Club Chaos Agents - All Things Hollish, Wacked, and Jacked

I want to take a moment here to wish Jon Washburn ALL the very best in his new and future endeavors. Jon Washburn and Bob Stewart brought me into the rain, gave me shelter during the storm, then encouraged and supported me while I helped them build and grow this great network.

I owe a great deal of my experience and success to these guys for giving me the chance, for supporting me through thick and thin, and for bringing me on board to the AR team and family.  I am forever grateful to them for letting me take deep root in the soil of this great community. 

Thank you Jon for a wonderful journey! May all things good and prosperous be yours and in abundance.  The direction and path you are taking today is exactly where you are suppose to be at this time in your life and during your adventure...

Stay true to your passion my friend... always! Do something "AMAZING!" Crush It!

Today it is official so I'm announcing my new role.  It really is going from "A" to "Z". 

My thought was if I said from "A" to "Z" many of you might figure it out.  I'm sure some of you already have.  I’m excited to announce that I'm now the Industry Outreach Manager at Zillow.

Over these past few days I've spent a great deal of time with some really awesome people learning all about my new company, their culture, the products and services, but most importantly, their passion as a team for helping connect real estate professionals with consumers. 

"I'm 100% confident that I am in the right place and working with the right people and company."

The relationships I've developed here in the rain mean more to me than anything.  I'm so thankful for all I've been blessed with here over the years, and I'm very enthusiastic and excited for what the future holds.  I'm also committed to bringing even more value and meaning to those relationships by sharing new and exciting ways/tools to help you get more business and maximize your efforts while spending less time and money to do it.

I'll continue to work from the greater Bay Area in California, but I'll still be mobile.  I'll be doing many of the same types of things you are used to seeing me do here on ActiveRain.  Social media and marketing training, classes and seminars, webinars, speaking at national events, and providing education and support for the many tech tools, products, and services I can offer you.

Those of you who know me know that I have a passion for sharing real estate technology, widgets, and all that tech-y and useful kinda stuff.  I have written about so many different companies and tools that can help increase your business, save you time or money, or just simplify your life.  There really are lots of choices in real estate both for agents and consumers and I'm feeling positive and confident that I've found a single solution that will serve and bring great value to both sides.

So now it's official, I'm on board, I'm part of the  Z-team and very excited!  As I continue to get adjusted, trained, and adapt to my new role, it will be difficult for me to resist the temptation to want to share everything I learn as I go along.  So I promise I won't fight it, I WILL be sharing.  :-)  I'll open some huge doors of opportunity for many of you, and create some great ways to contribute to your growth and success. 

Fasten your seat-belts, hang on tight because from the "" in Activerain, to the "" in Zillow, it's going to be a fun and exciting ride!  Here's a link to my profile when you need me.  As I've said in the past, and it still holds true today, my door is always open to you and I'm looking forward to our continued growth and successes together!  :-)

I'm excited to announce that I am taking on a new role and change in the Real Estate Industry!  

Over the past few years in my role as Community Manager for ActiveRain, I've learned so much and grown in so many ways.  During this time my role has included helping many thousands of people and that work has been immensely rewarding and exciting.  However, I am now moving to a new place with my career. 

To all my friends at ActiveRain, a big "Thank You" for all your love, support and friendships over the past few years.  I also want to thank the staff and my good friends here inside ActiveRain for all their hard work, and for the passion that they sweat into this network each and everyday.  It's been a wonderful learning experience.  Getting to witness the growth and changes on AR has been an honor and privilege.

I feel blessed to have so many great friends and such a truly authentic extended family here. 

I look forward to telling you all about this new challenge that I have accepted in the days ahead.  I'd spill the beans right now, but I have to head out the door... I'm running off to get married in a couple weeks. Then ActiveBrad's spending his honeymoon in some untold locations.  I am not leaving the AR network or all of my friends and family here, I'm just merging onto a different road up ahead and creating a new and exciting path.

