Julie Jones

I am proud to announce my recent certification as a Transnational Referral Broker registered with the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations. This is a newly introduced designation comprising only 1,500 delegates over 34 different countries worldwide. To date, only 134 members enjoy this title in the State of Florida.

The International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA) is a global alliance of leading national real estate brokers in the world's major markets. Working together ICREA members set standards for international real estate practice and transactions for the benefit of consumers, the industry overall and real estate professionals.

I consider this designation to be invaluable in promoting my luxury real estate inventory on the ocean and waterways of Fort Lauderdale. This is a very effective way to reach affluent international buyers and introduce the wonderful lifestyle that the city offers. I look forward to creating extra exposure for my sellers via www.worldproperties.com and my personal website www.luxuryrealestateftl.com which has recently been launched.

Despite the current market challenges this year, I have shown properties to buyers from Australia, France, Germany, Canada, Costa Rica and Brazil. A significant waterfront estate was sold to buyers from Europe. The growing popularity of the Internet social media is expanding the luxury home buyer's horizons almost daily. The United States remains a popular option with Fort Lauderdale becoming a world-class resort destination.

Real estate brokers internationally are becoming more aware of the opportunities to sell luxury residences overseas and look to connect with a broker who is a recognized industry leader and member of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations. The broker has peace of mind for their customer's real estate investment that the connecting broker will follow the strict standards and procedures that are identified by the Associations.

To learn more about the Transnational Referral program either as a buyer, seller or co-operating real estate broker, please do not hesitate to contact me.

There is such a temptation towards self focus in these challenging times where survival of the fittest seems to prevail. However, I would like to share a fine example where the focus on team work and strong organization really impressed me.

You can imagine my horror in a recent arrival to the Fort Lauderdale airport for a business trip to find lines, or queues (as they say in England), all the way from the SouthWest terminal to the taxi area! So, I rushed into the airport and explained that I was there the requisite two hours ahead and what was going on? I was convinced that I was going to miss this flight because there were hundreds of people everywhere!

I quickly learned that nine cruise ships in Port Everglades had just spilled 4,000 passengers into the airport! Of course, I was thrilled at this heart-warming display of consumer spending--all the families, cuddly toys and suntans a testament to excellent vacations. Meanwhile, I was convinced I'd miss my flight just by the sheer number of passengers needing processing. I watched, fascinated, while SouthWest agents herded their passengers into orderly queues while airline representatives walked the lines calling the flights and bringing passengers forward according to departure times.

Still, I was sure all of this organized chaos meant delays, maybe even cancellation, and certainly lots of frustration. However, I will have you know that every passenger on my flight made it onto the plane and we arrived to our destination ten minutes early! This clearly proved to me that teamwork makes what seems unmanageable at first glance, capably handled.

I write this message especially for my fabulous team of associates who do everything possible to ensure that our flights (a.k.a., real estate transactions) take off on time, are smooth, and arrive at their final destination. Not unlike SouthWest airline's members, my team manages to achieve our goals with a great sense of humor, as well! This confirms to me that I am glad there is no "I" in teamwork. The hard work of my well-seasoned team gets the job done, sharing well-deserved satisfaction among us all.

In today's real estate market place, managing stress is critical for maintaining balance in all phases of one's life, not just work. I was surprised to learn that stress in small doses is not only good for you, but can prevent certain types of cell damage. Imagine! Also, one's personality, genetic make-up and life experiences all dictate whether one reacts calmly or irritably towards stress. For some, just talking about stress can be stressful.

However, it is important to know that persistent stress, even in low doses, can do more damage than unexpected, tragic events. This is where I am focusing my concern. Sometimes we don't realize that a morning bout in traffic, a difficult phone call at noon, then having an appointment cancel at the last minute, can all send the anxiety spiking. Little stressors like this, day in and day out, can add up to trouble, but not if we are vigilant.

How do we cope?

Optimistically, time management and organizational skills reduce clutter and stress levels in one fell swoop. Both take time to master, but repeated efforts make lasting habits. Keeping planners (of course!) and making a list of priorities for the day's goals helps create clearer time management. This also shows exactly how much you can achieve in a day, a week, a month. Being realistic in your goals and consciously working within your own energy levels reduces stress over unmanageable expectations placed by you or others.

