Liz Carter,Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston)

Does't everyone LOVE ART AND CHOCOLATE! Put the date in your calendar and join the Cinco Ranch Ladies Club in Cinco Ranch, Katy Texas for a great "NIGHT OUT". For this special meeting you do not have to be a member of the CINCO RANCH LADIES CLUB, so grab a friend or a neighbor and plan on attending. We meet at the Golf Club in Cinco Ranch which is located at the corner of Peek Rd. & Cinco Lakes Blvd. Feb. 26th at 7:00 PM.

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Be inspired by local artists, fine wines and chocolates!

evening into a display of artistry.

Local artists
Claire Payne, Terri Bieber, Elizabeth Linder, Vickie McMillan, and

and truffles from DeBrand Chocolatiers, will surely please your palate. What better

complement to art and chocolate than a wine tasting ...? The Wine Next Door, will join

the event with samples tempting us all to join them at La Centerra. As an extra special

This is part 3 in the series of Realities of Real Estate for 2008. The points are from my coach Mike Ferry and I have elaborated on each 2 points per post. We as Realtors can learn a lot from this market, after years of real estate prices soaring to all time highs, and everyone getting a real estate licence we are now in a more "normalized" market. Prices could not continue to increase, Real Estate is a cyclical business just like the stock market and it has to adjust itself. This is called "normal", what goes up, must come down, and then we will go through the cycle again in about 7-10 years. Even in the greater HOUSTON TEXAS MLS, which includes KATY, SUGAR LAND, and several other surrounding cities and suburbs we did not have a steep decline in home prices, but then we did not have a steep increase in home prices either. We are experiencing longer days on market, and fewer pending sales of homes. Of course the sub prim market really hit the Houston, Katy, Sugar Land areas more than some of the rest of the country since THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A HOME IN THE Houston MLS IS STILL ONLY $200,000. We can ll learn, improve and become better Realtors during a market like this. This market requires more skills and a better trained Realtor, which is also good for the consumer. People buying and selling homes in this market can expect to end up with a true professional, since all those people who got a real estate licence because it was so "easy" are leaving the Real Estate industry in droves. We will have a WIN-WIN-WIN in the long run, and people who were getting priced out of the real estate market, can now afford to buy a home.

More hard facts ... #5. Real Estate companies and offices will continue to close in record numbers ... sell a lot of Real Estate to keep your company in business. #6. The Mortgage Industry is going to make getting a loan more difficult ... It's ok, we must learn how to pre-qualify even stronger. Point #5. Agents have demanded bigger and bigger shares of the profit, to a point where there is no advantage to owing a Real Estate company. After all we are all in the business to make a profit (not many Mother Theresa's out there), and if a company is not making a profit they are closing down. So if you like were you work, you have fair expenses, and a supporting Broker, get out there and sell some homes, other wise you will need to find another place to hang your Real Estate licence. Liz Carter Point #6. I had a client come in last night to list her home, and she had an 80/20 ARM loan at 12.5% (I have no ideal why she had not refinanced), but that has been part of our recent problems. If you could breath you could get a loan. Don't blame it all on the lender either, we were willing to cash our commission checks on all those loans that should have never been made in the first place. It is sad to think about someone loosing their home. Make sure you pre-qualify a buyer for what they truly can affordand make sure you deal with a reputable lender and get them the right mortgages. It is our responsibility as a REALTOR to do what is BEST FOR OUR CLIENTS. Liz Carter The Realities of Real Estate for 2008 in the US, from Liz Carter, Realtor in Katy Texas, part 1, part 2 below.

The Realities of Real Estate for 2008 in the US, part 2. By Liz Carter Realtor Katy Texas

LIZ CARTER, OWNER/BROKER LIZ CARTER & TEAM REALTY, KATY TEXAS, WWW.LIZCARTER.COM

The SIX FACES OF LIZ...vs the three faces of Eve :)

On a dive boat geared up and ready to jump into the tropical waters of Bali! An avid scuba diver since 1978, I've been to most of the premiere dive spots world wide. From Galapagos Islands, Papua New Guinea, Australia,Thailand, Palau, Costa Rico, British Virgin Islands, Cozumel, Cayman, Belize, and just about everywhere else in the Caribbean. Diving is my passion, and it is one of the only times I totally am "IN THE MOMENT"! I don't think about selling REAL ESTATE, whats going on with my sellers and buyers, or anything else for that matter except the total experience I am having underwater, it's an incredible feeling.

What I am in search of...and bingo, got the shot, a pair of Nudie's mating :) I don't show my fist attempts of underwater photography...it's kinda like a first biog...only much worse! Like everything in life, with lots of practice, your skills improve.