So wish me luck, I'm looking forward to YOUR future as I plan to still be part of it.  :-)

The rest of the scoop coming soon ...to be continued

No matter the path you travel, make a difference in the world and enjoy the Journey...

Well, I have lost the count of the number of offers I received yesterday but they continued to arrive. Proof, once again, that all I have to do is go out of town. I have learned one thing from this experience. When we go to Yellowstone National Park, I will hire another agent to answer the phone, process paperwork and handle negotiations for me because yesterday was a bit overwhelming.

As I stood in the center of the Seattle Aquarium, trying to maneuever into a quiet spot to talk with a lender, some kid ran into me, shrieking about the octopus feeding. I shot a photo of the octopus, but I emailed the wrong photo to myself, so this picture of the puffer fish will need to suffice:

I shot that photo with my BlackBerry camera. If I had brought my Nikon, it would have better photo quality. The Seattle Aquarium is amazing. While it's mostly geared toward kids, it was still a lot of fun. There are several tidepool exhibits where they encourage you to actually touch the stuff in it. With one finger and very gently. I had no idea that uni spines were so hard. You could probably break your foot, not just pierce it, if you stepped on one in the ocean.

Below is another picture:

This is a moon jelly fish. I think it's pooping. These were floating in a gigantic glass arbor over my head and passing by a couple of light sources in the glass structure on either side so you could see them better illuminated. They don't have those long dangly things but instead shoot out hundreds of fine fiber hairs about two- to three-inches long. One of the kids standing by me said he would like to have this exhibit installed over his bed. I could imagine myself counting jelly fish instead of sheep.

I also found myself totally charmed by the sea otters. They live such a life of leisure, twirling about in the water without a care in the world. One of them found a piece of a shellfish and was swimming around on his back, resting the shell bits on its stomach while feeding his face with both hands. Paws? Fins? Then he wiped his face with a quick swipe.

It was sort of chilly in Seattle yesterday. That's why Starbucks was started, I suppose. People need a hot beverage to warm them up. The sun came out about 4:00, and it was actually pretty nice, warm enough to go outside without a sweater.

We stopped at a sausage place to get a sampling of meat products. Some famous place my husband found, Salumi. They make all kinds of salami and a couple of really spicy ones. While we waited in line, I spoke with a woman behind me. She said over the past 12 months, it had rained in Seattle more than 340 days. But my husband said the wettest place in North America is probably somewhere in Alaska which gets 300 days of rain, so that can't be true.

Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub

The day after Christmas,  I receive the following call

Buyer: Hello, could you please show me your listing at 123 Main St?

Me: I can arrange to have an agent show you this property, but are you currently working with an agent?

Buyer: I do not want to use an agent.  I want you to write the contract for me.  I will tell you the terms.  Agents aren't worth the commissions they receive.

Me: I'm sorry, but I do not do dual agency.  You will need to find an agent to write the offer up.

Buyer: I will dictate the terms.  I just need you to write it up.  The seller does not need to know that you wrote it.

Me: That is fraud and I cannot do that.  If you're worried about the commission, why don't you find a discount agent to write it up.

Buyer: I'll go to Redfin!

Me: That is fine.  I do not care who writes up the offer.  I just told you I cannot do it myself.  Redfin, by the way, charges one and a half percent and has a minimum amount they need to make.

Buyer: I know that... You just don't want to leave nice cozy Bellevue.

Me: No.  I cannot write contracts for buyers for my own properties.  It is in your own best interest to find someone to represent you.

Buyer: It's not worth it to pay any commission for just filling in the blanks on a piece of paper for what I tell you!

At this point I proceeded to lecture him on all the work it takes to actually close a property these days.  Unfortunately it was wasted breath as he did not hear a word I said.  I honestly do not care who writes up the contract for him.  I do not do dual agency and even if I wanted to this particular seller forbids me from doing so. 

From his perspective, this is one example where you can argue that ignorance is bliss.

Why is it the holidays seem to bring out the worst in people?  On Christmas Eve, I receive a call from a buyer interested in a property located next to a property I just sold.  This property is of course listed by another agent.

