Michael Ford

Did anyone else read the article on MSN yesterday about the wealthy being foreclosed on twice as fast as the common person? It was a interesting articles that stated the owners of homes valued over a Million Dollars are twice a likely to let their Home go into foreclosure. They went on the say that 1 in 7 homes valued over a Million $ is seriously delinquent. Conpare that to 1 in 12 for houses valued under a Million $'s. That's just hard to understand until you finish the rest of the story.

In most cases it's not because they could not make the payment. It was because the viewed their home as and investment. Making it a house in my opinion and not a home. So the investments not worth today what they paid for it 5 years ago. Is that a lot different then you buying Wal Mart Stock today and next year it being worth 1/2 what you paid for it. Would you just mail the stock back in and says, It's only worth 1/2of what I paid for it so I don't want the other 1/2. Would you do that? It just seems to me we are making it to easy for people, rich or poor to walk away. The consequence are so few. Many just say why not?

It appears to me we've put the present state of the Housing Market and the Economy squareon the backs of the Middle Class and less fortunate. The people who get hurt the most if they let their home go into foreclosure. Noticed I used the word home not house. A very common occurrence in this Country. We are always reading about how it's unfair to tax the Rich. The Rich keep the economy moving. Is that really True? I think not it's the Middle Class. Uunfortunately, the middle class is getting smaller and smaller everyday.

I think if we would slow down long enough to think we would find out why the economy is in a recession. It's all about GREED. It's not the middle class that creates GREED it's the wealthy. It's the rich who decided let's make all the loans we call B and C loans. Make them to people with out jobs who have Great Credit Scores. Oh boy would that be a real good Blog. Just how unfair is Credit Scoring. Make loans to people and never determine if they can afford to make the payment. Make loans to people without determining if they have any money! I could go on and on about this but I think you get the message.

I want you to think about this for a few minutes. How, have we always gotten out of a recession? How do we get the real estate market back on stable ground? And by Stable I don't mean the glory days of 2004- 2007 but the real glory days of the 90's. Should our government be creating incentives for the Middle Class Citizens? What can we do for the Small Business Owner? Lets stop thinking about the wealthiest of our country. Let's start thinking about the Back Bone of our Country. The Middle Class. The Small Business Owner. Who gets up every morning at the crack of dawn so their employees can get a check this week. Because unlike Wall Street the employee is not a number. They are a real person. A person who has a home with a family. A family that depends on that check every week. That small Business Owner can't just lay you off because production is down from last year. Wall Street see you as a number. That small business owner see you as a family. They see your face. They understand just how tough it is everyday to provide for your family!

Let's encourage our elected leaders to begin to enact legislationthat helps the small business owner get a loan at a very low interest rate. That loan could help them add that next empolyee. And one new job at a time is how we bring thisCountry Back. It want be on the Backs of Wall Street or the Backs of the Major Car Industry. It will be on the Backs of those folks working 80 hours a week to make sure they can make pay roll this week.

In closing I don't know about you but I'm tried of reading about how mistreated the Rich are in the Country. Let's celebrate that small business owner and find ways to help them grow their business. That's how we get out of this recession!

Do you ask yourself why I'm I still trying to make a living selling real estate? Well I was reminded of the reason this past Wednesday at a closing with "Bella". This is a short story about why all the really good agents I know are in the business and stay in the Business. It's just sometimes we need something to remind us!! This was my 7th closing this past Wednesday the most famous closing day in my 30 year career. The pressure was on an everyone was feeling the pressure. An then my last closing of the day was with the most excited Buyers I'll had in a long time. They were not interested if the got the best buy**made the best deal**just in becoming homeowners. This is a real life story about Caleb, Kristi and the real star of the evening "Bella". An I do mean evening.....

I'm going to keep this short and sweat but I do need to set the stage. When I'm finished I hope this brings as big of smile to your face as it did mine. I hope it reminds you of the reason why?

This experience started April 30th. Remember April and the pressure everyone was under to get the deal done before mid-night on the 30th. Well this was our last deal we negotiated that night with the seller and buyer agreeing to the terms at 10:38 pm that evening. It was an exciting day and a happy close to a very busy business day at our office. Well this story is just beginning to unfold. Stay with me an I think it's worth the time you'll invest to read this blog.

Now we've got 60 days to close. Know Problem right? Well that was sure wrong!! Everyone in the business and Everyone at NAR was confident that Congress would extend the Rural Development Program in time for us to meet all our closings in May not to mention June. You know what happened with that Theory!! As with most things in Congress common sense has a tough time!! We missed our 1st closing date in May. The Buyer and Seller are both unhappy with me!! I know that's not a surprise they've got to be unhappy with someone so "let it be me". Is that an old Beatles song? Seller can't close on their new home and the Buyer has all their belongings in PODS! Plus they've got to figure out what to do with "Bella".

