Mimi Osterdahl, Bellingham Washington Realtor

Whether far away or next door, it is our friends who make our world.

And, when we are truly blessed,

our businesses, by virtue of kindness and goodwill, grow a whole new garden of friends.

So, it has been a while since I have been on Active Rain...and MUCH has changed in the months of my absence.

Let's see...the financial markets are crumbling, the real estate market continues to get pummled, hurricanes are destroying the south (uhhhh, anyone remember that bit of news in the past few weeks?), Freddie and Fanny have been shipped off to a land far, far away...bad news abounds! With the way things seem to be going one might think that swarms of locusts and frogs falling from the sky are right around the corner!!!

Well, guess what? Life is simply only as bad as your perceptions. If today, you find yourself with a roof over your head, clothes on your body and food on the table...count yourself blessed. Try to spend some time looking at your family and friends...if you (and they) are blessed with health and happiness...COUNT IT!

Spend the majority of your time looking at the GOOD THINGS that are right in front of your nose and you will find that you will have a VERY DIFFERENT perception of what is 'real'...and/or what is 'really important'.

I left Active Rain (and all of my other blogging activites) this summer to focus every extra second on my daughter, my family and friends. What a wonderful break! What a wonderful opportunity to put into perspective the truly important aspects of life. How helpful in reminding me to "Live good. Be happy."!

I encourage you...if you are spending too much of your 'free-time' in front of a computer or TV screen to simply turn it off and walk away and start looking for the tangible blessings that are right in front of you.

And with that bit of advice, as I sit back in the blogging saddle again, I will simply say, "Live good. Be happy"!

Joy and peace and prosperity to you my AR friends, it's nice to be back in the 'Rain'..

-Mimi

Mimi Osterdahl / The Muljat Group Realtors / Bellingham, Washington / www.LiveGoodBeHappy.com

2008 President, Northwest Washington Women's Council of Realtors

Yes, we are in troubled financial times based on our own selfish greed. The country as a whole needs to get back on kilter to figure out that it is the work of our hands and our wise choices that create wealth, and that debt is a thief! (Indebted servitude is B-A-D...whether that is to a credit card or you are a share cropper!)

We really need to redefine what 'rich' means, and reprogram the Nation to understand that, eventually, ALL debt has a consequence. I simply don't think that the people of this great nation remember that DEBT is a 'promise' to pay..."I will give you $2 tomorrow for a hamburger today" syndrome...well, guess what?? Tomorrow you will find yourself just as hungry...but now in debt for yesterday's decisions! Always hungry...always owing MORE. We can start with the young people we know who have been inundated from DAY ONE with a daily onslaught of marketing LIES that only tell 1/2 of the story. (SURE!!! You can have the hamburger...and while you are at it...why don't you have 2!!!)

But, there is another side to all of the BAD news...there are a whole lot of Americans who have lived within their means during the lending orgy of the past few years. There are a whole lot of Americans in positive equity positions. These folks are in a powerful position and may not know it. They are in a unique position to capitalize on their wise decisions with new wise decisions.

The smart RE agent, who truly CARES for the clients they have, will be sending information to their client base in this position, to help them see the possibilites...and choices they have. I do not mean encouraging our clients to cash out to saddle themselves with more debt for a bigger home they do not want or need...NO WAY! That would not be taking the Live good. Be happy. approach...I simply mean it is a great time to move up (if you had plans or a need to do so) and maintain a similar mortgage situation for those lucky enough to be in that WISE position.

Helping folks make the most of the $$'s they already put toward their housing costs is the JOB we have. I encourage my fellow Realtors to help their WISE clients benefit from the unique market we are in.

While, yes, the grasshoppers will get what they have earned (nothing)...the ants will rule the day.

The glass is 1/2 FULL for many, many, many home owners out there. (Can I put anymore parables in this post??? Probably!!!)

Live good. Be happy. Be outside the 'doom and gloom' box!

-Mimi

Mimi Osterdahl / The Muljat Group Realtors / Bellingham, Washington / www.LiveGoodBeHappy.com

2008 President, Northwest Washington Women's Council of Realtors

Whatcom County consists of 2126 square miles and is located in the northwest corner of Washington overlooking Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. The largest city and county seat is Belingham. The other major towns are Ferndale, Lynden and Blaine.

With a total county population of 188,300 (2007 estimate) Whatcom County is a growing area, with a small town feel.

Situated between two of North America's most international cities, Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC, Whatcom County serves as a major connection to Alaska, the San Juan Islands, Canada's Gulf Islands and the Mount Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest.

Live good. Be happy. Come HOME to Whatcom County Washington.

-Mimi

Mimi Osterdahl / The Muljat Group Realtors / Bellingham, Washington / www.LiveGoodBeHappy.com

2008 President, Northwest Washington Women's Council of Realtors

Hello Active Rain Friends!

Thought I would send a quick post to let you know that in a few short hours I will be on the radio in our area discussing the Women's Council of Realtors, our Real Estate market...etc...with my good friend and fellow Realtor, Mike Kent.

Mike has a radio show on 790 KGMI called, Radio Real Estate (Mike is a marketing GENIUS!!!). It is a one hour show devoted to local happenings in our Real Estate Community that airs every Saturday on 790 KGMI.

(The show will air Saturday-TODAY!! from 10:00am-11:00am Pacific Standard Time)

So, here is a link to the online show for anyone who follows my posts, who might like to listen in. Admit it...you are interested in HEARING what my voice sounds like...huh?? :)

Live good. Be happy. Be LIVE on the radio!

-Mimi