Donna Bacher

My Own Special...12 Days of Christmas... Sing along, Identify...and Enjoy! :)

On the First Day of Christmas, the market gave to me...One dangling "Just Sold" sign.

On the Second Day of Christmas, the market gave to me....two maybe buyers...and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Third Day of Christmas, the market gave to me...three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, the market gave to me... four overpriced listings, three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, the market gave to me...five tire kickers, four overpriced listings, three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Sixth Day of Christmas, the market gave to me...six hours of showings, five tire kickers, four overpriced listings, three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers, and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Seventh Day of Christmas, the market gave to me..seven hours of phone calls, six hours of showings, five tire kickers, four overpriced listings, three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling"Just Sold" sign

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, the market gave to me...eight crazy Agents, seven hours of phone calls, six hours of showings, five tire kickers, four overpriced listings , three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, the market gave to me...nine hours of traffic, eight crazy Agents, seven hours of phone calls, six hours of showings, five tire kickers, four overpriced listings , three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Tenth Day of Christmas, the market gave to me..ten bottles of Advil, nine hours of traffic, eight crazy Agents, seven hours of phone calls, six hours of showings, five tire kickers, four overpriced listings , three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, the market gave to me, Eleven low ball offers, ten bottles of Advil, nine hours of traffic, eight crazy Agents, seven hours of phone calls, six hours of showings, five tire kickers, four overpriced listings, three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, the market gave to me, Twelve stiff martini's, Eleven low ball offers, ten bottles of Advil, nine hours of traffic, eight crazy Agents, seven hours of phone calls, six hours of showings, five tire kickers, four overpriced listings, three anxious sellers, two maybe buyers, and a dangling "Just Sold" sign

Ever experience one of those "light bulb" moments?

It's the moment that you get the perfect storm happening in your head, creating a surge of electricity, ultimately resulting in the "Wait a minute" verbiage pulsating between your ears. "Wait a Minute" is right!

Lenders, Lawyers and Foreclosures

I just experienced a light bulb moment. There was a time, when the Banks had their own foreclosure departments and their own legal professionals. Upon default, the file would be transferred to the Banks collection department and the whole process would start. If it was a High Ratio Mortgage, insured by CMHC, the bank would be paid out and CMHC would put the property on the market through their own Real Estate division, and pay the Selling Agent a healthy "6" percent to sell it. Needless to say, there was always a line up of Agents ready to sell these listings.

CMHC Gets Smart

Then, CMHC (Canada Mortgage & Housing), which was the main default insurance player, got smart to the Banks, because the Banks weren't really taking on too much responsibility in the matter, so they told the Banks that they would be responsible for selling the default properties before they could collect on the default insurance.

Banks get Smart

So, the Banks set up special departments, specifically for foreclosures and start dealing with Realtors directly. But, they didn't want to pay 6% anymore, they wanted to reduce costs a bit, so they offer Realtors® 5.5%. This still wasn't a lot of fun for the Banks and certainly was a costly venture. CMHC actually thought that it would tighten up the Banks underwriting department. That perhaps they would start to be more careful in lending once they had to take some financial responsibility in the sale of defaults. But, the Banks aligned with a couple major Law firms and figured it all out. The Banks would immediately assign the defaulted property to the Lawyers, thereby not having to have their own "Foreclosure" personnel, and instead of paying their lawyers out of their pocket, they would pay the Lawyers out of the Real Estate Commission they would normally be paying. It was a win/win for the Banks and selected Law Firms.

Realtors® take the Hit

Fast forward to 2011. The Power of Sales continue. The majority are horrific. Remnants of illegal multi-residential units that you wouldn't want your dog to live in, busted grow-ops, dilapidated rentals and properties that are so full of patent defects that it's hard to believe that anyone would ever have bought it in the first place. A clear indication that the Banks are still having an issue with underwriting. They get distributed to hungry Agents at a net commission of 5.5% with the condition that the Real Estate Agent pays the Law firm a 1% referral fee for the listing.

Light Bulb Moment

"Wait a Minute!!!".....Canadian Realtors® are now paying for the banks legal fee's. Smart Banks...time to buy some Bank stock!

Lot's of nights when I lay my head on my pillow, I think about the happiness that would bestow upon me if my tomorrow would unfold in some form of mystical Real Estate Wonderland!

An 8:30 am call for a Listing...with absolutely no competition at a beautiful 6 %, followed by showing a few houses at noon to some excellent prequalified clients...and a stunning full price cash offer. A beautiful gourmet salad and steaming cappicino for lunch, followed by an accepted offer on my new listing at 3 pm. Then I do my paper work and file every thing and walk into my spotless home at 5:30 pm. After a wonderful meal...that my well trained pug has made, I click an app on my Blackberry to repeat the day tomorrow and relax for the evening!

Oh...wonderland would be such a great place to work...even if it's only in my dreams!!

Curious what the perfect day would be for anyone else???

It Doesn't Matter

You may be a Realtor showing homes or a person selling their home privately. Statistics show that selling Real Estate is one of the most dangerous jobs in North America. The key word here is "selling" Real Estate. It doesn't matter if you're a professional Realtor or a homeowner. The problem starts when there is a desire and need for someone to interact with complete strangers in a confined and private setting combined with the need for someone to commit a crime.