Well, it's June and I know you can begin to figure this story out. But hang in there ---- the ending is worth your time! As we all know Congress passed some kind of "Lame" Rural Development patch bill that would allow lenders to close with a conditional commitment. In our Market only one lender would close loans and by the time we got ready to transfer the loan that lender was so over worked they would not take another loan. So one week before the 3rd closing date in the lender switched the loan from Raul Development to FHA. That meant a New Appraisal with this Company. Remember 1 week before June 30th the Tax Credit Dead Line!! To Got all that done! That was a lot of pressure on everyone.

"Now here's the Rest of the Story" as Paul Harvey would say. I hope some of you remember Paul Harvey. It's 2 o'clock on the 30th. No final Approval. Guess who's unhappy? It's not "Bella". Well Believe it or not we got the approval at 4 PM. Everyone from the lender to the closing company has agreed to get this loan closed. Because we had NO clue what Congress might do. I've just finished my 2nd to last closing at 7:30 PM. The Closing Agent, lender and myself go to the computer to get what we think is the approved HUD. Guess what--- it's not approved. Now we've not only got to beat what we think is a mid-night closing dead line but we've got to worry about the New RESPA changes. Well the new calculation require new disclosure? Delay the closing? I forgot to tell you we've got 3 families each in a different conference room waiting to close. The other loan cannot close unless this loan closes. You've been there right?

This story could go on but I think you get the picture. Lot's of pressure. Lot's of worried people. The buyer gets up and leaves headed to what they think is going to be their new home that night. I had know ideal where they had gone until later when they returned. What I did not tell you in the beginning was how excited their were to be buying their 1st home!! They had us taking pictures of them in the waiting area then at the conference room. They were all smiles. Just happy to be buying a Their 1st home together as a family. It's now 9PM still no closing and waiting for final HUD Approval.

Then walks in "Bella". The evening and the day turned on a dime!! She provided so much excitement for everyone. The buyer had gone back to get "Bella" and I'm so glad they did it made a difference. When "Bella" walked in on all 4 legs. The happiest puppy you've ever seen--- to greet all the stressed out sellers, buyers, lenders and closing agents. Not to mention the Real Estate Agents. All the tension disappeared and a smile arrived on everyone face. Oh by the way while she was taking her time kissing everyone still at the closing office. Then we got word the HUD had been approved. We went on to close and all 3 families left happy with a smile on their face. Not because we closed-- but because we stepped back to reflect on how simple life can really be. The Love of "Bella" made the difference.

In closing this made me stop and remember why I'm in this buiness. It's a smile from that 1st time Home Buyer who is so excited to be purchasing their 1st home. It's nights like that***that make me remember why I love this buiness. It's the simply joy of LIFE. Helping others make their dreams come true!! If we do that everything else takes care of itself.

Thanks you Caleb, Kristi and "Bella" for reminding us of what's really important!! Helping others make their Dreams come ture!! What started at 10:38pm on April 30th ended on June 30th at 9:30 pm.

At first glance you might decide note to read the blog thinking the guy has lost his mind. Just on the surface everyone would answer yes! But if we really explore the question the answer might be very surprising. You should know I am writing the blog setting on my porch at the lake and I just startied thinking about this question. These are thoughts I'm expressing while writing and not giving them a lot of thought.

First thing I want to think about when I started my real estate career in 1979 a 20 year old kid just out of college not sure what I was going to do with my life. Here's what I remember from 79-the mid 80's of my career. The best agents in our Market all had a couple of things in common. They worked hard. They spend time telling the public how good they were at selling real estate. They all learned how to market themselves in the print media. At that time most marketed themselves in their local news paper. Then that spread to marketing magazines that was normally sponsored by their local Board of Realtors. This was still a time when a lot of Board did not have a MLS Systems. Then sometime in the Mid 80"s the top agents begin to create new business cards that once again set the image that they were the best and most creative.

Sometime in the late 80's to the mid 90's MLS's made huge leaps in the information and how that information was delivered. Prior to that time many MLS still used Books yes Books These books at best had information that was a couple of weeks oldbefore they were printed. Then we started seeing fax machines in the offices. The really good agents learned how to use them to update other agents about reductions or other changes on their listing. About that same time we started putting copy machines in our offices. That was a big step. Not to mention the beepers. Anyone remember them and how we used them? Not the mention the cell phone. The one change at times I wished had not happened. Once again just taking marketing to the next level.