A school of fish with a sunlight halo, Bali

A picture of me with my REAL ESTATE SOLD by LIZ CARTER sign taken 20 years ago in Roatan, off the cost of Honduras. For some reason I decided it would be kinda cool to take this shoot. Then when I got back I came up with the tag line I've used for 20+ years in all my ads. "Before you dive into buying or selling a home...talk to someone who knows the waters." People call from KATY, HOUSTON, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS and other areas i SELL REAL ESTATE IN and ask to talk to that REALTOR underwater, or, that lady with the goggles.

That's me with the gun (for snakes only) at my lake house on Lake Limestone Texas, with some of my friends from Katy Texas. It's about a 21/2 hour dive from door to door, and the blood pressure starts going down real quickly. A great get away, and a heck of a lot closer to home that the picture on the right. This one was taken in Africa on a photographic safari. I think my friend Sandy and I were the only two people that our guide Craig had ever know that spend so much time and shoots of DUNG BEETLES! We were fascinated by these little industious creatures. The lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, zebra, gazelles, rhinos, were pretty cool too :)

I'm the one in the middle :)...this was on a trip to Papua New Guinea on a combination dive trip and land trip. We were gone for three weeks and it has to be my all time favorite trip in the world, totally fascinating place and people. The really cool thing about this trip was while I was gone the team stepped up to the plate and even with me gone did 44 transactions in one month! Our best month ever, FORTY FOUR HOMES SOLD IN ONE MONTH by LIZ CARTER & TEAM REALTY! It still is our record month.

Back to reality, yes this is me too, and I am indeed fortunate since I still love what I do! Helping people buy and sell REAL ESTATE after 32 years. As much as I look forward to a well deserved trip, I look forward just as much to coming home. What brought the ideal of this blog to mind was when I first started on Active Rain, I had this picture of me (bottom) on my profile and then I switched it to my underwater photo, I did'nt want anyone on ACTIVE RAIN CONFUSED...not that anyone here is :). Justin Smith the famous tomato man savvy web guru when I ask his opinion, Justin said, "By all means use the underwater photo, it's different and gets peoples attention." Which it has for me for many years. Some people have told me, "it's not professional", "it has nothing to do with SELLING REAL ESTATE", "Liz no one knows it's you" Well they all might be true statements, but it gets the phone to ring, and people remember it. Which was the other point to this blog, BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR ADVERTIZING It PAY OFF.

Hears to happy traveling wherever your wonder lust takes you and heres to a GREAT 08 !!! Filled with lots of Happy BUYERS AND SELLERS, BY HAVING LOTS OF HOMES SOLD FOR ALL OF MY FRIENDS ON ACTIVE RAIN! Liz Carter. WWW.lizcarter.com, 281-391-SOLD (7653), Liz carter & Team Realty, Katy Texas.

Liz Carter

The is part 2 in a series I'm doing based on my recent attendance of Mike Ferry's One-on-One Real Estate Seminar held in San Diego, CA. I have paid MFO $12,000 a year for my real estate training for the last 16 years, and I'm sharing it with you for FREE! I honestly believe in "paying it forward". Liz Carter & Team Realty has averaged selling 200 homes a year for the last 16 years in the greater Houston, Katy and Sugar Land Texas area. Mike presented his distinct proven techniques on increasing production, listings, sales, transaction and income. When I attend the One-on-One retreat I get focused on developing and maintaining the mindset of a top-producing Realtor, which allows me to have a powerful jump-start on the new year. This is why Mike always has it in January of each year. Part 1 of this series was posted on 1-25-08 at 1:08, here is the link ( The Realities of Real Estate for 2008 in the US, from Liz Carter, Realtor in Katy Texas). I was licenced in 1976, and the 16 years before getting a sales coach I still selling 50-70 homes a year, however I was working 24/7, and getting burned out, so these ideals can help you. If you have any question at all I will be happy to answer them, just leave a comment and I will get back to you.

More hard facts ... #3. The media will create negative news ... let's use it to our advantage. #4. The number of Agents leaving the business will continue to grow at a rapid pace ... start identifying them, selling them on you and taking advantage of their situation.

How to use point #3: Make sure you send your buyers and sellers every article that comes out about your local market conditions, including the monthly reports from you local board. We have all heard the old says, "Don't shoot the messenger", now you can let the media be the messenger, so they get mad at them and not you. It is our job as Realtors to give our clients the truth, no matter what. Even in the greater Houston, Katy and Sugar Land (suburbs of Houstonand we all share the same MLS), Texas, were the prices have not fallen anywhere near as low as some of the rest of the country. My market has so far stayed fairly flat on our prices, but have an increasing number of homes coming on the market for sale, longer days on market and less pending sales. It is extremely important to get the news to your clients, they hired you to tell them the truth. By telling them the truth about the market you can help them price better, anticipate where the market is heading and most importantly in a declining market, get it priced right to sell NOW, AND PROTECT THEIR EQUITY!

