Charles Bennett

March 9,2010 10:00 AM

Good monrning everybody,

It is an absolutlely gorgeous day in N. Texas. I have a busy day today but I wanted to say hello first. I have decided to put a segment on my website called "A Week in the Life". I am going to document my activities, both fun and stressful, a few times a day as time allows. It will consist mainly of the ramblings of a seasoned Realtor but occasionally a little nugget of wisdom may pop up. You can follow the adventures by going to www.charlesbennettsells.com.

Well lets get started. This morning I have answered all my emails and spoke with the ones that needed me. I am about to represent a buyers interests in the purchase of a beautiful townhome. This is a Freddie Mac property. If you are unfamiliar with the acronym Freddie Mac, give me a call and I will explain. Anyway, a purchase agreement is 12 pages in length. The addendum we received from the seller is 18 pages in length. I had to devour it a couple of times and digest it over night. After careful thought I reduced the offer price by $10,000 because of the concessions we make before the negotiation even begins. I think we have made a very strong offer. I visited with my client and answered every question to her satisfaction. Most of the time this business is fun.

I have pulled the hotsheet which is an itemized print out of what happened in our housing market yesterday. I analyzed the data and as expected, it shows the spring buying season will soon be in full bloom. Savvy buyers are flooding the market. Why not? An eight grand tax credit is hard to pass up. Young families can buy a home and Uncle Sugar will furnish it for them.

I have made showing arrangements for some buyer clients this afternoon. I am fixin' to head out and do a little prospecting. I know the term fixin' to shows my redneckedness and irritates one of our northern brethren. If it didn't what would be the point? I'll holler at ya'll later.

4:45 PM

Wow! Where has this day gone? I have had my shoulder to the grindstone since 7:30 this morning. I'not complaining. Like I said in my previous post, I am very thankful. Time flies when you're busy. I am tempted to move this enterprise to my home office. Looking at the storm, through the glass, I made a command decision. I think I will wait it out so I am once again in front of my keyboard doing a little networking.

Don't mistake that comment about the storm as being less than deferential. As a native Texan I have learned to give thanks for every drop of rain the Great Spirit gives us. Here's a little tidbit for yous guys out in the wilderness. Notice how I said "yous-guys"? We will talk about that in the next few paragraphs. Anyway, do you know how many natural lakes there are in Texas? Before you guess remember, we have so many lakes around here you can't travel more that a few miles without admiring one. Well, my readers in the northern territories, the answer is, one. And we have to share it with Louisiana.

All our reservoirs are man made and we have a beautiful assortment. We have these because of the industry of our people. Don't think for one second that just because we ain't a bunch of chowder eatin' yankees that nothing gets done. We do have grit. The number one reason I love my fellow citizens down here is because they aren't rude enough to send me emails telling me I need to try harder to hide my "Redneckedness.".

I am painfully aware of my limited command of the English language. If I could talk good inglish I'z be teaching compzition at TCU. So, since some think the word "ya'll" is a display of "redneckedness", I have decided to be a little more nationalistic in my use of regional vernacular. I think I will start saying yous-guys instead. This way all us'n down here get to share the enjoyment of this beautiful and lyrical dialect.

Yankees! God bless um', they just can't help themselves can they?

I just heard something very discouraging on the NBC nightly news. A family was burying their soldier son, who was killed because he stood between us and them. A group of protesters across the street were holding up signs saying God Bless IED"S. I tell you one thing. They should be happy I wasn't there. If I had been, they would have witnessed firsthand the devastation an IED causes, because I would have exploded like one.

I feel my blood rising so I will sign off before I become even more politically incorrect. I hope all yous guys have a great evening. I am here if you need me.

Happy Trails,

Charles

March 8, 2010:

Good morning every body. Sorry it has taken me so long to post my first blog. I assume your Mondays are hectic as well. It was a busy week-end and some parts of this business can't be conducted until Monday morning. I don't want that to sound like I'm bitching because I'm not. Indeed, I am thankful.

Do ya'll have a morning routine? I do. I get up turn on the computer and coffee pot, in that order. I check my email and take care of everything that needs an immediate response. Yeah, I prioritize, just like you. Then I take my coffee and let our dog out to work off some energy. While he is doing his thing I survey the back yard and wonder how I'm ever going to get this mess to its full glory. We will talk about my inbred dog and my gardening issues another time. I love that dog but he ain't no Rin-Tin-Tin.

However, as I watched him stalk rabbits, part of his daily routine, I was struck by how much his efforts are like those of home buyers. He wants to catch that rabbit like a home buyer wants that best deal. Unfortunately, neither has a chance without some help. Well, rejoice brothers and sisters because I am the help you need.

While I won't intervene with nature and help the dog (Bentley) snare a rabbit, I will be happy to help you make wise Real Estate decisions. I do it everyday. The best deals don't languish on the market. If you don't have a real estate professional looking out for you, you don't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting your best deal.

