Localism: Nashville, TN

Opportunity for first- time home buyers………$7,500 tax credit!!!!!

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:14:42 -0600

New legislation provides a tax credit of as much as $7,500 for first-time home buyers. Time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. This tax credit is only for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. Let's go over some frequently asked questions regarding the tax credit.

Who is eligible to claim the $7,500 tax credit? First -time home buyers who purchase any type of home whether it be new construction or a re-sell. The home must be purchased between the dates mentioned above. For purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when the closing takes place.

What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit? Any home purchased by an eligible first-time buyer can qualify for the credit, but the home has to be used as a principal residence and the buyer could not have owned a home in the last three years.

Does the credit have to be repaid and is there any interest? The tax credit must be repaid and it is treated like a zero-interest loan. The credit can be repaid over a 15 year period.

This credit is a wonderful opportunity for first-time home buyers to take advantage of a buyer's market.

How Email can damage your career.

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:37:45 -0600

Isn't email cool?

Even more cool are the myriad electronic capabilities for quick communication that seem to be gaining in popularity (and number) daily.

We can twit, text, "Status Up-date", write on walls, and gather friends while sitting in a cafe having lunch . . . or even while DRIVING to said cafe.

Yep - We're in an electronic world.

The messages we send in most of these places are somewhat cryptic because the number of characters allowed are limited . . . and because typing ability is hampered with smaller devices . . . so words are truncated to one letter . . . I'm convinced there's a whole subculture out there who speak "Abbreviated"

R U MY BFF?

BEWARE!

These avenues for communication DO have some very deep and potentially damaging potholes:

Open Social Networks -

Sure, it's fun to write on people's walls -

Poke each other -

Invite everyone to groups -

Let everyone know what you are doing every minute of every day -

Share your personal secrets with the world and talk freely about your exploits

Have you thought about who might be reading your Facebook or Myspace pages?

Deb and I recently stumbled across a comment on a teenager's myspace page (The daughter of a friend who had invited us to be her "friend" several months ago). She was rambling on about how she had gone to this great party with all kinds of booze . . . This party was at the house of a friend of ours who we knew as a true professional.

Yet this person was allowing a minor to join in this soire? . . . and it was made known to the world? . . . and we instantly lost respect for that person.

Now here's the kicker . . . That party never happened . . . The teenager was embellishing.

And that message is now off that wall . . . but it sure raised a ruckus while it was there.

As for texting and twittering . . . Be VERY careful about what you say and how you say it.

With only @ 140 characters of running room, the potential for misunderstanding is at a dangerously high level. Innocent comments can be construed as being brash, offensive, ugly, and mean . . . Relationships can be damaged in the matter of just a few clicks on your PDA.

ESPECIALLY when you're talking business . . .

Make yourself a rule . . . If it's communication that's important and has potential for being misunderstood, DON'T TWIT IT . . . Pick up the phone.

If it's a quick message - a transfer of information - Go ahead and twit . . .

If it requires more than 2 twit exchanges, pick up the phone.

Now for email . . .

I had an agent in my office hunt me down yesterday - Wanted to warn me that a very irate and irrational "Ex" client might be calling me - This was a "Warning Order" . . . As is customary, I asked the agent to bring me the file and print any communications they had relating to the problem, so I could prepare myself for the conversation . . . I would call the "Ex"Client and see what I could do to patch things up.

A few hours later, I got the printed email exchange. It turns out the agent and the client had had a literal "knock-down-drag-out" BRAWL via email over the period of @ 5 days . . . and this was the climax after a particularly contentious 90 day relationship.

When I read the emails, the issue was clear. The agent is a very high "I-S" with LOTS of words to say . . . Very emotional and personally engaged. His feelings were hurt, and he was letting his fingers do the talking and was letting it ALL hang out. The emails from the agent were very long and wordy.

The Client's emails were complete opposite - Short and to the point and non-emotional - Clearly coming from a high "D" with complete absence of emotion . . . He was saying what he thought needed to be said without any fluff whatsoever.

The agent was offended . . . The client simply didn't have it in him to read through the volumes of literature that were thrown at him . . .

During this whole exchange, neither of these folks bothered to pick up the phone and have a real, live conversation. They went from needing to extend a closing date after working together for 90 days to sell 2 houses . . . to deciding that they simply weren't "a good fit" for each other . . . ALL in the matter of 5 days and 8 email volleys.

THIS is what I call "Throwing the baby out with the bath water"

Just plain silly . . .

I'm gonna try to salvage this deal because I believe it is in both parties' best interest to get these 2 sales to the closing table . . .

But I'm not going to do it by email . . . We'll have a few telephone conversations . . . and I'll invite everyone to a gathering in our conference room to work through the issues.

