Bergen County Realtor, Sal Poliandro, SRES, ePRO, Short Sale Specialist

I was talking to a buddy of mine today. He is a pastor in Long Island, NY. He used to be the youth pastor at my old church, a few years ago he planted a church nearby. He tells me that someone in his congregation hit lotto, then get this, called him up and donated ALL the winnings to the church he Pastors! $3,000,000 that equals $150,000 per year for the next 20 years. The irony of this is most people say that if they hit the lottery, then they will be more generous. I disagree, I think people already have the generosity beforehand. If they had donated 10%, that would be $300,000. Quite a large contribution. I am blown away at the fact that they are donating every cent. They donated the winning ticket. There is a press conference on Wednesday, I will post a blog with my buddy and the cardboard check. Has anyone else ever heard of such generosity?

A was browsing the internet this afternoon and came across the article below about how a realtor in Las Vegas is suing USA Today. She is alleging that an article in the paper caused her subseqent firing and thus ending her real estate career.

We all have lost business due to the economic conditions. But you don't see any other realtors looking to sue because of it. What do you think?

Las Vegas Realtor Erin Schlumpf claims her career was destroyed by a June 3 USA Today article about mortgage fraud in Las Vegas that featured a home she sold in the Sunrise Mountain area.

A lawsuit filed Aug. 6 in District Court accuses USA Today and reporter Greg Farrell of defamation, slander, libel and false light, among other causes of action regarding Schlumpf and her business. The plaintiff is seeking more than $10,000 in damages.

Schlumpf said she was a "prominent" real estate agent, especially in downtown Las Vegas, and was earning more than $100,000 a year in commissions before the article ran.

She was terminated by Liberty Realty after the story ran because her boss didn't want "that kind of publicity." She said she hasn't been able to find another job.

"I had a promising career. I had lots of clients," Schlumpf said at the law offices of Barry Levinson. "Now I can't even get a client. Nobody will list with me or sell. I can't even hang my license anywhere. I'm pretty much wiped out."

The Barclay's heads to the Ridgewood Country Club this week for the first time in its history. Ridgewood, New Jersey is buzzing with PGA Tour fever as the players head to town looking to capture the trophy. The final field for the Barclays was announced yesterday afternoon. Although 144 players qualified for the event, some pulled out due to injuries or personal reasons. In all, 136 players will be at Ridgewood for the FedEx Cup Playoffs' first event.

Those players who are in the top 144 but will not be playing are Tiger Woods, Luke Donald, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Alex Cejka, Jason Bohn, Bob Estes and Roland Thatcher. The spot of a player that cannot or chooses not to play this week will remain unfilled.

Below are some quick facts about Ridgewood Country Club:

For more information on the tournament visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r027/.

Come and check it out!

Some recent headlines I have read... "Home prices set to slide in ‘08", "Home sales dip; prices fall sharply", "Home prices post record decline". Everywhere I turn it seems that there is a negative comment about housing. We are certainly going through a change in the market. What I wanted to share this month were two experiences that I have had recently.

Helping people buy and sell properties isn't just about selling, it's about marketing. An effective homeowner needs to implement strategies that will get their home seen by as many people as possible. The more showings a home gets the more likely an acceptable offer will come. The majority of people partner with a Realtor to get their expertise, opinion and strategy. The desired outcome is to receive the most money for your home. A successful Realtor will help you reach your goal.

Our first story began in the spring of 2006. I was driving down a local road and saw a For Sale by Owner sign. I placed a call to the number on the sign and asked the woman if I could come by and see the house. I visited the home the next day. When I asked the price she said that she was asking $575,000 and was a little flexible since she wasn't paying a fee. I asked how she came upon that price and she told me that she had a "friend" in Real Estate. My professional opinion was that the price was way too high. The home came on the market a few months later for $544,000 then reduced to $519,000, then again to $499,000. Then it was removed from the market. Months later, a second Realtor markets the home starting in October 2007, now it is at $469,900; in January 2008 the price reduces again to $439,900. The question we have to ask is whether this homes value was dropping or whether it was just grossly overpriced to begin with. My answer is a combination of both. The story does have a happy ending. I was working with buyers who were interested in the home. We put in an offer of $380,000 which was accepted. This particular home came down from $575,000 and ultimately sold for almost $200,000 less. Ironically, the home sold for $12,000 more than it was purchased for in 2003.

The second example is about a home where the homeowners appreciated the power of marketing. Their home was in pristine condition, they had labored many hours to get it that way. This family was serious about selling their home. They did not try to sell it by themselves. They hired a professional with proven strategies to get homes sold in this challenging market. They did their homework; they visited all the homes in their town in their perceived price range. Their Realtor gave them the proper information and insight to make good decisions; based on that information they priced their home appropriately. At the first Sunday open house there were over 45 families that came to visit. There was quite a buzz about their home. The following Tuesday the home was presented specifically to local Realtors. By Tuesday night there were multiple offers on the home. Were these people just lucky? I don't think so. Setting realistic expectations and having a power partner in Real Estate make all the difference.

Are these truly two different Real Estate Markets? I don't believe so. As a Realtor, I speak with buyers and sellers each day. Each home has a fair market value price. The first example was originally priced way above that price. As markets adjusted the seller was forced to reduce and reduce until settling on a price that was fair to both buyer and seller. Imagine the potential emotions of that seller. Waiting and waiting and finally accepting a price that they believe is "giving their home away". In the second example a well educated seller was able to have a great idea of what the fair market value price was and price their home accordingly. Their result was a quick sale at a fair price. Every seller has the same decisions to make. Which seller would you prefer to be?

Here is the good news: People are buying and selling homes in 2008. Every home is unique and requires a customized marketing plan. What works for your neighbor may not necessarily work for you. Your home is probably your most valuable asset, treat the decision to sell with care. Find a professional with a proven track record who knows about marketing and more importantly has been getting the job done for people.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor, Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, or visit our website: www.SalAndDawn.com

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 81 North Maple Avenue Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Washington, D.C. - Rick Warren, renowned author of "The Purpose Driven Life" had the pleasure of meeting Bergen County Realtor Sal Poliandro. I was able to explain to Rick the great reasons why he should move his mega church to Bergen County.

To the casual observer it may look like he is autographing a copy of his best seller, that is why I am mentioning it on this blog.

Don't worry if you can't get to California, I have been trying to get Rick involved in Bergen County and the New York City area. Something should be in the works really soon.

For more information on Short Sales, New Jersey Homes for Sale, Bergen County Real Estate or any other topic,

call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, or visit our website: http://www.salanddawn.com/

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 81 North Maple Avenue Ridgewood, NJ 07450