Lisa A. Norton

Since the beginning of 2009 just about every agent, lender, or title agent I have spoken with have all said the same thing....increase in activity. At first no one wanted to speak about it too much in case it was just a fluke and would disappear, but it hasn't! My partner, Robbie Fenn, and I have already closed 4 deals together and we each have deals we have closed separately. Also, we have several contracts that are short sales and are awaiting approval from lenders. Our listings are getting more showings and we have had several calls that were generated from our listing signs. Two days ago, I wrote an offer and today I have spent most of the day negotiating in a multiple offer situation. I also wrote a different offer this morning and by this afternoon had received a verbal acceptance! While attending Florida Assocation of Realtors "Great American Realtor Day", I spoke with many of my agent friends around the state and they too are expressing the same experiences! This is great news for the State of Florida as we have really had to struggle in a dead market and trudge through the learning process of short sales! Ugh! The one thing I can say is that these last two years became "Survival of the Toughest" and has made those who have survived it a much stronger agent that will serve their customers even better in the future.

One of the broker-owner of RE/MAX Paradise Properties recently read the article by Steve Harney at www.KeepingMattersCurrent that says that the real estate market follows a 9-cycle stage. Debbie was able to review those changes and tie them to specific years in our local area. They are as follows: Optimism - 2003, followed by Excitement - 2004, peaking with Euphoria - 2005, this stage creates rising prices and a sellers market. Then the downward turm begins with Denial - 2006-07 and you see the prices start to fall, and then Panic ensues - 2007. Fear begins to creep in and is quickly followed by Panic - 2008 and then this creates a Buyer's market as it spirals to the bottom. Despondency begins - 2008 to present. With time the cycle will move to Hope (which I am "hoping" is starting now) and then back into Optimism. I was really amazed at how Debbie was able to really note those stages so well in our local market. Debbie goes onto to say that the Euphoira stage presents minimal opportunity and maximum risk represented by low inventory and elevated prices; whereas the Despondency stage brings maximum opportunity (high inventory) and minimal risk (high inventory and lower prices)..com

Can you see these stages in your market???

I am staying positive and focusing my energy to contnue through the Hope stage and onto Optimism.

I am the chair of our Realtor Outreach Committee for the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors in Northwest Florida. We have for the last 3 years been assisting our local auxiliary Marine Corp in the local Toys for Tots campaign. Last Friday we had our kick off meeting and it was awesome! I was so touched by how many of our members showed up to be a part of it. It just re-confirmed what I already knew in my heart that our local Realtors and Affiliates have the biggest hearts of all and know the true meaning of giving back.

In our local area we already have over 9400 children to provide for this year compared to 7500 last year and I fully expect that number to grow. These children did not ask to be put in this position and many are here due to the difficult economy. Perhaps their parents lost their jobs or their homes and the only Christmas they will receive is through the gifts from the Toys for Tots program. I know this problem is nationwide, so I encourage each of you to purchase one toy for your local program and you will be amazed at how great you will feel. Encourage your co-workers and your children to give. It is true when they say, "It is far better to give than to receive".

I know that many of us are struggling to keep our own families afloat and are keeping our holiday spending to a minimum, but you do not have to spend a fortune. You can certainly purchase a wonderful gift for under $20.00. I know the children in the 11-17 age range get left out the most but boxed jewelry sets, curling irons, make up, manicure sets, wallets, basketballs, soccer balls are all great ideas. Can you just imagine the joy on a child's face when they receive a gift? That truly is the best gift I could ask for.

So remember that we may be having to tighten our belts a bit these days, but we still have lots of things to be grateful for and we should remind ourselves of that fact every day. Why not make a list of things you are grateful for in your lives and post it where you can review it every day. I guarantee you will feel blessed and that will replace any stress.

Happy Thanksgiving

Last week I wrote about becoming the driver of my own bus and I was very motivated. Yesterday I put it into action as I started barreling down the Positive Parkway at full speed!

Let me explain....

I have been working with a couple for over a year to find the right vacation/retirement property for them. We had changed the areas, the price, and the criteria after each visit. When they were here in September I knew we were finally getting close and I no longer felt like the road was going nowhere. They e-mailed a list of properties to view on prior to arriving on Tuesday. When I started calling I found that several were already under contract. Positive energy....yes! I then searched and found some others that would fit their needs and arranged to show them. I had told myself that morning as I was getting ready that this was going to be the day. We were going to find the right home and write a contact. I was positive it was going to happen.

So off we go to view some of their choices and a few of mine. The first choice was a new home and as I pulled up to the model home to get the key, the agent told me they had just put it under contract. More positive energy that things in the area were starting to move. We viewed a few more and then found another new home they just loved. The agent said that the people who were viewing as we came in had been there 3 times and that another agent that showed that morning had already called back twice about it. Creating a sense of Buyer's urgency. We then moved on to the last home and guess what...they loved that one as well. So we have now found two homes they both loved. Now they just needed to pick their first choice and that was tough, but they did. We wrote an offer and it was accepted. We went to have dinner and celebrated our success!

I shared with them during dinner how I had convinced myself that we would be successful that day and the wife said that before she left her home she prayed that today would be the day as well. We both had our prayers answered!

I believe I will continue to travel the Positive Parkway! Come join me.

Yes, that is right I have decided in order to become a better agent I must become the driver of my own bus. Thank you Jon Gordon for opening my eyes! Yesterday I attended a Women's Council of Realtors meeting here at NAR in Orlando and the guest speaker was auther Jon Gordon. Jon wrote the book The Energy Bus which tells the story of how a ride on a bus positively impacted and changed his life. I have not actually read the book yet, but I know many who have and I have seen the positive change it has made in them. After hearing Jon yesterday you can bet I am going to read it now!

Here are some of the points he made that really hit home with me.

1 You are the driver of your own bus. It is up to you to have the vision and to decide where you are going. What road are you taking the positive one or the negative one?

2. Feed the positive dog. Surround yourself with positive energy. What is your story? Drama? Comedy? Action? What is your role? Leader, hero, underdog, or a victim? Adopt the "No Complaining Rule". Take a daily "Thank you" walk every day and remind yourself that you are "too blessed to be stressed".

3. Who are your passengers? Invite family, friends, customers, or co-workers. Make sure they are on board with positive energy. As Jon says, " No Energy Vampires Allowed".

4. Love your passengers. Love God, yourself, and everyone else. Treat everyone like family.

5. Drive with a purpose. Strive to be the best you can be every day and then make daily improvements. Use your strengths for a bigger purpose than yourself and leave a trail for others to follow.

Wow! I feel better just writing this today! Go out a make it a positive day!

Lisa

I am just beginning to wonder if it is just me or are there others who have found that in this slower market many agents are getting slower as well? Living and working in a resort/vacation destination along the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida, we have a lot of properties that are also on vacation rental programs. I am amazed at how many agents I have contacted to show only to be told by the listing agent that I need to contact the rental office or the seller direct to see if the property is available to show. Do I just have really high expectations or do I just seem to give exceptional service to my own customers? Whenever I have one of these type of properties, I get their name and number and I will personally contact the appropriate party to check on availability, and then report back to the agent wishing to show. Tell me am I alone? I could possibly understand it if the crazed market of a few years back was still with us and everyone was running like mad to write contracts, but I don't think everyone is THAT busy. Am I alone on this?