First the buyer asks me a number of questions about the property.  While I had been in it to do comps I obviously knew little else about it.  She then stated that she is looking for a home for her parents and that I must show it to her that night.

Do they have an agent?, I asked.

She replied that she didn't know, but that she just wanted someone to open the door for her.  I replied that any agent would want to get paid for showing a listing and that we are not paid unless the listing closes.  I suggested that she use the agent they are working with to open the door.

She then got rather huffy and insisted I show her the house the next day (Christmas Day).  While we do not celebrate Christmas, we do get together with family that day and I did not feel like driving across town that day to open a door so another agent can get paid.

When I refused, she got quite upset, told me off, and then stated she would just call the listing agent herself.

How's that for holiday cheer?

As most of you know, I deal with several bank owned properties at the same time.  These properties are typically in high demand and therefore I receive quite a few calls a day on them.  I can deal with serious questions, but the following conversation (which on some days occurs every few minutes) really can be frustrating.

Caller: Hello, I am calling about your listing on 33rd Street.

Me: What can I do for you?

Caller: What's the story behind this property?

Me: Well, what do you need to know?

Caller: Is it vacant? (note that vacancy status is on MLS)

Me: Yes, it is.

Caller: Is this a short sale?

Me: No, it is bank owned. (this is also on MLS . I also explicitly say it is ‘not a short sale' in the agent remarks.)

Caller: Do you have any offers? (If I have multiple offers, this is also on MLS)

Me: Yes, we have multiple offers.

Caller: Where do we need to be to get it?

Me: I cannot disclose this.

Two minutes later, I receive another call and it starts all over again, and again, and again.

I have tried changing my voice mail to state that all MLS information is current and intentionally do not answer my phone.  I then receive a message stating "this is so and so.  Please call me.'"  When I return the call, the above conversation happens all over again.

Certainly I have noticed that most agents lack attention to details.  If you want the listing agent to be on your good side, calling her with questions she has already answered on MLS is not a good way to start.

Keep in mind that while I am answering these calls I am dealing with distressed homeowners, trying to close transactions, putting out hourly fires, and trying to prevent myself from going insane.

So the next time you call on a listing, please read the information on MLS first as it is current and up to date.

The Virtual Real Estate Brokerage and Office of the Future Today! - WEB 3.0

What does the future Real Estate Brokerage and Office really look like?  If you decide to read on, it may change your perception of what the "Virtual Real Estate World" could look like in the future.  While Secondlife is the Internets largest user-created, 3D virtual world community, and used primarily for Social Networking, eXp Realty has taken this same concept, and created a Business Model where the Real Estate Brokerage and Office is 100% Virtual.  They are using the invisible walls of the Internet as their "Brick and Morter" office.

Their Business Model is defined as "The Worlds First Fully Immersive WEB 3.0. Real Estate Brokerage."

Last month, while at REBarCamp in San Diego, I got to meet and spend some time with Dale Kreiser, eXp REalty's Washington State Broker.  He shared what their company was doing, and how well it was working for them.  When I returned to the office, I did some research on their company and their site.  I was "Blown Away" at what Glenn Sanford - Founder and CEO and their team have created!  Could this really be the Real Estate Office and Business Model of the Future for Brokerages and even the smaller Mom & Pop offices?

Here's a video clip from a discussion held at that REBarCamp in San Diego.  The topic?  What does the Real Estate Brokerage of the future look like?  It's an interesting discussion with Tom Ferry, Stefan Swanepoel, Wendy Forsythe, Sherry Chris, Dale Kreiser and others.  What is the "New" strategy or tactic?  Here's a hint of what you're about to see; The future is HERE now!

So I called Dale and asked him for a "Virtual Tour" of their "Virtual Office."  He and Glenn agreed to let me share that tour with you via this recorded video.  For me personally, this was really the next best thing to actually being there.  I felt like I was there.  Now anyone that knows me well, also knows that I love all the new technology that is being introduced to our Industry, but I am also a practical person and want to be certain that this stuff really works.  Don't just tell me it does....SHOW ME!!