Realty Safety & Security

It's not difficult to become a target.

Deciding to sell a home privately with the assistance of a Virtual Real Estate office or Realtor, simply charging a fee to list the property on the MLS system produces an online marketing campaign that could attract more into your life than a Buyer. There are no statistics on the subject, but crimes against property owners selling their own homes is just as rampant as crimes against the Realtors who sell them.

Did you know

As soon as a Private For Sale gets listed on the local MLS system , the owner has authorized the "legal" distribution of their name and phone number, complete with numerous pictures of the inside of their home to the entire world. Words that are targeted at Buyers are also prime for crime and are indexed as soon as your listing goes "live". "Luxury, vacant, must sell, open to offers" A Realtor representing your property doesn't disclose your information. They disclose their own.

Security Tips for Selling Your Home

Why Realtors are targeted

They're targeted because they're visible and are very easy to contact. They also portray an element of success which makes them prime candidates for robbery. They are use to dealing with strangers and make themselves available at all hours of the day to show properties. They can't let paranoia about the dangers that haunt the business hurt the chance of making their next sale and the strangers that a Realtor deals with everyday, are the same strangers a person selling their home privately, greets at their front door with open arms.

AgBeat "2011 Realtor Safety Report" Examining a year of attacks on Realtors

Crimes against Realtors

They're senseless, they're heinous and they're unpredictable. According to AbBeat's "2011 Realtor Safety Report; Examining a Year of Attacks on Realtors", there is very little rhyme or reason behind these attacks and murders.

· November 2011: Respected,friendly and,successful Toronto Realtor murdered in upscale Caledon subdivision. The victim knows one of the murderers.

· January 2011: Prominant Toronto Realtor dies from heart attack after being kidnapped

· 48 year old Realtor found dead in his home. Murder suspects met victim on Craigslist and killed him during a botched robbery attempt.

· 27 year old BC Realtor found dead in vacant home; was last seen leaving to show property to a couple, after receiving a showing request from a female. (still unsolved)

· 51 year old Realtor found shot to death in vacant home.

· 57 year old Realtor found stabbed to death by potential buyer, after she questions his ability to buy house.

· Two real-estate agents were killed in vacant homes for sale and another was robbed, all within a week, prompting frightened agents in northeastern Ohio to cancel open houses and avoid meeting prospective buyers alone.

· 71-year-old was robbed, strangled and beaten with a fireplace poker in 2008 while showing a home to a man she believed was a prospective home buyer.

· 40 year old Sara Walker was hosting an open house at a model home in McKinney, Texas, when she was stabbed 27 times by a felon out on parole. Her alleged killer was later arrested

Realtor robbed: Realtor attacked: It doesn't always end in murder

· Toronto police are looking for two suspects after a Century 21 real estate agent was robbed in a house he was showing.

· February 2011: Iowa-- An Ottumwa realtor got the scare of her life Friday when police said she was brutally beaten, tied up and robbed while showing a home.

· Police said 53-year-old Kathy Sorak was lured to 1120 North Court Street by two men who pretended to be interested in buying the home.

· Mid-South Realtor Attacked While Showing HouseJACKSON, TN--Jackson investigators are searching for a man they say attacked a local realtor while she was showing a house Wednesday afternoon.

· San Antonio - A real estate agent says she owes her life to five students who helped her escape a client who brutally attacked her.

· Janice Tisdale says she had just finished showing the man the upscale northwest side home and was reaching for the front door's lock when he struck her head with a pole from inside the house.

.· An Orange County real estate agent was raped and bludgeoned by a man masquerading as a prospective home buyer. The man raped the agent after finding her photo online. The agent was able to survive the brutal attack by alleged assailant after pretending to be dead.

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The internet has made Real Estate marketing vibrant and fast, but it has also made things easy for a segment of the population that are looking to seek revenge, rob, rape, murder or fulfill some sick psychological disorder. Be alert, use your intuition and stay safe when you're selling Real Estate, Realtor and Private Seller alike.

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It's another day in the world of Real Estate sales.

Houses to show, people to meet with and if a Realtor is going to have a great day, there will be accepted offer. It's a career based on serving the public. With a smile on their face and a bucket full of optimism, the everyday Realtor leaves their home in the morning and the stark reality in this Realty world is, some won't be coming home. Dressing sharply, driving a nice car, smiling and being friendly may be dangerous to your life. In the "Realtor Safety Report 2011", Lani Roselle of AgBeat provides Realtors with some alarming facts. Download it here

November 14- Police Say Murdered Realtor knew one of the accused
The recent murder of top producing Toronto, Ontario, Realtor Devinder Kumar has once again sent shock waves through the Ontario Real Estate community. He was successfull, hardworking and well liked by his colleagues. Arrests have been made and first degree charges laid.

Toronto police add it to their Real Estate file In July, 2011, they finally laid charges in the kidnapping and murder of Toronto Realtor Tony Han. Han and his client were abducted from his clients 2.4 million dollar mansion in January, 2011. His client survived, but it is believed that Han died from a heart attack before his abductors could work out his release.

Death of a Salesman?

The big question is how does a Realtor keep their mind off of the dangers that lurk around the corner in a career that's based on serving anyone, anywhere at anytime?

Condolences to every person who's lost someone close to them just because they were a Realtor.

Stay safe...Everyone!