Ralph Gorgoglione - California Real Estate (800) 591-6121

Look what happens when we cut down too many trees.

This is terrible!

Global warming is one thing, but scroll down and look at
what might happen if we continue to clear our forests!

We have to stop cutting down trees! This is
getting serious!

This was sent to me earlier today from our good friend, Rose Osman. (leave it to Rosie.........)

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A closing gift for your sellers - Great! What if they are short sale sellers? Is that considered proceeds?

Many of us find it customary to provide a closing gift to our clients as a sign of good will. Perhaps it may be more common for buyers than sellers.

But for those short sale sellers, can your closing gift be considered "proceeds" from the sale?

Are you violating any restrictions by the short sale bank(s) that held the lien on the property?

Would you, in fact, be committing fraud by giving a closing gift to your short sale sellers?

In many states, you are free to provide a gift to your clients, but there is a dollar amount limit. Very commonly, it is a limit of $50. It may also be the case that the tax deduction that you can take for giving the gift, according to the IRS, is limited to $25.

But most of the time a closing gift is probably going to exceed that to make it a meaningful gesture.

What to do in the case of a short sale seller?

The funny thing is, a short sale seller is probably most deserving of a nice gesture like that if they are truly in a hardship state.

From a legal standpoint, can your closing gift truly be considered proceeds from the sale? After all, it really is a gift of your own volition that is coming out of your own income as an agent.

What is your opinion?

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I just made another micro loan in Kiva.org to help a farmer in Tajikistan - Pay It Forward

I tend to use my micro loan dollars for women in underdeveloped countries, or men and women who supply fruit and vegetable crops to their people.

I'm not a big supporter of anything to do with animal farming for reasons that are pretty obvious.

Anyway, Farhod was born in 1973. He is an honest and goal-oriented person. He is married and is a father of four children. His wife does not work; she is a homemaker and looks after the children. Farhod is involved in growing agricultural crops and also buying and selling vegetables and fruits. His previous loan from Imon International provided him with a good result. He increased his turnover, gathered a good harvest and improved his quality of life. Farhod wants to obtain a loan in the sum of $3000 for the purchase of mineral fertilizers, which would allow him to get a good harvest. He also wants to use the loan for the purchase of seeds and payment of worker wages.

Together with about 120 other micro lenders, we are supplying Farhod with the funds he needs.

You can check out the loan and Kiva.org by clicking here: http://www.kiva.org/lend/334432

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Do you want your clients to consider you a "real" pro? Then why are you using a headshot from 800 years ago?!

OK. I get it. We all want to look "nice" in our business headshots.

Cool. I totally understand.

But honestly, if you're using a headshot that's more than 5 years old, what good can possibly come from it?

When you do finally meet in person, I'm sure the "shock" value will somehow transform into a form of deception to the client, sub-consciously or consciously, don't you think?

I mean, no one died recently and made me the headshot police, but I guess this blog post can be considered a "reality checkpoint" for those on the road to disaster, that's all.

Is there a chance that a prospective client will see your headshot, only to log onto your Facebook and wonder why a pic of your mother or father is in your profile?

And if you are one of those who, for whatever reason, have not gotten around to updating your headshot in the last 5 years, there is the possibility that you could be losing business for just this psychological reason and not know it.

Trust yourself. Be yourself.

Confidence is a very sexy thing. Which usually manifests into $$$$

Now play nice and go sell a house or something..............

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Multiple offer situations where the listing broker represents one of the offers: Can We Talk?..........

I think almost all of us at some point have been in a situation where you are presenting an offer for your buyers in a multiple offer situation.

And in some of those instances it may or may not be apparent that the listing broker may be representing one of the other multiple offers.

What's the politically or legally correct thing to do?

Of course it never hurts to ask, does it? Or does it?

Is it a question that can be appreciated by the listing agent, or does it come across as being combative?

In the end, does it really matter that you have the answer to that question? Will asking that question help or hinder your clients chances? Will it change anything?

There have been times when I have flat asked the listing agent if they are representing one of the other offers. To date, I have not received a "Yes".

But that does not necessarily mean that someone else from that same brokerage is representing one of those offers.

Well, let's talk about what really happens in the situation where there is a multiple offer scenario where the same brokerage as the listing brokerage is representing one of the offers.

In my area, it is a legal requirement in this case that the management from the listing brokerage must have a meeting with the seller and listing agent to discuss all offers on the property. This must be done so that the seller is aware of all offers on the property and the details of each.

OK, fine. Does that really change anything?

I suppose your choices are:

• A) Get all up in the listing agents business to make it a point to be privey to all the info
• B) Present yourself as a competent, cordial and cooperative agent who is fully prepared to close the transaction with your ready, willing, and able buyer.

From a Machiavellian viewpoint, which of these two, in the bigger picture, would be your best choice?

What is the actual net result of both?

I have my opinion. What's yours?

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