In the meanwhile, I jogged down to the agent's office and ordered a moratorium on sending emails to clients :-)

BOTTOM LINE!

If the communication is important, do it in person or by telephone . . .

Twitting, texting, and emailing are far too one dimensional to be valid communication media when the stakes are high.

I'm just sayin' . . .

Best,

Barry Owen

Principal Real Estate Broker
Career Development Coach
Keller Williams Realty - Green Hills Market Center

Interested in a new slant on your profession?

Ideas are cooking @ http://www.squidoo.com/realestatetowncenter and http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization

www.theowengroup.net - The owen group is communicating DIRECTLY with Home Buyers and Sellers in middle Tennessee

Visit my other BLOG @ http://creatingspaces.blogspot.com/

Tis the Season . . .

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:22:33 -0600

I don't really know what got into us this week-end.

Perhaps the media "Black Friday" reporting combined with the surge of marketing did it . . .

But my family SHOPPED and pretty much knocked out the whole list.

For me, shopping for gifts for other people is fun.

Isn't that really a big part of what we do as REALTORS?

We perpetually shop for "gifts" (houses) for our clients, and this is the part of our business most of us think is most fun, right?

ESPECIALLY when we KNOW we have found the PERFECT one.

All the same principles apply.

We have a budget (Our goal was Less than $15 per person on our list)

and we consider the recipient's wants and needs.

Urgent Needs come first. For the College Student, money and gift cards for gas and food and school supplies is a need.

We really try to be intentional and thoughtful about every purchase- Practical - Don't want to buy a widget we know the person wants if there are Big, looming NEEDS hanging out in the background. This creates a bittersweet taste . . . It's difficult to enjoy that new I-Pod when there's no food on the table and the job just disappeared.

If I know the "safety needs" are there (Food, Shelter, Clothes) then I use my generosity to give something I know that person REALLY wants. Smiles and hugs all around . . . and a big, hearty: "You deserve this!"

OK! Thankfully, most of the people on our family's list are not in "urgent need mode" so our constraints are budget and creativity.

Do you do your shopping on-line?

I did one year . . . ALL of my shopping.

It was VERY convenient. I never had to leave my chair, found some great stuff at what I thought were great prices . . . but it was somehow less satisfying for me, I wasn't "investing myself" enough to REALLY know what I was giving . . . and I didn't get the opportunity to add my special touches when wrapping the gifts . . . and had no "control" over the delivery.

IN your real estate business, aren't you much more engaged when you physically preview and show properties rather than relying 100% on the internet (MLS)?

I also spent more than my budget - Imagine that . . . Shipping and handling and gift wrapping fees etc . . . and those internet sites are GOOD when it comes to "up-selling"

This year, we took the whole family to Books-A-Million and spent a whole Saturday morning there. We had a BLAST . . . REALLY thought about what each person we were gifting would like . . . It was like a family mastermind to find the best fit for each person .. . It would have been comical to anyone who witnessed it because we literally dispersed into the store and came together every few minutes to share our discoveries and critique each gift.

At the check out, we bought all of our gifts and spent $11 per gift ($4 below our budget) AND we are SO excited about these gifts.

Our Daughter Jessica had been asking to go to Michaels all week. Deb took here there Saturday afternoon. She spent $10 on materials and sequestered herself in her room for the remainder of Sat and half of Sunday coming out only to eat.

When she announced that she was DONE, we asked what she had been doing?

"I made a present for TEN people" on my list"

I don't know what she made, but I can't wait to get mine :-)

So . . . This is SO cliche . . .

but

Tis the Season for GIVING and not receiving!

If you're strapped for cash, get creative and have fun as Jessica did.

Be intentional about your purchases and even if you have the capability don't over-do this thing. Determine your budget BEFORE you begin shopping and STICK TO IT!

Tis the season Indeed!

Finally . . . and how is all of the above ANY different than what we do every day in our Real Estate Businesses?

Best,

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Real Estate Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green hills

www.theowengroup.net

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com- Barry's other blog

http://www.squidoo.com/realestatetowncenter - Public lens for The Real Estate Town Center community

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Don't Miss David Lipscomb Universities' 4th Annual Lighting of the Green...

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:10:13 -0600

Coming Tuesday, December 2, 2008...

Lipscomp University proudly presents it's 4th Annual...

Lighting of the Green...

Hosted by Amy Grant

Featuring:

The Fisk Jubilee Singers
Ruth McGinnis
American Idol fiinalsist - Phil Stacey
Trey Hensley
The Nashville Pipes and Drums
The Lipscomb choruses
and Santa and Mrs. Clause...

Festivites start at 5:30 and go on till 7:00 PM. Event will be held at the Allen Bell Tower on the DLU Campus.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family and friends for this exciting event... In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Allen Arena.

