Ton A. Ali, Realtor - Broker Associate, Buyer's Representative

This is going to be an interesting day. In addition to hosting a 100 guest cocktail party fund raiser for a local grass roots organization, I am trying to wrap up what has been a busy week with new listings trying to get out there before the deadline runs out for the tax credit. The weather is not cooperating.

We have debated the tax credit issue in our office for the last couple of weeks now that everyone seems to have a related story. I was told that our state representative is asking people to forward information on clients that bought using the tax credit where that sale resulted in another. Unfortunately I could only come up with one example. Most of my clients using the tax credit bought distressed properties, some at half their market value. It makes me wonder if there should at least be some provision that would restrict sales of distressed properties that sell below a percentage threshold. My client would have purchased the property at 50% off with or without the tax credit.

I do think that it has been a net positive for my business. I tend to work with first time home buyers. I would love to see it extended, but what is the true cost? It has to be cheaper than the AIG Bailout. At least we are putting the money in the hands of the tax payers and helping build the tax base in our city.

If people like to think their Realtor is busy; I have a day to share with you.

I started today helping out one of my favorite non-profits, Louisville Public Media. LPM is having their semi-annual fund drive and I signed up to supply breakfast for the volunteers at 6:30 this morning. With my flexible schedule, I am able to run food downtown for the folks talking phone calls. I love public radio and this is one small thing I do to help out.

I had an appointment to take picture for a family that just had a little boy. He is the cutest little thing; his name is Tarik. He and his family are Bosnian. There home is beautiful and I think it will sell quickly.

I also had a walk through tentivley schedule for tonight; we close tomrrow afternoon. My client is cool. I wish I could party with him. I invited him to my house this weekend for a fund raiser I am hosting with another client.

Oh the fund raiser. I hope the weather is good; there are going to be a lot of people in my house if we can't use the deck and patio. It is all coming together well, but I am still nervous. We have some great sponsors from local business to National companies.

I also had my first BPO today. That was fun. I initially decided not to do it because the property was light industrial and I am really not that familiar. It turned out to be another parcel so my afternoon was shot.

I love my my job, but organization is the key. I am happy to be busy. Thanks to all those folk who are making my phone ring.

I recently attended the Kentucky Association of Realtors Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. I have been a local Realtor for years, but had never attended the convention. This year they offered new attendees a special offer on fees so I thought I would check it out.

The biggest draw for me was the training. Unfortunately with most conventions, the training classes run concurrently so you have to choose what you take and what you miss. I chose to attend a class focused on online networks and micro-blogging. The class facilitated by Doug Devitre; great speaker and very knowledgeable. He covered many different sites to assist Realtors interested in social networking, micro-blogging and online marketing.

Some sites are just informational and some helped maximize my efforts. It has really helped me focus my online efforts and information to the people who want it and not just spamming innocent friends on my social networking sites.

If your looking for Eco Friendly, Sustainable Real Estate information, check out my facebook fan page: Louisville Realtor|Ton Ali| Metro Eco Broker or follow me on twitter: MetroEcoBroker.

I have to admit I don't know that much about loan modifications.

I work hard to educate my clients to really examine their budgets and think about how they allocate their housing dollars. With that said, there has been some collateral damage in the housing down turn and employment is always the last to recover.

Unfortunately when the Fed bailed out the banks and told them to lend the money and ease the credit crunch, they instead went shopping like kids in a candy store.

Folks who find themselves in a tough situation because of layoffs are unable to refinance or have their loans modified.

Some would say it is just the way things go. If they can no longer afford their home, they should sell it and move on. That would work if the banks hadn't made such a mess of the economy and help send home prices plummeting. Now you can't sell and you can't stay; what's a hard working American to do?

Although simplistic, old news, I'm wondering why decent hard working folks can get some assistance from their lenders. As a Realtor, I know what homes go through during the foreclosure process. Like children in a divorce; some times people think their okay and the next thing you know a year has passed and they need serious help. Why would they risk greater losses instead of helping a family keep their home?

Like I said in the beginning I don't know the ins and outs of home loan modification; if you have some insights, please share.

Wow, what a summer. I have been working on so many things that I have neglected to blog. For the 10s of you who follow my blog, you can now follow me on twitter (metroecobroker) and on the new Facebook page. Yes I have created my own page for Real Estate so I can give the information to the people who want it. And the page also includes sustainable, eco friendly, green information to help my clients and fans live a more comfortable and efficient life.

Other notable Real Estate happening this summer include the KAR Convention at the GaltHouse here in Louisville and the GLAR Lunch.

This was my first year for the KAR Convention and it was worthwhile considering it was here in town. If I had traveled and paid to stay somewhere else, I might not have thought so. I did take several classes by two national trainers that I have followed for years. It was nice to see them deliver their message in person.

The photo was taken at the Greater Association Lunch. We installed the newest elected official for our local Board. This is our new President and my Broker Lamont Breland and me. We had a good turnout from our brokerage.