I'm also pretty serious. It's been said before that you can't "get rid" of the affects of Meth on a home. Below are a few things to look for courtesy of Realtor Magazine.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says clandestine meth labs have been discovered in 46 states.

Home inspector Wes Kelley offers these signs that meth may have been manufactured in a property:
Yellow discoloration on walls and other surfaces.
Taped off fire detectors.
Experiencing burning eyes, an itchy throat, or a metallic taste in the mouth while in the property.
Strong odors similar to solvent, cat urine, or ammonia.
Presence of security cameras or other surveillance equipment.

Buyers shouldn’t rely on the seller’s assurances or an inspection by someone who isn’t knowledgeable because suing after the fact is unlikely to net results. The seller will be either long gone or in jail, experts say.