If you missed it the first time you are in luck. The original First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit was set to expire on November 31, 2009. It was so successful it was extended and broadened to include current home owners. The gist of the program is; any one that hasn't owed a home in the proceeding three years is probably eligible for an $8,000 tax credit when they purchase a primary residence. Current home owners are probably eligible for a $6,500 tax credit. There are some income limitations but they are quite liberal. In fact I personally know only one couple that won't qualify. The home you are buying has to be under a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010 and must close by June 30, 2010.

The fact that you have a two month grace period to close is a revision as well. In the prior program the home had to close and fund on or before November 30, 2009. That one stipulation caused much undue hardship and frustration. Why? If you are not familiar with mortgage lending then you are unaware of the difference between mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers. Suffice it to say, for various reasons a home did not close and fund on or before the deadline the purchaser didn't get the tax credit. Can you imagine having 8 grand yanked out of your hand because someone you trusted put their interest before yours? It must have been devastating.

As sad as that must have been there will be more miss this golden egg of opportunity. When you shop for agents and lenders their longevity says a lot. The only guidance I can offer now is, beware of those that tell you what you want to hear and view them all through the eyes of skepticism. Talk is cheap. This home buyers program will definitely end on April 30. Give me a chance to put my money where my mouth is. You won't be sorry.

Happy Trails,

Charles

It is now 1:30 PM and I could feel my blood sugar dropping like a rock. I choked down some nutritious, but utterly disgusting, lunch. Like all the busy people I know, I consumed it while continuing to toil away. Ah! The sweet taste of success, it comes with a heavy burden doesn't it? Just like you I sometimes wonder if it is worth it. I have to admit my definition of success seems to change about every five years. When I was young and had more time than money my definition of success was having some cash. I spent all my time pursuing it. Several decades later my definition of success has nothing to do with legal tender.

As I was reconnoitering the net for real estate websites and blogs it became glaringly evident that every realtor is the best agent ever and provides the best service, blah, blah, blah. That is fantastic because our profession demands it. But come on, you know as well as I do not everyone is the best. I know lots of aeronautical, petroleum, civil engineers, geologist, chemist, and other assorted scientist. I have helped them all. One thing I have garnered from these relationships is that every occupation has its share of gifted people and at the same time a small percentage of those that need to be doing something else.

The business of Real Estate is no different. Have no doubt about it, there are many styles and flavors when it comes to representation. By and large we are all hitched to the same yoke and pull in the same direction. There is also a multitude who will tell you what you want to hear and that is counter productive. That trick is one stick in the bundle that staggered the housing market for a little while. No we are not without sin. There is a segment that was very active participants in hoodwinking the very people we are supposed to protect. It is a sad but true acknowledgment.

Now back to rambling about the net. If you have even a passing interest in home values you have probably been all over the place. How many of those Realtors have given you the opportunity to get to know them? They start that hard sell bs right from the start. Some people call that aggressive. There are two types of aggression, the type that is about as subtle as a rattlesnake and the kind that is used judiciously. I don't know about ya'll but I got tired of aggressive people a long time ago. Unfortunately I still have to do business with the unenlightened. It is indisputable that more gets done with a please and thank you than with a scythe.

I am heading out in the market to conduct a little commerce. The old adage; "nothing happens until somebody sells something" is true. So to keep this old world turning I will go out and do some more marketing. I am still as close as your phone.

Charles

Hidey Hi Friends and neighbors.

Well, it looks like we are going to cheat death for one more week. I don't know about ya'll but I am pretty damn happy about that. In fact, I am practically giddy with relief.

Yesterday, in reference to other real estate related site, I said I am sick of all the regurgitated blather. When I tell you what a beautiful day it is here in Fort Worth, I know it is beginning to sound like a mantra. I like to say, it is what it is! I spite of my efforts not to, I gotta tell you it is another glorious day in Fort Worth. Am I being hypocritical? I hope not. I try not to be.

I attended a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday at the Fort Worth club. There are two ways to make an entrance, like Marilyn Monroe or Robin Williams.Unfortunately mine was more of the Robin Williams genre. As the new members were introducing themselves, it was my turn. I stood up and with my public speaking voice told them who I am and that I represented Coldwell Banker. A poor choice of words since I proudly represent Alexander Chandler Realty, who was sponsoring the event. I realized this about a 10^th of a second after I said it. I worked for Coldwell Banker for almost 15 years. I have been with Alex for not quite a month. I find we are all creatures of habit. Luckily I can think on my feet and I made a great recovery. I left them laughing in a good way. Thank you Alex for your grace. I appreciate it. My horoscope in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said:

Gemini; First impressions count more than you know. Line your pockets with gold by appearing to be the right person for the job. Sometimes these horoscopes are just plain scary. I hope I impressed them by showing my humor trumps my lack of public speaking abilities and that I can think fast. Now I just hope the gold part is true.

As we were networking I had several people confess that they had made similar faux pas. When you winnow the wheat from the chaff the event was at heart a networking gathering. I am pretty sure everyone there knows who I am. Mission accomplished!

My friend and broker Alex, was sponsoring the event. He shared the good news about our company receiving the award for Small Business of the Year in the Emerging Business Category. He deserves it. He has provided us with a marketing program extraordinaire. I would welcome an opportunity to share it with you.

Happy Trails.

Charles