This video is a bit longer than I wanted, but I edited out over 40 minutes of some really great stuff I wish I could have shared with you all, maybe another time. I would encourage you to watch the entire thing, I'd hate for you to miss any of this one. Sit back in that comfy chair of yours, relax, and enjoy this first ever virtual office tour...

Is this the way some Real Estate Company's and Brokerages will operate in the future?  Yes, here's one already.  Are these guys way ahead of their time?  Maybe, but after today's tour, I realized that just talking with them about it, and then visiting their website was no comparison and nothing like "virtually being there!"  I had no clue how well this was all put together.  It was nothing short of interesting, fascinating, and awesome!

The Virtual Real Estate Brokerage and Office - WEB 3.0  So tell me what you're thinking at this moment...

Wordy C: Oh Crap...

I'm Missing Out On A Really Cool Deal... A FREE Real Estate Foreclosure Seminar In Seattle

I love Trump University. Everyone close to me knows I hoard Donald Trump information like Ebenezer Scrooge hoards money (LOL). The cool thing about me and Ebenezer is we tend to figure out what we missed in the beginning and make beneficial adjustments to make out in the end.

"Now Is The Time To Buy" is a real estate mantra heard so often it is starting to fall on deaf ears. Sad thing is, now IS the time to buy... Seriously... (You can't believe I said that, right? I usually say this market WHOMPS and it does! It completely sucks, which is why I'm now investing in out-of-state property - LOL)

Why am I buying something now? Hmm... Did you miss the low, low prices? Did you know that in some communities approximately 1 in 7 houses are now estimated to possibly be vacant according to the Census Bureau? You can read a very interesting 12 page census housing report here if you like crossing your eyes over the housing numbers (LMAO). Psssssst... It gives my ADD something interesting to do when I'm debating with my attorney girlfriends. ;-)

BTW, they, my legal eagle buddies, want to buy something as well... We are having mad fun talking each other OUT of purchasing properties. Not a typo (LOL).

Did I mention this market whomps? Well, now it whomps enough for me to realize I need to snap up a good deal. So I am (LMAO). However, I still have to do my due diligence and wont buy a crappy home. We finally found one investment we all liked so my hubby Mikey has dibbs on it. The seller and bank recently accepted our offer and we are very happy that it requires a minimal amount of repair work. We knew to make our under market short sale offer based upon the national and local numbers. Even if you are not sure what the numbers mean for now, save the PDF ladies and gentlemen, I will be teaching people what the numbers signify later (and you can ask other people, so don't wait for me). In the meantime, now that I have teased you with the possibility I will be posting a market report tutorial from hell down the road, you should start your own research to create your "dream file" so you can take your time and craft a game plan to increase your family's wealth by doing what the wealthy do: (a) getting informed so they can (b) take action.

Think I'm kidding? I'm not. It's that simple.

Getting informed means you have a file of research regarding what you want to do. I have a dream file. I've been checking off items one by one and the list is pretty long. I want stuff and I am working very hard to get it.

It aint easy. I am struggling in this recession just like a lot of other folk but in case you missed this little real estate detail I am here to tell you that PEOPLE ARE STILL MAKING MONEY. In a sucky market no less (LOL). I jumped in and am determined to do a lot with a little bit because (a) I only have a little bit and (b) I habitually gravitate towards people who are smarter than I am and learn all I can while they are making themselves available to me.

The Internet is a beautiful thing. You do not have to be limited to a brick and mortar event to get started. Trump University is making itself available to people in real life and virtually. Some of it is for free. FREE people. Free, free, free... (LOL)

Don't like free? I can't help you then because I am the Queen of Free. I LOVE FREE. This seminar is free... Sign up. Get there. Go network. Make a play date with your relatives and friends and/or write off your business trip. Do what ever you need to do to get there if you can. If I were not already engaged with my kid's IEP I would hop a plane and be there. I am totally bummed out that I am not going to this one... It would have been really neat because I love ActiveRain just as much as Trump U and I really wanna go to Seattle, damn it. That would have been a two for one for me, but I digress... (LOL). ;-)

If you are considering buying and/or selling a home soon, my advice to you is to go take the Trump University seminars. This one. Another one. Doesn't matter which ones... just take 'em when you have the time or make the time, depending upon how important increasing your personal wealth is to you. It's important to me because I have wee ones that need to be taken care of. Who do you want to take care of? Think about that before you dismiss this as a possible life changing event... My first Inman was incredible. It was a life changing event. So was my first Trump U webinar.

