Recession....NOT!

The financial press did its job. It scared Americans so badly about a possible recession that now we might just have one. Right now the inflation rate (excluding energy and food prices) is at 2.2 percent. That's a far cry from the 12 percent inflation the nation suffered through in the 1970s. (Realty Times)

People need to trust themselves and not listen to everything they read or hear.

It's time to get back to basics. Just like every January when we all make our New Year's resolutions..we need to get back to what is really important to us right now. Food, shelter, clothing, family, friends, the necessities. We don't need to give up everything, just the extras we didn't really need anyway. January is a popular time to clean out closets, garages, basements. Organize tax records, etc. Why not take this time to reorganize what's really important to us and stop worrying about all the fluff. If we didn't have so much "stuff" that we just had to have when we bought it..we wouldn't need larger closets, garages, or "STORAGE UNITS" for stuff we haven't seen or used in years.

We need to stop the panic. There are some great properties out there at great prices with great interest rates. Investors want the news to continue to be scary so they can keep on buying while sellers would like the news to back off and let us get back to living our lives. Life is what happens while you're waiting for things to change. Today is all we know for sure. If you're waiting for the market to "bottom out" you'll miss your opportunity. The only way to know for sure that the market has bottomed out is when you see it rising. Then you won't have the opportunity to negotiate like you do now...Today is the day to buy that property you've been waiting to buy. It's time to get back to living your life.

If you're a first time buyer or someone looking for an affordable home in impeccable condition, check out this featured home NOW!

Click to view this great opportunity

Yes..it's still Winter!

5 inches of slush and snow...so what. It's Winter and to be expected. Call a friend and make them laugh and your day will be complete. No more complaining accepted for today. If you're able to complain, you're able to make someone else's day better. Think about it!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"The difference between perseverance and obstinancy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't."

~ Unknown

RE/MAX Winter Sales Rally a SELL OUT!

It was a sell out crowd at the R.I.Convention center yesterday for the RE/MAX Winter Sales Rally. A motivated, upbeat crowd listened intently to what they knew to be true but were excited to hear! The news may be doom and gloom out there (newspapers were actually called birdcage fodder!) That's the best use of the doom and gloom ads. We are all still in the game and yes, it's a game. Today was quoted as the "Best of time and the Worst of Times"...where have we heard that before!

Yes it's a buyer's Market...Yes it's a seller's market. You need the right marketing specialist to position your property for success and Yes It Can Be Done!

1855 was the first recorded depression. Those companies and salespoeple who outhustled their competition emerged in a stronger market share & revenue position. Let the others hunker down...The Big R was what it was named then...the big R now stands for RE/MAX! We are RE/MAX are still out there and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with! We rise to the challenge...we look in the mirror in the morning and see "Bill Belichek"...Bill Belichek truly understands what football is all about; what makes it in my opinion the greatest game on the planet. Superstars don't win championships ...It takes skill, hard work, and staying in the game!

Who do you see in the morning?

RE/MAX website rated highest behind realtor.com for real estate company websites!

1 Realtor.com www.realtor.com 4.71% 1
2 RE/MAX Real Estate www.remax.com 2.55% 3
3 Homegain www.homegain.com 2.46% 4
4 Move.com www.move.com 2.43% 9
5 Zillow www.zillow.com 2.24% 6
6 Yahoo! Real Estate http://realestate.yahoo.com 2.20% 7
7 Rent.com www.rent.com 2.16% 5
8 ZipRealty www.ziprealty.com 1.90% 10
9 Apartments.com www.apartments.com 1.90% 8
10 ServiceMagic www.servicemagic.com 1.57% 11
11
U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban
Development www.hud.gov 1.43% 12
12 MSN Real Estate http://realestate.msn.com 1.38% 13
13 RealtyTrac www.realtytrac.com 1.31% 2
14 Trulia.com www.trulia.com 1.30% 17
15 VisualTour.com www.visualtour.com 1.27% 14
16 Homes.com www.homes.com 1.27% 15
17 Century 21 Real Estate www.century21.com 1.17% 16
18 WhiteFence www.whitefence.com 0.98% 21
19 ForRent.com www.forrent.com 0.96% 20
20 HAR.com www.har.com 0.88% 26
Source: Hitwise

Housing Bust: Four More Quarters

A predicted 2009 housing market recovery is being tied to a convergence of smaller inventories, lower prices, looser lending and more government intervention.

read more | digg story

There's no one else to blame

As our political system spins up to a wild frenzy (and it's just getting started!), we can be expect to be served extra large rations of "lip service" as candidates strive to tell us what they think we want to hear.

Accountability is the opposite of lip service. It means doing what you say you are going to do --no matter what (now there's a concept :o) And for those who maintain accountability in their personal and business lives, there are very real payoffs...

"Accountability breeds response-ability"Stephen R. Covey

When you hold yourself accountable, you no longer afford yourself the luxury of blaming others or conditions for your situation. You are in total charge and control.

The "Golden" resolution for this New Year is to hold yourself totally accountable. The reason this one is golden is because it guarantees success for all your other resolutions.

2008 is not likely to be a very forgiving year. Be accountable by living your word and you will have nothing to fear.

Courtesy of my business coach-"Michael Russer"-Mr. Internet

I'm Still In New Year's Mode!

I have several business coaches to help keep me "Above The Crowd" without having my Head in the Clouds...Here is a quote from one of my favorites...Mr. Internet..

This new year promises to bring perhaps the wildest presidential election in our history, potentially a mortgage crisis-fueled recession, no likely end to the housing downturn and a great deal of political instability around the world. And these are the things we just know about!

If you were hoping for a more sanguine year, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. However, if you have a fire in your belly and and a hunger for opportunity, 2008 may be your best year yet. Challenge and opportunity are always two sides of the same coin and no one knew that better than Helen Keller. So if you don't like the looks of the current side, just flip it over

-Michael Russer- "aka Mr. Internet"

It's going to be an early Spring

as far as real estate activity goes that is. I'm feeling the phrase you snooze-you lose as far as market prices go. Activity is picking up and those standing on the sidelines waiting for prices to lower even more may get more of a surprise come April than April Showers! Timing is everything and with interest rates at record lows..now is the time to buy that home, condo, investment, or second home. And oh, by the way, it's a terrific time to sell too as it works both ways!