Michael Janik

So what are the average lengths of a realtors career? Over the past 9 months of my first year in this illustrious career I have seen many agents come and go with ease. They come for dinner but can't seem to stay for the desert. So what's the deal? Do people really think this is a million dollar career in the first week? It doesn't make very much sense to me to pay the fees for our local realtors association and the MLS fees and they leave before you give yourself a chance to at least give it a chance. That sounds strange but very true. I read a post the other day about how some realtors broke it down by the amount of hours put into a single transaction and divided that by the commission they received and they ended up making over a $1000 an hour. Now that is just ridiculus to me. How many dead leads did the agent chase? How much time was spent farming or out talking with people before they made this deal. We tend to work a little more than 40 hours per week on most cases to hopefully strive for one closing a month.

Now don't get me wrong, I am working to get at least 3-5 closings per month. Is it easy for us? No, and I think most people already understand that. The days of us sitting around and collecting a check are over and I never even experienced that. But I am smart enough to know that is not the case anymore. It seems that the people that are sticking it out and giving it a chance to make it in this industry either have a spouse who makes a ton of money, or they are ambitious enough to make it work for them.

People will always be buying homes and selling homes. That will never change. This is an industry that will forever need people to work in it. The ones that stick it out will be the ones who make it. That goes without saying. The harder you work, the better your results will be. Now it took me a few months to get my first deal going but I stuck with it. Maybe we will see enough agents leave to where we will get a lot more work our way. I'm ok with that! Keep me busy from the time I wake up until I get home to see my beautiful children and I am happy in all aspects. Give this industry a chance and you will see that there is a great future for you in it.

Well it is Monday once again. Amazing how this dreaded day comes around so often and usually without invitation. Monday's don't have to be all bad though. Most people think of Monday as the first day of a long week back on the grind of work they don't love to do. Not us though! We as realtors seem to really enjoy your profession and the joy it brings closing deals and making many friends along the way.

Monday's are not all that bad if you look at the positive side of it. It's another day that will you get you closer to your ultimate goal. Success!! Success is achieved by those who strive to achieve it. I know it's a little redundant but the truth is still there. Think of a way, just one way to make yourself one percent better in some aspect and you will become successful.

Sitting in the back row and not listening to life's lectures will get you nowhere. Everyday is a chance for a new beginning. It is a chance to make yourself that much better. Whether it is Monday, Friday or Sunday they are all the same. A chance to better yourself so that you may better others as well. If you do just one thing on this wonderful Monday make it something worth while. Something that will benefit you in the long run. We as realtors look to the future more so than most in their professions. Our deals aren't made day to day usually but a few weeks or even months down the road. Forge those relationships now and your future will be bright.

It seems like all over the U.S. the housing market is finally starting to pick up a little bit. Some states better than others of course but most of Florida is still behind and lacking in growth. That is true for most counties in Florida but I believe Brevard County to be weathering the storm very well if not getting out in front of it. Now don't get me wrong. We have a lot of high priced homes in Brevard County due to our numerous lakes, rivers and Ocean complexes but most average costing homes seem to be selling fairly quickly if not right away. I have had numerous buyers finding many properties they loved on sites like zillow and trulia but when it came time to check on the homes in the MLS they were all taken. I even showed a home one morning in which I asked the listing agent the night before if there were contracts on it and there were not. I called her the next morning on the day of the showing and there was already a contract placed on it. Not even 12 hours later. So what does that say to me for our market here in Brevard County. They are picking up!

Sellers need not to worry that much anymore unless they are completely upside down in their mortgage. Good times are here to stay it seems. Sellers are listing more often and selling even more. Now our job as realtors is harder than ever. We have to maintain this upward movemement that seems to be taking place. We need to do everything we can to make sure things stay in a positive manner. Believe it or not but when you sell a home you dont just make a commission for yourself but you help many other people to keep on working too.

Lawn care workers, painters, cleaners, construction workers and many more people prosper when home sales go up. We as Realtors have a great impact on the local economy when we do our jobs well. So take a look at the numbers for home sales and median sales prices. We are in a good position now. We work hard to stay above the rest. If we can keep things moving in this direction we set a future that will be a profitable and enjoyable one. Not just for us but for the community as well. Keep on keeping on and do your best to keep Brevard County one of the best places in the U.S. to live.

Well first and foremost I am a realtor with Century 21 Camelot Realty, INC. My office is in Cocoa Beach but I reside in Rockledge, Florida. In my opinion I believe Rockledge to be possibly the perfect location in Brevard County. Pretty much anywhere you live in Brevard County could be considered centrally located but Rockledge really is. You are smack dab in the middle of the county. This puts you at a great advantage to get to the Interstate or the Bee-Line as quick as possible without all the heavy traffic of Merritt Island or even Cocoa Beach. Rockledge is fast becoming a great place to live with very nice looking neighborhoods. A lot of the residential homes sit on lush landscaping and beautiful scenery all around. We have a very nice golf course located at Viera East that is a gem all in its own.

I used to live in North Brevard County which is very rural. Everyone has at least an acre of land. This is what I used to consider the perfect place. Now it still is a great place to live but I believe Rockledge has its own perks. This is a great thought to consider when deciding to relocate to a different part of the state. While you are still close to the beach, you are also very close to the river. Those who live around here already know they have stumbled upon a great place to raise a family or even start a business. We are growing pretty fast and have a brand new Publix opening up here. Nestled in some of the communities you will find grade-A public schools.

We can also consider Viera a great place too. Viera and Rockledge go hand in hand in location since both are butted up right against each other and you really don't know when you go out of one and enter the other. As I said we have great golf courses, food, and entertainment. No it is not a busy location but that is what is so perfect about it. I love this place and love helping people find and sell their homes here too. I can share my own experience with those who need it.

Thinking of moving to Brevard. Think Rockledge or Viera. We have it made right here!

So most of the new listings coming on the market it seem to be a short sale. They are flooding the market but does that necessarily mean a bad thing. I really dont think so. Short sales in my opinion will partly save the real estate industry in the long term. Now dont get me wrong, these homes are being sold short and do affect the rest of the values of homes but it is still bringing in business. Also, it is putting people in new homes which is what we are hired and paid to do. Right?

Short sale of your home doesn't have to be a bad thing in my opinion. You are getting out from under a home that probably is bringing you more grief and stress than happiness. It gives you a chance to start over and get everything a little more stable for yourself. You couldn't have seen the incredible drop in value coming but it did and now we must adapt.

Doing a short sale doesn't have to be a nightmare if you choose the right people. It starts with the right realtor who knows what he/she is doing and with the right title company who will stay on top of the file. In my career I have seen the good and the bad of short sales. Now I haven't had a long career but it has been educational to say the least thus far. When choosing the right agent to list your home make sure they will do what they say they will. You dont want those agents that will get the listing and wait for everyone else to do the work for you. Time is of the essence and a big percentage of short sales turn to foreclosures because the home just wouldn't sell. The worst nighmare for the owner is going into foreclosure. It ruins your credit and is definetly a nightmare to go through. Updates are the main thing I believe when doing a short sale and especially when you have a contract you are waiting on. The listing agents responsibility is contacting the buyers agent so the buyers stay informed. These are not quick sales and people do get pretty antsy when weeks turn into months before anything big starts happening.

Be very careful who you elect to do your short sale and you might just have a very easy time of it. Choosing the right realtor will be the key to your success for your short sale. Choose wisely my friends.