Rogers, AR

The holidays have come and gone, the tree is packed away (actually thrown away this year as we got a real tree - a post in itself), and my seven month old son's toys are somewhat organized in a corner of our living room designated the ‘play area.' During all this chaos, I wrote a few good posts...

If you missed it, check out the Market Report for November ‘08 I did on December 2nd. It will give you some background for this coming week's post about home sales in December. You can always find Market Reports in the Market Conditions category on the right sidebar.

Real Estate Trends to Watch for in 2009 was a lengthy yet highly researched article about the state of real estate in the coming year. Cool stuff if I do say so myself. It also got a nod in the Real Estate Carnival over at Northwest Indiana Mortgages during CORE #122.

In Train Wreck Real Estate: How are Kids Being Affected? I took a look at how the current housing market's abundance of foreclosures and distressed properties is affecting the children of the families involved. I may have written it, but I think it's an important topic to shed some light on.

If you are heading to a closing anytime soon or plan to buy a home this year then Why Going to Closing is Easier than Babysitting is a good article to read.

That's the last month of 2008! 2009 is going to be one busy year. I have recently moved real estate offices, had a baby, and changed the focal point of my business. Look for articles addressing all of the above topics along with social media in real estate, great home owner tips, development news, and more. Remember to subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe by email to stay up to date on the latest Northwest Arkansas housing information. Also, feel free to browse back through my archives or check out individual categories in the right-hand sidebar. Please contact me if you have any real estate need or question.

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Best Posts for the Month of December ‘08

It's a new year with new joys and challenges in 2009. While many post stories of the year in review, 2009 resolutions, or challenges faced by [insert industry here] in 2009, I just wanted to say, "Happy New Year" to all my readers and share a couple of fun random things to read and watch while you (hopefully) enjoy some time off.

The Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.

Good luck foods consumed on New Year's Day: Black-eyed Peas, Cabbage

"Auld Lang Syne" - literally means ‘old long ago'.

Ancient Egyptians originally celebrated the New Year with the Feast of Opet around the middle of June, which was when the Nile River usually overflowed it's banks. It caused people to be unable to work so it was a good time for festivities.

The original New Year's Eve Ball in New York weighed 700 pounds, was 5 feet in diameter, and was decorated with 100 25-watt light bulbs. The 2008 (or is it 2009) ball is a 12 foot geodesic sphere, double the size of previous balls, and weighs 11,875 pounds. It is (was) covered in 2,668 Waterford Crystals and powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDS. This newest ball is capable of creating more than 16 million colors and billions of color patterns. Quite a change in the last hundred years.

Check out this history channel video about the history of New Year's.

I wish everyone a safe, profitable, and happy new year in 2009.

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New Year's Day Fun and Well Wishes

In this first guest post Mel Reed, Principal Broker and Trainer at EXIT Pro Realty, talks about the importance of coaching and focus...whether you're a lowly salesperson or top executive everyone can benefit from a coach and mentor in today's business climate to prepare for future success.

Now is not the time to listen to the main steam media regarding your future! Most of the people I have talked with lately have the outlook that makes the future looks more like a sunset than a sunrise.

It's time to explore in depth workplace learning, productivity, performance, and leadership effectiveness courses. While everyone else is sweating it out and worried about the future, you can be positioning yourself for even greater success in the future.

W-O-R-K . . . A four letter word.

Think of it this way, the competition is now wondering what to do next. You do not need to fall into the trap of trying to address today's problems with the same methods that worked in all of your yesterdays. It will take work, and most people seem to require a quick antihistamine due to the allergic reaction that four letter word instigates. WORK.

So while many are reaching for the Benadryl, you go out and make your mark. There are fortunes to be made in a great market, an average market, and a slow market. What do you want to accomplish in the next year? Go ahead, write it down. Now is the time to get started.

Companies must improve performance, productivity, and bottom-line results and you are the person to do just that! If you have a positive attitude and a strong work ethic you are just the type of person your company needs. If you own your own company, you are what your team needs. Lead by example, be the labor, great or small - do it well or not at all.

To really excel you must have a comprehensive approach to learning. It will make you unique in the marketplace of ideas. You must allow your creativity to expand and find ways to integrate your experience to address the critical business issues that your organization is facing.

Step forward and implement

Be the driving force of new, bold, and fresh ideas and just watch the circumstances turn from status quo, to the "best is yet to come." Let everyone you come into contact with see and recognize that you are designed for full maximum results.

As a result your can realize measurable improvements to the bottom line. The responsibility for moving information to education, and from education to transformation is one you should not take lightly. You may need a coach, a course, a resource to keep you get and stay motivated.

Consider the following:

Coaching today is used to support top producers, not just underachievers. Think about it; even Tiger Woods has a personal coach. Coaching can provide professionals with focus that is unavailable from other forms of support in their business.

Personal coaching should be designed to coach the total person. No matter the current level of performance, from senior executives, managers and sales people, a little focus and accountability goes a long way. Good one-on-one interaction and feedback from an objective third party has helped professionals reach higher and achieve more than they ever dreamed possible.

Look at the following areas that leaders of business are looking for in today's challenging times:

• Improved communication skills
• Promote real decision-making process that leads to positive results
• Leadership skills and leadership models
• Create and Grow Teamwork
• Obtain Peak performance from self and team members
• Eliminate Procrastination in the day to day
• Take action and accomplish more
• Fully realize personal and professional potential
• Achieve balance in various roles
• Develop new strategies for solving old problems as well as new ones
• Create positive change in themselves, their team members and their companies

Stay focused. Don't listen to all the doomsday reports. The choice is yours.