FACT: Most people who sell their home are looking for someplace else to live.

FACT: Most people who buy a home are looking to maximize their investment dollars with the best property their money can buy within an allocated budget. It doesn't have to be a short sale or foreclosure either (which is why I believe people should understand exactly what they are getting themselves into).

FACT: The more you learn about the various stages of the process the better the odds that you will make an informed decision when you hire your Realtor, Lawyer and other team members to realize your objectives, whether it be buying or selling a home or any other investment project.

Did you know that there is a "rash of foreclosures" going on. CNN Money has an interesting article on the subject here. The media and NAR are spinning all sorts of interesting sound bites on the subject so I am going to jump into the fray. Ready? Read... My sound bite: go find out for yourself (LOL).

FACT: The Census Bureau reports, "Approximately 85.5 percent of the housing units in the United States in the third quarter 2009 were occupied and 14.5 percent were vacant. The owner-occupied housing units were 57.8 percent of total housing units and renter-occupied units made up 27.7 percent of total housing units in third quarter 2009. Vacant housing units comprised 14.5 percent of total housing units, including 10.9 percent for year-round use, and 3.5 percent for seasonal use. Approximately 3.5 percent of the total units were for rent, 1.5 percent were for sale only, and 5.9 percent were vacant for a variety of other reasons."

Why am I fascinated about this PDF and the CNN Money numbers? It reiterates now is the time to buy to the cartoons in my head (LOL). Do think about it... No matter what the market does people need food, clothing and shelter. You can debate their methodology, you can compare the revised government estimates, you can hollar at me all you want with pessimism and sarcasm while providing links to other opinions. Wont change the fact that the housing market prices are more reasonable now then they were a few years ago AND PEOPLE STILL NEED SHELTER, FOOD AND CLOTHING. Somebody is going to buy and enjoy some equity so why not you? Wont change the fact that some states have more housing issues than others but they all have issues we can't escape from. Since we can't escape, why not do what we can with what we have? Wanna buy? Buy. Wanna sell? Put it on the market, listen to your listing broker and price it according to the actual comps and stop acting stupid with picking unreasonable numbers out of thin air.

Stop trying to time the market. The statistical maps speak for themselves after the fact. By the time some sellers get comparables, have an attitude with a listing broker because he or she wants more than buyers are willing to pay, you/he/she/they missed so many opportunities to buy/sell/invest in a new property or properties that were potentially great opportunities to purchase.

Flip side: buyers, stop low balling sellers. This isn't a game, its a business transaction. There is a big difference between being astute and being stupid. Think about that the next time you miss a home with $100K in equity in it because you wanted something for nothing. The market is constantly evolving. Do you really want to buy a house or don't you? You need to be honest with yourself before you pick up the phone to ask to see a property. Owners are taking off time from work to make their homes presentable and available. My time is not the only time being wasted while you play at posing as a buyer.

Some of you need to learn a new set of facts and stop blaming everything on the industry professionals. Take responsibility for your actions and educate yourselves. I did not sign your loan docs. You did. Consumers need to read all of their paperwork and stop whining about what they agreed to do. When you come to me and carry on about what happened before you came to me I always wonder why you signed the docs to begin with. I am a Realtor. I am not the Social Security Advocate, not the CPA, not the Mortgage Broker, not the Lender, not the Lawyer, just the Realtor. That's why I want you all to go to class.Someone besides the Realtor needs to teach you what to expect from the roles presented because when we try to tell you we ought not to be answering certain types of questions some of you think we are stupid. Fact is, we know a lot more than you think and do not want to cross out of our representation purview.