Would you rather be . . .

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:43:51 -0600

IN?

OUT?

Isn't it exciting to be part of a group which is getting things done?

When people are engaged in something they care about . . . Does that engagement breed happiness?

Does Happiness foster engagement?

Why are internet social networks (Facebook, myspace, linkedin, activerain) so popular?

What's the magic ingredient that draws people IN to spend their oh-so-limited time in these places?

What's REALLY in it for them?

What's the benefit?

The same goes for your business.

What is that you do that differentiates YOU from everyone else?

Why should I work with YOU instead of that lady over there?

Thanksgiving morning, I went to Kroger to find a floral centerpiece for our table. There are @ 7 grocery stores within 5 miles of my house . . . I don't always go the same one - Just depends on what I need.

For the best Produce or Deli - Green Hills . . .

Best Prices - Charlotte . . .

and for Flowers? - Belle Meade Kroger

Why?

Mark is the florist in that store. Every time I go there and browse through the flowers (which ALWAYS look SO fresh), Mark goes out of his way to greet me and tell me about the best values and the freshest flowers. When I do make my selection, Mark doesn't let me leave his section until he has a chance to take a look at my flowers . . . He picks through them and looks for any "less than perfect" ones . . . and pulls them out and replaces them with nice, fresh ones . . . He then takes great care to bag them so they'll travel well.

Mark was looking a little tired when I saw him Thanksgiving morning. I immediately thanked him for working on Thanksgiving day and asked him why so frazzled? He said that the day before, he had done his biggest day EVER . . . $4,000 in flower sales during his shift . . . more sales than any other florist in the CITY that day . . . and he said he didn't know WHY?

I told him that I know why . . . because he's the best . . . and he ALWAYS makes me look good :-)

Mark always helps me with my choices and I become the "superstar" when I present the flowers . . .

Other people recognize this also . . . The parking is abysmal for that store . . . but I'll tolerate that as long as Mark is there to help me with my Flowers.

Back to Social Networks . . . Are the ones you are tuned into fulfilling your needs?

I ask because I have recently had the privilege of being invited to a "private" social network of thinkers and marketers . . . I was invited "IN" . . . How could I turn down such an offer? When I logged in, I found a veritable smorgasbord of ways I could "Plug-in" and connect with people there. I could:

Blog

Customize my own page

Chat directly with other people who I know were in alignment with my thinking

Start a discussion on virtually any relevant topic.

Participate in other on-going discussions.

Create a group around a particular passion of my own.

All of this in a very "safe" environment where I can freely share ideas without concern as to who is reading and what they are thinking. This is a very rich stew of dialog which has tremendous benefit for everyone there.

I feel less "safe" in some of the larger and more "open" environments . . . and in some way, being invited "IN" adds a nuance . . . Like: "Will you join our club?"

And so with all of that in mind, my current project is the construction of a few of these private spaces for my own "clients". I envision 3 of these - REALTORS - Real Estate Buyers and Sellers and past clients - and a "Living in Open Space" community. Each of these places will have a "storefront" in the form of a www.squidoo.com "lens" (Click on the Open Space link above to see an example).

Why am I sharing this here?

Because I know that Mark (the flower) guy is practicing something that I believe we can learn . . . Exceptional and unique service . . . and I know that helping people connect with each in a safe and non-invasive way is a great way to do this . . . and then lead the way - invisibly!

BTW - These private spaces do not HAVE to be on the internet . . . You can certainly do the same thing in real space and time :-)

The Real Estate Town Center is already up and running and invitations have gone out to the REALTORS in our office. They know that they have first dibs at getting "IN" as long as they opt in before a certain date after which we will open it up to "invitation only" to other REALTORS . . . At some point, we may (as a group) decide to "cap" the membership.

My question to you:

"If you were to create a safe environment for the people in your Sphere of Influence to connect with each other, what might be the possibilities?

Hmmmmmm . . . Sorry . . . I didn't mean to write so much this morning . . . I haven't blogged in a few days . . . must've had a bit of "back pressure"

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving

Best,

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Real Estate Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green hills

www.theowengroup.net

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Localism: Nashville, TN

Opportunity for first- time home buyers………$7,500 tax credit!!!!!

How Email can damage your career.

Tis the Season . . .

Don't Miss David Lipscomb Universities' 4th Annual Lighting of the Green...

Coming Tuesday, December 2, 2008...

Lipscomp University proudly presents it's 4th Annual...

Hosted by Amy Grant

Featuring:

The Fisk Jubilee Singers

Ruth McGinnis

American Idol fiinalsist - Phil Stacey

Trey Hensley

The Nashville Pipes and Drums

The Lipscomb choruses

and Santa and Mrs. Clause...

Would you rather be . . .