Michele Bellisari

So yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of doing a seminar for the Realtor Association of Miami Dade County in the Plantation office. What a fantastic group of Realtors! Great information and questions were had by all. I always have some "professionals" at my seminars to answer very specific questions and I had my "dream" team of ladies this time...title attorney, lender and engineering firm. But...who knew the real hit of the event would be the IRS!!! Yes you heard me...the IRS was one of my invited guests.

So here is the deal peeps...not that we would want to say the once again SoFLA is the hot bed of fraud cough cough...BUT since March over 500,000 people have put in a claim for the tax credit across the county. Of that amount would you believe me if I told you that close to 10% of those people that have sent in the tax form 5405 have not purchased a home????

Ok...so now this is not just a South Florida problem, it is across the old U.S. of A. and the most interesting part are the "accountants" telling their clients it is ok...oh...my...goodness AND, and this is my personal favorite..."as long as you close by Dec. 31st" you will be fine. EXCUSE ME...the credit ends on November 30th. Done, finito!

OK...so it gets better...oh the DRAMA in my class...but it made for a great ending...an agent in the class proceeded to SHARE with our fine friend from the IRS this direct story about her friend getting the $8K check and that her friend had not purchased a home yet and the friend was texting her while she shared the tale of fraud for the entire class to acknowledge. Now, with that being said, the agent had nothing to do with the purchase. But and here is the scene stealer...

Ms. IRS says..."It is not IF your friend will get caught, it is simply WHEN...and when we catch these people they will have to pay back the $8k if they have not purchased the home plus a minimum of a $20% up to a 75% penalty on the $8k!!!!!"

Well my goodness you could have heard a pin drop and then complete chaos lol!

Bottom line...we all learned alot from Ms. IRS and apparantly so did that one agent...I would have loved to have heard the phone conversation in the car!

Agent - "Girl...you better figure out how to give that money back, or find a house before the end of November"

Friend - "I know...I went to find my accountant and oops SHOCKER...he is nowhere to be found that dirty rat"

Agent - "Girl...I think Ms. IRS is following me...I better throw my phone out the window so there is not evidence of me texting you in class gotta go"

Friend- "Hello...hello..."

So remember...you have to have purchased a home before you send in your 5405 tax form and you cannot have owned a home in the last 3 years people.

Michele Bee

As many of my social networking friends know I have 3, yes count em 3 dogs. It will end my marriage trust me! As a big "rescue" advocate I have 2 from our local shelter and one that is my foster dog. I am watching them play at the end of the day and of course this bizarre thought popped into my head..."If My dogs were Realtors...what would they sell? So here we go...

Jimmy Buffett-my yellow lab (known as Buff or Buffman) being the laid back big pup that he is would sell beach houses and out houses...he loves the water, he likes getting messy and he wants to just fling his blond body anywhere he can. He is happy doing a few decent deals a year, having a big bone and a few "tasty" waves to share with his clients!

Bimini-my Sheba/Husky Mix, who is very beautiful, snobby and cat like would sell penthouses and big mansions...that is it...take it or leave it she would say to her buyers...I have more where you came from!

Bella-my mini Schnauzer would be selling duplexes and condos on South Beach as she moves fast, likes change and is very colorful to say the least! I see her whizzing her clients around in her red sports car and writing contracts fast and furiously! PS...she only works with cash buyers from Europe!

I keep thinking about Dr. Suess and Go Dogs Go..."Do you like my hat" "I do not like you hat"..."Good-bye" "Good-bye"! All those dogs running around in cars and having fabulous social lives like us humans. I just love that book!

If dogs were Realtors there would be more loyalty and less back stabbing!

My dogs would be great team members...diverse, dependable and full of enthusiasm for each and everyday!

So next time you have a bad day...think about your dog or cat as a Realtor...it will put a smile on your face because lets face it...our animals are truly a reflection of who "we" are...I just happen to have 3 and I think I have a little bit of each of them in me!

Michele Bee

I recently was sent a referral for a rental...nice price point...confused renter from another state...moving to South Florida...these 2 issues never seem to resolve themselves. Our houses are too small and too this and too that. But my point in this blog post is that why is it that the consumer "assumes" they are the only customer we have had in a year? I started to assist this transplant with her huge dog and small dog (which by the way, she just didn't get the "it's all about your dogs" and not you piece of the pie, when I got a phone call from the "friend"...or shall I call him, Mr. Smug...the conversation went like this...

Him:You have been helping out my friend.

Me: Who is your friend

Him: blah blah

Me: Ok, great, what can I help you with?

Him: I will be there on Friday looking at a condo for us with another Realtor... (thanks for sharing by the way)

Me: Stop right there...did I not make it pretty clear that I don't work with anyone working with multiple Realtors?

Him: Ha ha...it is only a rental what's the big deal

Me: Ha ha... bye bye...click

I wrote 2 contracts during that same day I would have wasted with them...and she never got back to me in a timely manner anyway so they were "backburner" if I had time for them customers anyway. Probably out there wasting everyone's time...glad I went with my gut and moved along!

Michele Bee

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=129809525737

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http://www.michelebellisari.com/news---events-c12829.html

Michele Bellisari-Realtor, ABR, GREEN
Realty Associates Florida Properties
First Time Home Buyer Queen!

Julie and Julia

Well if nothing comes from seeing that cute movie but the fact that blogging can add value to your business and value to your sense of who you are I don't know what will. It took Julia Childs 8 years to write her famous book and type it up while she traveled from Paris, Germany and more. And now it is in it's 45th printing! Very inspiring!

So we have had some bumps in the road...and I mean bumps! But you know what...we are strong, we are survivors and we must be creative!

As much as I like to educate others, I find that my real strength comes from being a problem solver and a motivator. How many times have you walked out of a home as a Realtor, with a home owner clearly distressed about their situation...we must take care to give reassurance that things will be ok...things will be ok.

For a time now I have been looking at ways to round out my real estate business and am grateful to have a fantastic group of mastermind friends to bounce ideas off of. I highly recommend that you surround yourself with other business people that you respect and who respect you. It is refreshing to have others take a step back and look at your business and give you suggestions. Don't look at it as criticism, but look at it as an opportunity to change the "journey" that you are on.

The green part of real estate is up and coming and there are so many things homeowners can do to save money on their energy bills. Saving money right now is a good thing!

First time home buyers have a tremendous gift right now...take your $8000.00 tax credit and check out the websites that will help you get more rebates and tax credits like http://www.dsire.com/ and http://www.energystar.gov/.

Learn how to earn from what you have! A lifetime of lower energy bills and for those of you going through FHA...a fully assumable mortgage 5 years from now at a 5% or so interest rate will make your home the most desirable listing on the block!

Updates for the Bare Naked Real Estate seminars and webinars for real estate professionals an be found at www.michelebellisari.com/news---events-c12829.html ! Plus at http://www.formygreenlife.com/ we now have "green" and "energy efficient" webinars for consumers and real estate agents!

Remember...if you are in a foreclosure situation or short sale situation...ASK FOR HELP! You are not on a desert island...your story will mirror someones elses so reach out and don't suffer silently.

Bee Greener Now