How to use point #4: There are record numbers of Realtors leaving the business every day according to the National Association of Realtors. As another old saying goes, "When the going gets tough...the tough get going". During the last 10 years we have seen a market like no other, prices were rising at a record breaking pace, and the building of new construction was in super high gear. Needless to say the market got flooded with more homes at prices far above the rental rates, and the bubble burst. They are estimating it might be as long as 10 years for the market to swing the other way. Real Estate is a cyclical business just like the stock market. I was around in the late 80's-early 90's when oil in Houston went to $10 a barrel, and the Real Estate market went in the tank, much greater than todays market. In some areas we had a 50% decrease in prices, and it took Houston, Katy, Sugar Land and surrounding areas of Texas many years to come back from that. Real Estate goes up and Real Estate goes down, and when it goes down and it's not so easy to sell homes agents get out of the business. It is a purging, that is natural and good for the consumer and the professional, highly trained Realtors left in the business. So approach those agents leaving and ask them if they would like you to handle their friends, family, SOI, and past clients. You would be helping the agent and all those people who will be left with out one. Plus if they keep their licence active, they can be a constant source of referral for you!

Liz Carter has used a unique "team approach" to selling homes, and started it 16 years ago, long before most agents ever thought about it. I don't sponsor other agents for my company, Myself and my partner (who is also my great-great niece) Sandie Acord do all the aggressive prospecting for clients, follow up with existing and past clients, list homes, and negotiate all contracts (Our average list price to sold price is 99.3%). I have two great buyers agents that focus on selling our listings to buyers that Sandie and I produce, and I have four highly trained administrative licenced assistants to handle the paper work. I use the Internet extensively and have just hired Justin Smith who I met on Active Rain to make my web presence even stronger. I also use "Arch", with is a rider that goes on all my listings and has an 800# to call and get information about that listing 24/7, it also captures the callers name and phone # so that we can call back to answer any other questions and set an appointment to show them our homes for sale. I have three generations of my family working on my team and we are now selling to 2nd generations of clients, which is a very rewarding experience. Please look me up at www.lizcarter.com, or call 281-391-SOLD (7653).

I just got back from my four day on-on-on coaching, training with Mike Ferry, and 2,000 of the top Realtors in the US! I'm excited, full of energy, great thoughts, sales skills, and ready to sell 200 homes in 2008, in Katy, Sugar Land, and Houston Texas! YES! Thats one of the best things about having a sales coach like Mike instead of just a motivational speaker (which he is too...in his own way), he teaches you Real Estate Sales skills that are proven to work. I have been coached by Mike for 16 years, and learn something new each time I attend any of the 3-4 meetings I go to a year. This will be continued with some thoughts from Mike, and from me on what I have implemented that might also help you...so stay tuned in, more to come!

For the next 7 days let's talk about the realities of our business. #1. The business is not going to improve in 2008 ... But there is certainly not a single reason why you cannot improve dramatically. #2. The number of listings that will sell is going to remain low ... But ours will sell because we are professional sales people and know how to get them sold. More tomorrow,

http://www.mikeferry.com/ 1-800-448-8423

Also while at the seminar I got a buyer referral from another Mike Ferry agent that will be moving to the Houston, Katy, Texas area. Another great reason to be involved, lots of great qualified referrals for buyer and sellers from top Realtors across the US and Canada. These buyers are moving to either the Cypress, or Katy sections of the greater Houston area next month. The main reason to move to Katy, or Cypress from San Diego is the cost of living is so much lower here. Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, and the greater Houston areas are also like some of the other major cities of Texas including Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, in that we have not experienced the decline in housing prices that CA, and the East Coast have. The housing market is still in good shape, even experiencing some minor price increases of around 2%. However we are seeing longer days on market, as well as a increase in the number of homes for sale. So even here we are seeing some of the problems just not as dramatic as other areas of the country. One of the other top things I learned this time is to make my schedule my # 1 priority. If you are in Real Estate and do not have a schedule of do not follow your schedule, then you are letting life just take you off your course. So put a workable schedule in place and develop the disiple to follow it.

Thanks for the privilege, Liz

Liz Carter, Owner/Broker Liz Carter & Team Realty, est. 1976. 21949-D Katy Frwy, Katy, Texas 77450. 281-391-SOLD (7653) or 800-783-4041. Fax 281-392-2910. Web Site http://www.lizcarter.com