During the course of your day, be mindful with whom you spend your time. Minimize interactions with negative-minded people. They not only raise one's blood pressure, but do nothing to reinforce your own good feelings. Take short breaks during the day, stretch---even in your chair! And, always find a reason to laugh.

If you feel your stress levels are still too high, perhaps make a weekly list of what activities make the greatest demands of your time, personally and professionally. Rate them. This helps you pinpoint where the higher stressors are and where to focus on easing the tension. Finally, find time for yourself--an hour, and afternoon and best of all, a well-deserved vacation-even if it's in your own back yard!

For more information on stress and how to handle it, visit www.mayoclinic.com/stress. How do you manage your stress levels?

Yesterday evening, while flicking through the latest Architectural Digest, a full page advertisement stood out among the beautiful American country houses and other ultra-luxurious features so beautifuuly displayed in that magazine. The page that stood out most was celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of the National Fair Housing Alliance. The heading stated, "Live Life in Full Color." The advertisement featured fabulous lifestyle shots of people of all ages and nationalities with some neighborhood photos.

This advertisement made me think of my own small, condominium community where owners hail from the UK, Brazil, and Yugoslavia. Over a third of our residents are from outside of the US, which makes for an interesting group of neighbors! I enjoy the richness of our cultural diversity which echoes so much of Fort Lauderdale's tropical metropolis.

All real estate offices in South Florida display the NFHA notice. Especially in these challenging times, I think it is worthwhile to remember the message. The NFHA states: "Encourage and accept diversity in your neighborhood and community. It will promote a greater sense of engagement, will better prepare your children for the global community they will inhabit . . . Give us all a richer life." In four short decades many people have worked incredibly hard and made sacrifices to make this a viable goal.

For those of us who need a reminder or an understanding of the NFHA organization and how neighborhood diversity benefits all, a quick visit to www.ARicherLife.org provides an insight. The advertisement in Architectural Digest was effective enough to make me stop and think about how close our world has become. Does anyone else have thoughts on this?

At the recent Luxury Real Estate conference I attended in Las Vegas many of the top brokers mentioned their concern that some buyers are so motivated by the deal that they are missing purchasing their first choice residence in the pursuit of the best price!

Here in Fort Lauderdale, the appetite for getting "the best deal" is obviously a priority. All good real estate brokers understand this motivation and are looking to obtain the best terms for their client. However, there is a cautionary note to all buyers looking to take advantage of great prices and a wide selection of inventory. Buyers should ensure that they are truly comparing apples with apples, especially in terms of newer construction, hurricane preparedness, elevators, standard of custom finishes, square footage, waterfront footage, etc. Secondly, negotiate on their first choice to the fullest extent. There is nothing more frustrating as a buyer than to finally find their favorite selection, make one offer which is rejected by the seller, and not proceed with negotiations through the counter process.

Buyers may be disappointed that their first or even second offer is rejected. I encourage buyers to keep on negotiating to find a "meeting of the minds" on their first choice residence. Otherwise, they may be disappointed to learn a couple of months down the road that some other lucky buyer secured the price they were ultimately prepared to pay. Negotiating today requires patience and tenacity. Buyers should ensure they work with their broker as a team on this level and be honest in their expectations.

The difference between buyers buying their dream residence, a home they envisage living in for many years that suites their lifestyle, as opposed to just "getting the best deal" may end up amounting to less money in reality! The temptation to buy another residence which is not quite so appealing, just because it is a good deal is great, but act in haste and repent in leisure (and high closing costs to move). Long term, it is important not to have post-purchase regrets just because clients decided not to make that final push on their first choice.

Another common mistake is just to consider short sales. There is an amazing inventory of luxury residences which were purchased before the height of the market and are priced to sell. These sellers have more equity (thus more bargaining power), may offer seller financing and have often beautifully maintained the residence. Please ensure that buyers are not so blinded by the short sale deal that they overlook a good sector of the market.

The serious sellers who are "in the market" as opposed to just "on the market" will negotiate with ready, willing and able buyers to achieve a fabulous deal and purchase a residence that genuinely excites them. I'm curious to hear from both buyers and agents with their experiences and advice on buying the residence and not the deal.