Rita Fong

I guess Christmas is really around the corner, no matter you are ready or not. As I get more "wise" and "mature" :) each year, I feel more and more the need to do good deeds during the holidays. I can write a book to complain and mourn about mishaps in life, and how is that going to do any good for me!?

There are so many ways to show your spirits of giving and sharing. For example, help to serve dinner at homeless shelter, deliver food to the needed family, singing Christmas carol at nursing homes (of course, I have enough sense not to choose this one to do), donating toys, children coats to local charity.

Some of you may know I am a CASA volunteer for abused and foster children, and we always bring gifts to these children to make sure they have a Christmas just like everybody else. This year I decided to help Violence Against Women to organize to collect Christmas gifts to 3 deserved families. These mothers get enough courage to leave the abusive relationship and take their children with them. They work very hard to put food on the table, to make sure their children are safe, they don't want them to witness their mother being abused. These ladies and their children deserve to have a decent Christmas just like your and I.

I attach a newsletter with the calender I am sending to my clients, and spread the words out, forward to all the Realtors on our Board, and hope we can collect some items that these families need/want for Christmas.

Maybe you can help your local organizations to collect Christmas gifts by using your powerful network. It just feels good to know you help to make someone who is less fortunate to have a decent Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all of you on Active Rain.

I know there are lots of good fellows on AR, and I just want to take this advantage to introduce this wonderful organization to anybody who wants to be a vlounteer to help a foster child who was abused and neglected by their own parents or family.

This wonderful organization is called CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate, they stand up for the best interest for these abused children who usually don't have anybody represent them in the court to fight for their best interest. This is a national organization, check this link out www.nationalcasa.org , you will see what kinds of impact they have on helping these helpless kids all over the country.

Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin, has been a big fan and help to spread the word out on his own show, he helped to recruit over 10,000 volunteers since then. I am a CASA volunteer for over 2 years, there is a local CASA program in each state, just go to the website as shown above and find out how to be a volunteer.

It is a very rewarding experience for me to help these children. From they didn't know who I was to give me hugs and hold my hands when they see me visit them time after time. We are the only one who stay with the case till it closes. Their attorney, case workers may come and go, but CASA volunteer is always there for them. To be a volunteer, you will go through some training, finish the hours, and sworn in in front of the judge to be a CASA volunteer. You won't be alone, your director and case co-ordinator will walk with you along each step of the way when you need help and guidance. All you need is a heart to help these helpless children. It doesn't really take a whole lot of your time to do this, the basic requirement is to visit the child/children at least once a month, more if you can spare your time, make a report, show up in court on their court date. There are times I really can't make the visit and court date, my director will cover for me.

If you are reading this, and want to help, I really appreciate your time, and hope you will go to the web site and check it out.

Way before I became a Realtor(R), I was just like you, a consumer who was looking for a house and needed the help of a Realtor(R). I didn't know anybody in this field, just blind folded and went online to look for some houses, choice of agents who I may want to talk to. Then I found an agent who seems friendly in the picture, not knowing who and how she was, I gave her a call the next day, met with her, went to see some houses. Never asked her a single question about how many houses she sold an year, was she an experienced agent, all those statistic questions. But I had a good click with her, I just had the feeling she would be a good agent for me. Did I mention I was a first time buyer? Which means I didn't know anything about buying a house, the process, all those things that may meant a lot to a buyer, but I just know she would be a good agent for me.

And sure enough, I was a lucky buyer, I never experienced any "nightmares" like some other consumers out there. And I can see why some public don't like Realtor(R) in general, they were betrayed by someone who supposes to help and guide them through the process of one of their major decisions in their life. They lost confidence in this industry, just that simple. I am sorry if you were one of them.

The truth is, really, not all of us are like that, we are not created equal. Some of us determined to be the best in this business, reputation means a lot to us. What do I put on my resume to my clients? Why did they choose me?

I am known for well organized, stay on top of things, friendly, helpful, keep my clients in the loop, listen, not pushy, but will guide them to do what they need to do. They trust me, respect my opinions, they call me whenever they need an answer, at least I will get them an answer if I can't answer right away. There are different types of consumers out there, and there are different types of Realtor(R) to fit their real estate needs. You just have to talk to them, see how you feel about them, maybe check around a little bit, you will have to work with this person for a little while, it is important to find someone who have the "click" with you. Doesn't it sound like some kind of internet dating service? haha. Just kidding.

Please feel free to go to my web site to check my client's testimonial.

I hope you will find your "click".

Rita Fong, RE/MAX Real Estate Today, Marion, Ar. www.ritafong168.com

Marion, Crittenden County, Arkansas, it is my new hometown since 7 years ago, like many others, I relocated to Marion for the school district. Marion is known for the good school, quiet, peaceful, a very neat town. There are about right under 12,000 population, it is a friendly little town, got some industries going on, several major franchised restaurant, can't miss those friendly local owned places, they have good food.

There are quite a few subdivisions to choose from, it prices from $120,000 to over $700,000, we have just enough choices here. No matter what you want to look for, I have confidence you will find something here to call it your new home.

Marion is a popular choice when it comes to relocation, we are very convenient here. It only takes 15-20 mins to go to Memphis, Tn., and there are some big industries about 30-45 mins from Marion, they have branches all over the other parts of the country, which brings all these relocations to Marion. We have good choices of houses, school, ideal environment to raise a family here. Even better, there is hardly any traffic here during rush hours, it sounds very good to new comers from some big cities who they are so tired of stuck in traffic every day going to/from work.

I have helped some families to make their decision in picking Marion as their new home town. Other than looking for houses, a tour of the town is a must, a visit to the school, talk to school counselor, let them interact with them, there is no reason for me to sugar coat anything. They will find out the facts I gave them is true, that's why they trust me to help them making another big decision in their life. And I am so honor to be part of their decision making.

If you have any question about Marion, I will be glad to help you with them.

Rita Fong, RE/MAX Real Estate Today www.ritafong168.com

I went to my niece's birthday party on Easter's Eve, eating, chatting, family stuffs. My sister-in-law and her husband both works at Fed-Ex, oh yes, thanks goodness they didn't get the finger tap from their management to let them go. As a matter of fact , her husband had to do the tapping to let 3 guys in his department go. It was an awful feeling for him, he had to close the blinds in his office, so he couldn't see them being escorted out of the building to their car.

One of our family members was telling us a hospital was planning to cut expenses, and asked the staffs for suggestions how to, and avoid laying anybody off, so everybody can still get a salary. Tons of emails were sent to the HR department, some volunteer to work part time, some are willing to take vacation leave without pay, just different things. The point is, everybody is trying to help each other out just to survive, so nobody will lose their job. I am so touched by this story, thinking if those CEOs will even have a little mercy left in their heart, watch out for their employees, instead of their own deep pockets, maybe, our economy will not be as bad as it is now. I know they are not the only factor causing this economy crisis, but they definitely did a lot of "contributions" to it.

Yes, it will be a perfect world if everybody will do the right thing only, who are we kidding? Same in real estate, if all of us do the right thing to our clients, watch out for them, not just watch out for our own pocket, maybe our reputation will not be as bad as most consumers think of us either. Sure, why are we doing this, of course, to make a living, just like everybody else is. But there is a fine line between right and wrong, why do some of us want to risk it all for the wrong reason?