"Coach" Mel Reed

Founder - Train the Best

Mel Reed is an Innovative, Insightful and Powerful Storyteller, one of the few "Enter-Trainers" in America today. He is a sought-after speaker and business consultant and is universally characterized by friends, colleagues, and clients as one of the most insightful, powerful, and compassionate men in business today. Contact Mel for information about Coaching, Real Estate Training and more.

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Hard Times Require Focus!

One the biggest stories of 2008 in Northwest Arkansas was that of ANB Financial's downfall, beginning on May 9th. That's when the FDIC stepped in and seized control of ANB's assets to prevent further losses. While a number of people have been hurt by this local financial disaster, investors and home buyers can now purchase property owned by the FDIC in Northwest Arkansas that was previously held by ANB Financial. It goes without saying that some truly rare deals are on the market and available for purchase by savvy investors, entrepreneurs, or home buyers.

Larry Robison, Commercial Realtor and Co-Owner of EXIT Pro Realty in Rogers, has nearly $11,000,000 in FDIC-owned inventory with an additional $6,000,000 coming on the market very soon. These properties in Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville include a $340,000 warehouse, commercial land parcels starting at $377,349, and Signature Square - a 47,000 square foot 5.4 acre multi-use office park listed at $3,504,840.

Below is a map with many of the FDIC listings that are currently available with their corresponding MLS numbers.

Also available...the exisiting ANB property just off I-540 and pleasant grove road. This property is not yet listed, but is available somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000,000 to $6,000,000.

An earnest money deposit of 5% of the offer amount in the form of a cashier's check madepyable to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation must be submitted with all offers. The balance of an accepted offer will be due at closing.

Contact Larry Robison to find out more about these and other unique properties in Rogers, Springdale, and Bentonville by phone (479) 636-7777 email Larry@EXITprorealty.net or visit EXIT Pro Realty's Website.

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Commercial Real Estate Owned by FDIC Available Now in Northwest Arkansas

Shadow Valley is an upscale private, gated community, golf course, and country club located in western Rogers Arkansas off Southgate road. Shadow Valley is a master planned community nestled on 544 acres of Rogers real estate with over 900 homes and townhomes. Take a look at all that Shadow Valley has to offer it's current and future residents . . .

Shadow Valley is centrally located.

Live in west Rogers, work anywhere in Northwest Arkansas. Shadow Valley residents enjoy living in the City of Rogers while their kids go to Bentonville Schools. The property is easily accessible to Interstate 540, Walmart Home Office, J.B. Hunt, and Tyson corporate offices.

Shadow Valley is full of great amenities:

• A 40,000 square foot modern clubhouse and restaurant
• Championship 18 hole golf course
• Tennis center
• Fitness center
• Swim center
• Walking and jogging trails
• Children's activity center

Shadow Valley has quality homes and a lifestyle people look for.

In addition to all the amenities of a full service country club and gated community, the homes in Shadow Valley are built by a select group of Premier Builders that have been selected for their attention to detail and total commitment to quality.

• David Harris - David Harris Construction Co.
• Dean Horton - Horton Homes, Inc.
• John Tidwell- Tanglewood Homes, Inc.
• Judy Enderle- Enderle Construction, Inc.
• Kurt Puttkammer- Kurt Puttkammer Homes
• Lance Johnson - Lance Johnson Building Company
• Phil Wenzinger- Wenzinger Homes
• Vance Puttkammer- Vance M. Puttkammer Homes, Inc.

The Premier builders will create custom or semi-custom homes and also have homes that are in "move-in ready" condition. Shadow Valley home prices being around $270,000 for a single family home. Villas, Chateaux's, and Townhomes begin around $180,000. Shadow Valley has an architectural control committee that regulates the design of all homes and unimproved property within the grounds, enhancing property values and preserving the beauty of the community.

Shadow Valley Community Fees and Club Memberships

Property Owner's Association

Shadow Valley does have a POA or property owner's association that maintains the gatehouse, streetlights and all the common areas within the property. Dues are $45 per month.

Country Club Membership

All owners of residential property within the Shadow Valley Master Planned Community (SVMPC) must have at least a Social Membership which is $1,000 initiation fee and $85 per month. This gives you access to the club restaurant, banquet and meeting facilities, tennis shop, golf shop, fitness center, swim center, playground, etc.

An upgraded Tennis Membership affords you all of the social membership benefits plus Indoor and outdoor tennis courts, professional instruction, team tennis, leagues, and tournaments. The cost of the Tennis Membership is $2,250 initiation fee and $145 per month.

The highest level of membership at Shadow Valley Country Club is a Golf Membership which gives you all the privileges of a Tennis Membership plus use of the golf course, driving range, unlimited range balls, short game practice area, putting clocks, professional instruction, junior programs, leagues, and tournaments. Golf membership requires a $5,000 initiation fee and $275 per month. All fees do not include Arkansas sales tax.

Shadow Valley offers another great option for discriminating buyers that are looking for a new home and a new community that provides safety, community, and luxury. Let me know if you would like to find out more about Shadow Valley or any master planned community in Northwest Arkansas. If you are looking for information about other neighborhoods in Northwest Arkansas, check out the Neighborhoods Category of this site.

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Shadow Valley Private Gated Community in Rogers Offers a Fantastic Lifestyle for Northwest Arkansas Residents

Do you live in Shadow Valley and want to express your love for your community? Leave a comment below and let readers know what it's like to live in this great neighborhood.