People who take investment seminars are investing in themselves and tend to be a wee bit more serious about a real estate transaction than those who just watch HGTV, expecting something unrealistic and unreasonable. I love HGTV, but I do a lot more than just open doors and parrot, "this is the kitchen." It is unrealistic and unreasonable for consumers to make a transaction hell because somehow a contract isn't a contract to some of you and you keep trying to negotiate and change the agreement after you have agreed in writing to the terms you accepted. I work very hard on my market reports and memorize my neighborhood trending statistics so when people act stupid and ruin deals and demand more deals only to ruin them as well, there is just so much a professional will accept before we withdraw from a toxic relationship. We can "fire" consumers for cause. Did you know that? You may want to consider that the next time your poor planning and flip fly attitude rears its ugly head and you tantrum because you mistakenly believe the people you hire have to put up with your shit indefinitely. This is a business transaction. I am not your therapist (LOL). That's why I like advocating events like this. Informed consumers make better clients. :-)

The cool thing about attending great business seminars is that they have the potential to wake and shake you up, making you aware that breaching a duty isn't just about professionals, it is also about you, the consumer and some of your actions when you initiate a business project retaining professionals to work on your behalf. If you have enough sense to respect your boss at work, then you have enough sense to respect me when I work with and for you. I think that ones ability to have common sense and behave is a reasonable assumption for most rational people interested in remaining employed at a job that matters to them. Doesn't buying your house matter to you? Being a brutally blunt person, I am going to say what a lot of people think but may not tell you: we have an expectation that you will behave and hate when you dont because it causes unnecessary stress and delays. So behave. Act as if what the entire team of professionals do on your behalf matters to you and respect your decision to select and hire us. ;-)

Got news for you: I am in your boat, consumers and sharing the same questions and fears most of you have because I am working from where I am right now (1) as a buyer's broker and (2) first time home buyer. Prior to this specific transaction I would only purchase land because land development interests me. Since I am also putting my money, my hubby's money and my friends money where my blog mouth is, I am doing a considerable amount of research across state lines learning other markets with a little help from my broker friends. We, my personal sphere of influence, are all starting to buy property right now because we can afford the discounts on the equity currently reflected in the markets researched as they currently stand. ARE YOU?

You can if you want to and if you stop freaking out about will it go up or down three weeks from now. It will always go up and down. That's what free markets do. Markets are local, so work with people who know your targeted areas and figure out when you want to enter the market. Can't afford to buy a house? Then buy some land and start dreaming about building your dream home for a later date.

WORK FROM WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE NO ONE HAS A CRYSTAL BALL AND NO ONE CAN DEFINITELY TELL YOU WHAT THE HOUSING PRICES ARE GOING TO DO. If you are willing to pay a particular price for a home, then pay it. If you are willing to sell at a particular price, then sell it. Get yourself a buyer's agent or a listing broker and do what you can do the moment YOU decide you are going to do it.

I said it before and am saying it again: Markets are local. Deal with the reality of YOUR situation from where you stand right now... A sound bite from a talking head on the television shouldn't be telling you what your interests are, you should be discussing your best interests with the retained professionals of your choice.

Some experts previously said there was no housing bubble. Now all "they" talk about is the housing bubble bursting (LOL). If you ask me anything along that line I am going to think that you are incredibly stupid because what part of there being no crystal ball and markets are local didn't you understand? I don't know when the next crash is coming. "They" have a track record of being wrong so why listen to them tell you about next year. Can you see into next week? What makes you think "they" can? Seriously... Quit that... (LMAO). You need professionals to look out for your best interests NOW. Start where you are. Create a budget. Get a goal and get off the fence.

I am a Donald Trump fan because he starts where ever he is. He struggled and survived and is qualified to teach struggling people like me how to do it anyway. He was not always rich, periodically had cash flow problems, was smart enough to hire people who strive to bring clarity to the situation and honestly speaks about the times when things were not going well in comparison to when things are. It is a well rounded perspective.

