Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth

I was thinking about how fancy cell phones have become a status symbol. I can't afford one, so I'm wearing my garage door opener clipped to my belt.

I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans.

I was thinking about old age and decided that it is a lot like when you still have something on the ball but you are just too tired to bounce it.

I thought about making a fitness movie for some older folks and call it, "Pumping Rust".

I think I have gotten that dreaded furniture disease....when your chest is falling into your drawers!

Employment application blanks always ask who to notify in case of emergency. I think you should write, "A Good Doctor!"

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator in hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give their vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic garbage bag will open from the end you first try?

Why do old men wear their pants higher than younger men?

How come we never hear any "father-in-law" jokes?

If at first you don't succeed, shouldn't you try doing it like your wife told you to in the first place?

Why is it that men can react to broken bones as 'just a sprain' and serious wounds as 'just a scratch', but when they get the sniffles they are deathly ill and have to be bedridden for weeks? Then they whine to their wife or girlfriend constantly about it.

In our behaviors in real estate and the way we conduct ourselves in our personal lives to say the least it is a "work in progress." I reiterate to people all the time they are not the same person they were ten, even five years ago. Having recently returned from a high school reunion from MANY years back, I can assure you it is like walking through a time warp. Who are those people? They probably thought who was this Gary? We all can improve over time if we want to though. If we reflect. If we truly care to. But,

Discovering The Better Part Of You Doesn't Mean You Have To Be A Superman.

Who among us can be perfect? None of us. We will never get to that state. We are flawed to the core it seems by our natural design. This is a good thing in a sense. We have lots to work to do on within ourselves.

It is as if we have that proverbial angel on one shoulder whispering in our ears directing us in the good paths. And the little devil on the other shoulder trying to drag us down to our base level. Into the mud. All the worst that can come out of us.

A lot of wanting to be our best self is commitment to do so, and putting the brain in gear and being engaged in that quest.

You might want to get a sheet of paper, draw a stick figure out there with your name above it, write the question, "Who is this?" Write your good traits on your angel side and your flaws, or areas to improve on your devil side. Is your list on the devil side FAR EXCEEDING the angel side??

Some might argue that not having enough traits on the devil side means you are leading a boring life. All the FUN stuff is on the devil side. Well there is good fun and disastrous fun that leads to a life of ruin. Only with your own set of values of what you believe in the world can you make that judgment call. It is yours to make, as it is YOUR life. Come up with five or six items to work on. For example,

• If you are a sloucher, vow to become a hard worker
• If you are not in general nice to people, pursue kindness toward others
• If you are unorganized, one step at a time, become organized
• If you are out of shape, become fit
• If you never pick up a book, become a reader and a teacher
• If you are a sourpuss, adopt a new bright attitude

You get the point. Check how you are doing with them each day. Swat that devil off the one shoulder or minimize their influence in your life. Be steadfast on being the best you. Afterall, it is what you were designed to be. Even Superman at times didn't relish the side of being the one looked on to be the hero with the super powers all the time. He had to overcome his Kryptonite

      It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Can Be.

                          A Tribute To Superman

In the field of time management sometimes many of us feel like the Wizard of Oz character the Scarecrow and say to ourselves, "If I Only Had a Brain." Well we all have a brain and we need to use it with our selections in life. Here's

Three Tips On Choosing Something Or Not.

1) Values / Meaning - Look at what you are doing and ask yourself if it is "aligned" with what is important to you. For example I can't help but chuckle in the blogging world with those that spend countless HOURS blogging each day but complain their business has suffered for the year. Maybe less blogging??! Duh.

2) Substitution - this is such an elemental observation that completely eludes most people. You CAN'T do it all. If you pick up volunteering on Thursday afternoons and that is important to you, guess what? You can't also be doing money producing activities like showing clients houses that day. Remember as you add a new item to your choices you are typically subtracting something else. The art of carefully subtracting those things you don't want to do anymore is where your brain needs to be fully aware of something "LEAVING" your life. It is all good, if you are the one in control.

3) Finally, Evaluation. It is ok to be a different person today than you were a year ago. Last year was practicing Yoga. This year you are training for marathons. Last year you were part of a team at a big established, national name Realtor company. This year you are your own Broker at Susie's XYZ Realtor company and more your own boss. Evaluate constantly. Unsubscribe from those distribution email lists that you THOUGHT originally provided you with meaningful information but now just clog up your InBox.

You are in charge. Your life is made up of a series of choices. Keep making better ones as you go along. Whether high heels, running shoes, flats, or 'Texas' boots, make your way through life in your style. And ENJOY the ride.

Out Of An Abundant Heart Flows Joy

Do you know right now you have all you really need? Sure we want to grow more in abundance in our life in many areas, love, success, relationships, but you are abundantly rich NOW right where you are. You just have to believe it and let the joy then flow outward.

• Spread your joy
• Do it often
• Be natural (you pick up the tab)
• Remember, no strings attached with your giving

Come January 1st, 2010, as a REALTOR or a consumer at the closing table things are about to change as far as the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and Settlement Statement (HUD-1). Links below will allow you to print these out to familiarize yourself with them. Both now are three pages in length. The highlights:

• Revised Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
• GFE tolerances on settlement costs (1/8 point allowed to be in error)
• Revised Settlement Statement (HUD-1)
• Revised definitions for application, Good Faith Estimate, and Mortgage Broker
• Additional definitions for changed circumstances, origination services, loan originator, prepayment penalty, third party, title service and tolerance
• Elimination of 1% origination fee cap on FHA loans

RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) forms apply to federally insured or backed loans such as FHA/VA/Conventional and NOT cash deals. There is also a 30 day cure period to give lenders after closing the ability to meet the tolerance. The closing script is eliminated as it is contained in the revised HUD-1. Average charges can be used by service providers and is not limited to loan originators.

Bottom line is it looks like the new GFE and HUD-1 want the borrower to be as crystal clear on everything related to the loan. It looks like the fastest you could go from app to close is about three weeks. On page three of the new HUD-1 boxes compare GFE and HUD-1 costs. On page 3 of the GFE they clearly in the instructions state what charges CANNOT increase past the GFE, can increase up to 10%, and what charges can change. It is VERY clear. The only thing weird I saw on both the new HUD-1 and GFE is it never clearly says the PITI monthly payment but just principal, interest, and mortgage insurance in the loan terms.

It looks a lot different for most of us, but print yourself out a copy and take a look. January is NOT that far off.

Revised Good Faith Estimate (GFE)

Revised Settlement Statement (HUD-1)

With closings averaging 130 pieces of paperwork both the REALTOR and the consumer need to know about these documents ahead of time. One last tip for both groups in this area, be sure to show up at the table with a U.S. government issued ID with a picture and your signature. This is mandatory for identification purposes. Good luck and happy closings!!!