If you've been in the business a long time you might remember "The Lion Coming over the Hill" a quote by NAR President Bill Clee in 1992. The Computer age was going to take over the Real Estate Business and we had to continue to be the gate keeper of the information. We are not the gate keeper any more but however we still control how the public see the information. The next thing was Realtor.com and that was truly when most agents took their first baby steps into the computer age. Realtor.com has change a lot from the 90's to today. Then we all got digital cameras and posting more then 1 photo on our listing. That is at least the good agents were doing that task. It still is amazing the number of listings posted to the Internet with out photos. Then came the virtual tours. Remember when you had to buy all the special equipment and it cost $99.00 to post the tour? Sometime during the late 90's we started seeing our companies with Web sites and then the agents started doing their own sites. Now you might own a flip video and introduce yourself on your site using that flip video. Oh how things have changed. If you are really into it today i bet you are posting to U-Tube.

We could go on and on about all the Changes in Technology and how it has changed real estate. But in my opinion it really had not changed real estate at all. The good agents all do the same thing. They just learned how to make technology work for them. Here's what all good agents have in common.

1. They work Hard. Don't believe the 20 hour work schdule that someone is trying to sell you

2. They've learned how to use technology to their advantage in marketing

3. However they don't over use it either. More about this in my closing

4. They keep learning because they know the next big change is just around the corner but they understand it's not as big as we might wright about. It's simply a new way to say the same old thing.

The Real Estate Business is a people Business. It's not about the Technology. It's about how to use it to your advantage when marketing. But most of all they know it's about the People. In closing Technology has not changed the Business just the way we deliver the message.

Lesia and I are getting ready for the Arkansas Realtors Association summer meetings. it's a very busy 2 days. There will be lots of committee work and some great time to socialize and visit with old friends and make some new friends as well.

It's so important that as Realtors that we understand we own to our self and our career to get involved with your Realtors organization. I encourage you to start on the local level and move your self up and work on some committee of interest on the State Level. For a few of us we will move on to work at the NAR Level. Believe it or not you will learn something and grow your personal business from the people you meet. And one day you might look around a say I did help to make a differences. I really think that's what life is all about ----making a differenc.e

If you are just getting started as a Realtor start out slow. The first thing is to give to RPAC. That's the Realtor Potical Action Committee. It's the most important investment you make in your future.

Second find that passion you have for real estate and volunteer for that committee. For some people it might be Professional Standards for other it Eduction. Speaking of Education there are so many great Educational offerings offered by or sponored the Realtors. Start to work on your GRI and i promise you will make friends for the rest of your life. It will make a difference in your career. At the end of the day it's all about finding something that you can make a difference in---get started today and you will be a better person!

In the end it's truely about making a difference!

As in many parts of the Country we've allowed the extreme Right wingers and Left wingers to pick our candidates that we have the choose from in November. If your State has not held it's primary for the November Election pick a candidate and exercise your Right to vote. Remember a lot of good women and man have given their life so you have that right. So to advantage and vote.

If you don't take part in the Primary what we end us with is candidate from the extreme right or left. Good People who don't represent how most American think or feel about what's going in our country. I also encourage you not to let 1 or 2 votes by an elected official make your decision on how to vote. Look at the over all record before making up your mind. Would you really want to vote for someone who you agreed with 100% of the time? I don't think so if we are honest with our self.

However, I do think it's important to look at the whole picture. If a setting member of Congress votes with his or her Party 100% of the time It's time to say Good Night! If they have a moderate voting record one in which they question the leaders of their party then I bet they deserve Your VOTE!

Here's what is happening today. Most of us are staying on the side lines until November and then complaining about the chooses? Why is that? Because you did not become engaged in the primary process. The process used by most States to determine their candidate. Get involved if it's not to late in your State don't wait until November when it is to late to pick a canidate.

In my Home State of Arkansas we've got an important runoff this Tuesday and really hope everyone takes a deep breath and goes to the polls to vote. We've got runoffs for State Land Commissioner, 3 of our 4 House of Representative seats plus the all important US Senate Seat. The sad news is only 29% of the voters went to polls 3 weeks ago and most think less then 20% will go Tuesday. Let's prove them wrong!

I hope we don't let all the out side money being spend by labor and unions effect our common sense vote. We have a Senator who is a moderate Democrat and that has put her in big trouble. It would not matter if she was a moderate Republican because she would be in the same trouble in the primary process. A process that in most cases the extremes of both parties control.

In closing, please Go Vote and Think about your Vote But in all cases Vote it's your Right and more then that it is your responiablity as a Citizen and a Realtor!

As for me I'm voting for Senator Blanche Lincoln on Tuesday and Hope you will.