Idaho

My name is Shanna Wroten-Tucker. I'm from Boise and I am active with ACAR and the Women's Council of Realtors. If you have a reputation of being one of Boise's Best Realtors... please keep reading!

I believe successful people attract into their lives the people and tools they need to further their success. And I believe you would find significant value in an upcoming FREE workshop that I'm hosting this Friday, February 12th at 10 am at Pioneer Title:

Hope is Not a Strategy: A Business Planning Workshop

I also believe in being 100% transparent with no surprises at the workshop. This seminar is truly FREE and here are my three promises to you:

PROMISE #1:

I know your time is valuable... And so, I promise not to waste it. The workshop is only two hours and you will leave with a revolutionary way of thinking about business planning.

• This is not a one-size-fits-all program, this workshop is tailor-made and full of ideas for Real Estate Professionals.

• You will leave with specific and proven money making action steps scheduled on your calendar... customized to your personal values and strengths.

• I will also share the secrets of breaking your past records with a self directed accountability system that is easy to implement and has worked for top executives across the country. Powerful stuff.

I know business planning sounds cliché, but rest assured that we cut to the chase quickly and this is not "pie in the sky" hypothetical goal setting rah-rah stuff. You will leave with solid ideas that will make a difference in your business, your income and your success.

PROMISE #2:

Nothing is being sold at the workshop. In fact, quite the opposite - I will be giving away valuable success tools including a workbook designed specifically for Idaho Real Estate Professionals which includes literally thousands of specific and targeted ideas to help you succeed.

PROMISE #3:

I know you probably have a favorite lender. I too am a lender, but please rest assured that I respect that relationship and I'm NOT trying to replace your lender.

SO, WHY AM I DOING THIS?

My only goal is that you would consider me when and IF your existing lender relationship doesn't work out... or as your "Plan B" if for some reason your current lender cannot get a loan approved. (Heaven knows underwriting can be a challenge in these interesting times.)

Here's what a few Boise attendees have said about my workshop:

"Shanna, thank you! I've been to many business planning workshops, but this is the first one that I really feel comfortable with. I love all of the great ideas, the flexibility, and the guidance." ~ Carey at Group One

"Thank YOU for presenting unquestionably the very best business plan I have ever been introduced to. Not only did you create materials that were industry-specific but the entire plan is organized in an easy-to-follow and easy-to-customize format. This is a plan that every agent... should put to use to fulfill their performance goal!!" ~ Shelley Lund

I believe all successful relationships are "win-win... win"

YOU WIN: My goal - and I am very serious about this, is to increase your business and your income this year. I will do this by providing two key things:

• Business Planning and success tools that are specific and targeted that will help you generate more business and more income.

• Lending options that will get more transactions closed for you (I'm talking about only those that your favorite lender cannot close, of course). At Waterstone Mortgage, we have some unique offerings that might just help you get some additional transactions closed that you might not otherwise close. I will spend less than 10 minutes during the seminar educating you about these options.

YOUR CLIENTS WIN: I'm also very committed to making sure that your clients feel like they "win" too... (I could go on for hours about this topic!)

• I have received many awards in my career... but none that I'm more proud of than being a 2008 honoree for the BBB Integrity Counts! Award.

• With the power of a Mortgage Bank... you can rest assured the wire will show up at the closing table - and on time!

• And the flexibility of a Mortgage Broker. Our real-time rate search technology platform allows us to confidently quote your clients extremely competitive rates from both Waterstone Mortgage and over 12 of the Nation's other leading Mortgage Banks. More lending options also means more avenues for loan approvals.

And I WIN: As your "Plan B Lender", I hope to generate one referral from you in 2010... but if-and-only-if, I help you generate one extra transaction for yourself AND if we mutually agree that our business styles are a fit.

Please RSVP today!

My two hour "Hope is Not a Strategy: A Business Planning Workshop" is completely FREE. The workshop is tailor-made and full of proven ideas for Boise Real Estate Professionals. You will leave with specific money making action steps scheduled on your calendar... customized to your personal values and strengths.

