Marney Kirk, Towson, Maryland Real Estate

It's been a week since I was on here last, due to wonderful events this past week.

Beginning with a RAVENS WIN last Sunday during a beautiful day to the VERY successful, FANTASTIC Real Estate BarCamp Ocean City, MD that evening ...to a conference and a week at the beach, it has been a lovely week.

I was lucky enough to meet some incredible individuals at Barcamp, and am so excited for DC in October.

I got more out of that one evening than the entire conference I was attending the rest of the week. I was so disappointed to walk into a class about what you may be missing on your tax returns -- only to find out they were trying to SELL us a $900 system (only $471 THAT DAY, though!). No warning whatsoever from my state Board. Thanks a lot, guys.

THEN, I was lucky enough to have a terrific agent covering for me, so I was able to stay at the beach for the remainder of the week -- my husband and son came down, as did my brother & his brood (2 1/2 yr old daughter & twin 7 month old sons), then my sister-in-law and her family. What a great time!

It was Bike Week in Ocean City this week, so I must admit, it was LOUD LOUD LOUD. But everyone was so nice and my son got to play mini golf to his heart's content.

I didn't realize how much I missed AR until I got back -- and started reading, and got myself caught up. Phew! Thank you all for posting so I could catch up later! :-)

See you soon -- and it won't be a week this time!

Dynamic speakers can make all the difference in whether a meeting is good or GREAT. Yesterday, our WCR Baltimore meeting was GREAT!

Bob Kimball, the Vice President of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors, presented to us, on how to end the year RIGHT -- STRONG, and SUCCESSFULLY.

I am lucky enough to have been in his FIRST training course when I got into real estate 11 years ago. I truly believe that if it weren't for him, I would not still be in the business and doing well. When you get your license, all you have learned is the LAW and how to stay on the correct side of it. Bob, who at that point had been selling for about three years, wrote an entire month long course to help new agents to actually SELL real estate. Class was 4 days a week and culminated in a listing presentation contest (since we worked a lot on the presentation book and how to make yourself a valid agent, even if you are new.)

So, Bob has been a real estate agent for 14 years and trainer for 11 now, and always works to make his sessions high energy, high impact, highly interactive, and very relevant.

When asked to speak to our group, he was given the topic, and he wrote the 40 minute session around that topic. We were on our feet at times, sharing, listening, and yes, laughing a tremendous amount.

You can see my full recap here, on the WCR Baltimore website, where you can try one of the exercises that makes you think about what YOU bring to the table to be the GREAT agent you can be.

What I will share here are the 10 Tips to Get Refueled:

1 ) Set challenges. Personal challenges are a great way of motivating yourself to do something new. Be clear about what your aim is, because it is much more likely that you will make something happen.

2 ) Focus on the Present Moment.Leave the past behind, and enjoy the present.

3 ) Exercise. Get yourself moving - even a walk a day - it helps mindset. (I got special permission as the mom of a 3.5 year old that chasing after him would be considered exercise!)

4 ) Learn a New Skill. In your profession or personal life, learning something new is a fanastic way to get you out of a rut.

5 ) Do Something for Other People. A wonderful way to get out of a rut is to so something for someone else without expecting anything in return. That good feeling inside you is enough return!

6 ) Don't Listen to Yourself. "If you're in a rut, you are not a good coach for you!" (Exact quote - touche and true!)

7 ) Spend time with Enthusiastic People. He asked how hard it may be to stay mad at an enthusiastic person. And he's right. They end up bringing you back up. So hang out with these people. They will share their positive energy with you. You just might catch that feeling!

8 ) Stop Complaining! Complaints are negative. Both your thoughts and your actions are negative. This energy then lives and surrounds you. He asked us to try not to complain through the rest of the year. After a bit of negotiation, we agreed to at least try through the end of the day. :-)

9 ) Get Rid of the Director of Pain in the Neck. You know that person. The one who is always negative. Who you can come in with the BEST news, and they have a way of knocking you down a few notches. His recommendation is to not listen to them, and not allow them to be a part of your life. Walk away. Stay away. Don't tell them things, or invite them into your life or conversations.

10 ) Have a Sense of Humor. Bob created a motto for a group we both belong to, a real estate group of duckpin bowlers (no, we aren't very good and couldn't compete at a true league's level). The team motto? S T R E S S. (huh?) Stop Taking Real Estate So Seriously. There is humor to be found in many real estate situations, and can brighten your day and your life, if you can see the humor in them.

I hope you are fueled up to end the year on a high note. I know I am!

I had a meeting last night with a great family who want to move to a bigger home. We first began speaking in May and I had walked through, giving them ideas on how to neutralize their home to make it more saleable.

Fast forward to last night, when we had originally planned to put it on the market, and it is not complete. They are so close, yet so far. it is looking SO good as they are SO close, but there are still things that need to be done before it can be put on the market.

So, what's the issue?

Well, they are in a VERY affordable neighborhood in Baltimore County, and homes in their particular subdivision don't sell too very often. It is definitely an area where a first time homebuyer would consider buying.

These sellers hadn't been thinking about the $8000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, because they are not eligible. What they had forgotten is that a buyer for their house very well may be. We are finding in our marketplace that to be safe, buyers need 45 days to close, especially if an FHA loan. If sooner, great, and yes, it CAN be done. But you have to be prepared for possible issues.

The deadline for the tax credit is currently November 30. With Thanksgiving falling on the 26th, this cuts out the 26-29th essentially. Considering how many people are going to want to try to settle to receive this tax benefit, imagine how many closing are going to be scheduled for the 24th & 25th. And what if even ONE in a line of settlements has issues? How much could that effect YOUR closing?

So to be safe, buyers will want to schedule closings for Nov. 20th or sooner. Back out 45 days, and that is October 5. Which means a buyer needs to find a house and get a contract ratified in the next 27 days. If you, as a seller, aren't putting your house on until the week of September 28, you are hoping and praying that your best buyer hasn't already put a contract on something else and that they will write on your house in less than 8 days on the market.

That's a big risk!

Might the government extend the credit? Maybe. But are we going to bet on that?

I have another family in a similar position, and realize that they too haven't considered the implication of the tax credit on the SALE of THEIR current home. We have been focusing so much on reminding first time homebuyers to get moving, that we have not necessarily reminded our SELLERS that they need to get moving too.

Taken with Nikon D90 with DX telephoto lens around 9:15 pm at 133rd Street & Wight Street, Ocean City, Maryland.

For any real estate needs in Towson, Maryland or around the Baltimore Metropolitan area,

THINK MARNEY IN MARYLAND!

Marney Kirk

Keller Williams Excellence Realty

1850 York Road, Suite K

Timonium, MD 21093

E-nail: realtormarney@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.realtormarney.com

Office: 410-560-5858

An old jail in my town of Towson, Maryland is going to have a new life as a pool, office space, and hopefully a cafe.

Placed on the National Historical Registry in 1991, the Warden's building, built in 1858, is being renovated to preserve the original details while providing modern amenities.

I am excited that this 1.8 acres is going to be something so useful to the community. Though the pool is going to be private, the public schools around and camps/etc will have access to use. The local senior center will be offered largely discounted memberships.

The best part for my neighborhood, is that if you are a charter member, meaning that you pay $2500-$3500 to help build the pool, then that membership becomes part of your household. This means that when someone sells their Towson home, the membership can be transferred with the sale of the house.

Pools in our area fill up quickly. One opened in Timonium last year and their wait list is now 3 years long.

This provides a tremendous opportunity for Towson House Values to those who are willing and able to be charter members!