Mary Yonkers

Local Erie, PA businesses team up with Junior Achievement (JA) to bring financial & business topics, current issues and career options to grades K-12. Volunteers from local businesses visit the schools presenting age-appropriate lessons in workshops over a five-week period or a one-day event known as "JA In a Day." The format is fun and dynamic for the students as well as teaching them valuable lessons about personal finances and what it takes to be successful in the business world.

The volunteers willing share their personal reflections on career opportunties, the traits & skills needed in both the business & financial sectors. Sandi Carangi, Erie Federal Credit Union and JA Chairwoman, says, "The kids always ask, When are you coming back?" Good work Junior Achievement, Erie, PA. See: www.goerie.com for quiz to test your teenager's financial savvy.

Maybe we need new economists. They predicted further declines but across the nation, construction of new homes and apartments were up 22.2 % compared to January 2009. Yes, January was not a good month. In fact it was another record low, but any news amist the glut of bad news is good news. In Erie, PA several new apartment complexes, currently under construction, are pre-leasing units and with 100% occupancy expected at time of completion. Other complexes have a waiting list for future buildings not yet started. Interest in new condo developments is steadily increasing along with the warmer weather. Traffic at open houses in Erie, PA has been brisk every weekend--defying everything the economists have been saying.

Foreclosure rates in Erie, PA are way below the national average of one in every 440 with only one in every 1,404 was subject to foreclosure in February in Erie County. This does not surprise most Erie people since we tend to be more conservative in all aspects of our lives. Yes, some might say boring, but I will rather be boring and not facing foreclosure.

CONGRATULATIONS: ERIE, PA HOWARD HANNA AGENTS WIN AWARDS

More than 1,200 Howard Hanna sales agents and managers from PA and West Virginnia attended their annual awards event held at the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel. Top producers and top offices were recognized for production successes during 2008. Howard W. "Hoddy" Hanna, III said, "This is especially exciting because we, at Howard Hanna, celebrate a most unusual 2008 in real estate and the world economy. In that most unique year we had our best year ever in home sales with 35, 742 closed transactions with a volume of more than $6,131 billion. And as remarkeable as those astonishing numbers are, it is even more gratifying to report that 72% of our experienced Howard Hanna sales associates were up in sales in 2008 over 2007."

2008 Erie , PA Top Office Producers

Erie East office--Cindy Fabin

Erie Airport office--Jackie Benner

Erie Southwest office--Renee Brown

New construction--Gail Panella

In addition to these awards Howard Hanna also honored Margel Szumigale, Erie south office, with the Very Best of the Best Award. Margel was also honored a top listing agent in 2008.

Sandra Jarecki, Erie airport office, was recognized as a top listing agent for the most volume listed in 2008.

Three agents received the National Sales Excellence award from The Realty Alliance, a distinctive honor of national recognition. They are Margel Szumigale, south office; Jackie Benner, airport office; and Sandra Jarecki, airport office.

Meet: Posi

Posi will introduce each positive post.

Good Samaritan

The Erie, PA newspaper, Erie Times News,headline didn't read, 'Good Samaritan' but read: Man shot on area street. It wasn't the headline that caught my attention. It was the name of a middle class suburb in my hometown of Erie, PA. Like other cities we expect such events to occur inner city not the suburbs. The first sentence of the article told of a ten year-old being awakened by a gunshot outside her home just before six a.m. She woke her father who opened his door to assist the wounded young man at his doorstep. Details aside, while her father called 911, the young girl brought the man a pillow, blanket and tweezers to remove the bullet. Her father remarked about her calmness. "She's just an amazing kid. I think she's going to be an EMT."

Footnote: Whatever the young man was involved in, he was apologetic and grateful for the assistance offered by father & daughter. The authorities are still looking for the shooter.

Challenging economic times are driving even the most seasoned real estate agents back to the basics we learned as Newbies in FastStart or Sweat Hog training courses many years ago. Let's look at a few key basic tactics that lead to our initial success and will get us back on that success track again.

PROSPECT, PROSPECT, PROSPECT The more people we talk to the more opportunities we have to generate leads that will lead to listings or sales. Schedule time each day to make calls. I prefer warm calls to cold calls so I suggest that you start with your past clients who will appreciate a call. They may even recommend you to a friend or co-worker who needs to buy or sell. I find that when I make calls first thing in the morning I am less likely to get distracted and say, 'I will do it tomorrow' and then tomorrow never comes. As I go about my daily appointments or errands I 'pop in' on business acquaintances who also appreciate being remembered by a 'busy Realtor.'

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK Attend at least one business or civic function and one social event each week. In any type of business and real estate is no exception we need to be seen to be remembered. The more times we are seen the more likely we are to be remembered when the need for our services arises. When I attend any function my goal is to meet at least one person I didn't know before I came. I start by introducing myself and asking what they do. Everyone likes to talk about themselves and they are happy that a stranger is interested in them. I ask for their business card and offer to send future business their direction. This is a great way to segway into how I can help them if they need to sell or buy real estate. Isn't that what our business is all about? People helping people.

Now I am about to follow my own advice and attend a business function, Business Leaders of the Erie Community, this evening at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, TREC, Erie, PA. The invitation to attend was hanging on the bulletin board. When I called to RSVP I was told that only one other Realtor from the Erie community had RSVP'd. Guess that means more opportunity to stand out.