I truly hope that you decide to join us. The workshop is being held at Pioneer Title (on Rifleman) this coming Friday from 10am to noon. This is two hours that I promise will be well spent. Simply give me a call and let me know that you plan to attend by calling my direct line at 287-1707.

Best regards,

Shanna Wroten-Tucker

(pronounced Shauna Roe-ten Tucker)

P.S. Curious about Waterstone Mortgage? We are owned by $1.9 Billion Bank. We have three branches and 30 loan officers in the Boise area. We underwrite a wide variety of loan products for over 12 of the country's largest mortgage lenders - the "who's who" in mortgage banking.

P.P.S. Our real-time rate search technology platform allows us to confidently quote your clients extremely competitive rates while simultaneously cross-checking against the most current underwriting guidelines.

P.P.P.S. We have in-house Processing, in-house HVCC Appraisal Management (this is a HUGE competitive advantage), in-house Underwriting, In-house Doc Drawing, and in-house Funding. We control our entire Lending Process to insure smooth closing for both you and your client.

I'm very passionate about this topic so I'll be interested to see some of the comments I get back from others in my community.

In 98% of the cases, I STRONGLY disagree with sending the bank multiple offers on the same property. Allow me to explain why.

1. The contract is between the buyer and the seller, NOT the buyer and the bank. I understand this gets cloudy in some people's mind but I think it's made to be more complicated than it really needs to be. The fact that it's a short sale doesn't change the relationship between the buyer and the seller.

2. If we are sending multiple offers to the bank how can we expect them to make a decision when it appears that we clearly can't make one? Really it looks like we are sending everything to them so they can decide which is the best offer. Isn't that what we get paid to do...represent OUR clients the sellers? How much can we dirty the waters by adding additional offers. I personally would throw up my hands and say, "tell me when you're done sending offers and then I'll make a decision." If I wait a little longer maybe I'll get a better offer.

3. Some people may argue that they're required to send all offers to the lien holder. Is that in writing? What if your client doesn't want you to submit all offers to the bank? In Idaho, we are only required to present all offers to our client, the Seller. The lien holder is NOT our client.

4. Another argument I've heard is that it's in the seller's best interest to get more money. And I agree with that to a point. If you are representing the seller you should be negotiating the best offer up front. It does no good to submit low ball ridiculous offers. It wastes everyone's time and clogs the system. Hence the difficulty in getting "real" offers through. Let's say you have a decent offer and you send it to the lien holder. Three months have passed and you're still waiting for a response. In the meantime, you receive another offer that is higher and believe you should submit that to the bank instead. What loyalty do we have to the buyer that is taking a risk by submitting an offer on a short sale and waiting months only to find out someone came in with a higher offer at the last minute? I would think that idea would scare potential buyers. If we were practicing "normal" real estate that wouldn't happen. The second offer would be in back up position...which is exactly where it should be in a short sale.

We all as listing agents have the responsibility to represent our clients. Please remember our clients are the sellers, not the banks. The banks have enough people looking out for their interests...and I guarantee they're not hurting as much as they want us to think. When I'm representing the buyer I make sure to ask that no additional offers be submitted to the bank.

Maybe that's just me!

Forget the White House attacking USA Today for pointing out how bad the Christmas Bomber thing was handled.

Forget the Scott Brown victory a few weeks ago.

Forget who won the Super Bowl.

Forget Iran going against the UN.

This is much bigger.

Brooklyn Decker!

Andy Roddick is a lucky man.

Look who got the cover slot on SI's swimsuit issue!

Link here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_fea_fashion_sports_illustrated

Yikes! Luckily my wife is out of town so I can look at that pic for a few more seconds.

I have a client that is looking for a home in the Post Falls, Rathdrum or Spirit Lake area that is less than $67,000. If you have a home in this range that is for sale let me know.