I like blunt people. I like people who are open about their mistakes and will advocate not repeating the same business mistakes as if the first lesson wasn't a valuable lesson. I have a lot of valuable lessons to learn and if I can avoid going down a wrong road I'd like to try to stay off the messy paths very smart people tell me not to go down. 

Wanna know what my goals are? I want to go from being a real estate sales agent to an associate broker, from an associate broker to a broker in charge, from broker/owner to an east coast franchise and niche developer. I'm already a real estate investor. I still find that amazing and quite amusing (LOL). I've already started where I am and you can start where you are too. Need some help? Let me know or call the Realtor of your choice. Land is available all across the USA from a few thousand dollars to several millions worth. Start with land if you don't have house money.

Did you know you could pick up a plot of land for less than a trip to the Bahamas if you change your mindset and think about a long term investment rather than a short term beach booty call? Yeah. I went there. I have friends who do this twice a year so I know exactly what I am talking about (LOL). Now they want to buy recreational land because we've been visiting the areas we personally invested in and taking them on rides for mini vacations is cheaper and more fun. America has beaches too (LOL). Wanna do something cool and unusual with some of your vacation money? Why not create your own vacation spot? One that you own. ;-)

Trump University has a lot of really neat seminars to choose from that can help you do this and a lot of other neat things. I am a huge fan of their webcasts. I also love their book collection. Donald has some of the best people in the industry working and writing for him. I don't care how much you may personally like or dislike the man, what I care about is the fact that as a resource to consumers and practitioners the collection housed there is a very useful to anyone looking to do something positive regarding creating personal wealth through starting a real estate investment portfolio.

Why do you think my hubby and I just jumped on an investment property in Florida and are currently in the middle of a social media closing where we're using the power of networking to get what we want? It's because we are doing what we learned from the material that Trump University makes available. We are doing what we learned although I myself am a small fry with limited streams of revenue. I was smart enough to pay attention and buy land when I could afford to, then upgrade to hunting for a decent home with a significant amount of equity in it. It hasn't gone smoothly, but what short sale doesn't have potential third party drama? Any sale can create drama (LOL). Do I need to remind you that this market whomps and people are very emotional about selling their homes?

If I can start where I am, you can start where you are too. Do something different and go check out this seminar (and a host of others) if you are within driving distance to any of the following locations:

Holiday Inn Downtown Everett 3105 Pine Street Everett, WA 98201 Monday, Nov 30, 2009 1:00 PM 7:00 PM

Embassy Suites Seattle - North/Lynnwood Hotel 20610 44th Avenue West Lynnwood, WA 98036 Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 1:00 PM 7:00 PM

Redmond Marriott Town Center 7401 164th Avenue NE Redmond, WA 98052 Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 1:00 PM 7:00 PM

Courtyard Seattle Bellevue / Downtown 11010 NE 8th Street Bellevue, WA 98004 Thursday, Dec 03, 2009 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

If you can fly in, by all means fly in. There's a lot of really neat stuff to do in Seattle WA during your pending business trip. As for me, I am a huge Grey's Anatomy fan and ActiveRain is another fave addiction. I may discover a means to get my bloggers butt over there if anything changes in the next couple of days (LOL). I'm constantly learning and will be the first one to tell my buyers and sellers you should know what I know. Wanna get started on your on investment adventure? Google and Trump University are great ways to start.

Check out Josef Katz. Dude is a marketing genius totally into real estate investing. I am learning a tremendous amount of information from my ActiveRain friends in the industry and Josef is a friend of mine who works at Trump U. I have personally benefited quite a bit from their material. Why shouldn't you benefit too? We all have to start somewhere. Don't let the holidays turn you into a slacker because you're fibbing to yourself about some New Years resolution you know you are not going to keep because you failed to keep the other ones (LMAO). Yeah, I went there. Been there. Done that. Aint doing it again... Know how I know? I no longer make New Years resolutions (ROTFL). Can't break promises you don't make, even if they are to yourself... Just sayin' ;-)