YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

Walk into a totally dark room. What do you see? "Absolutely nothing," you say. Now, turn on the light. Where did the darkness go? Really - where is it now? Hopefully you will agree that darkness cannot exist in the face of light.

During a lifetime, we experience many types of "darkness." It may appear in the form of discouragement, fear, hopelessness, grief, ignorance, or poverty. Yet, in every case, there is a "light" in which such darkness cannot exist.

Fear, for example, cannot exist in the face of courage. Education denies ignorance any chance of survival. Grief disappears in the presence of peace-of-mind. Discouragement ceases when hope prevails. Wealth denies poverty its chance.

No matter what form darkness takes, it cannot exist when faced with its opposite. That also means we have the ability to send darkness on its way at any point in time. No matter how overwhelming the darkness appears, it is our thoughts and our minds that ultimately control the outcome. How powerful is that?

In the words of several favorite authors: "Think you can, think you can't, either way you're right." "Your life is what your thoughts make of it." "We are what we think about all day long." Finally, in the words of Tom Bodett, from one of his Motel 6 commercials: "We'll leave the light on for you!"

This month’s featured video discusses the difference between a townhome and a condominium.

They can look exactly alike! What differentiates a condo from a townhome is what property rights come to consumers who purchase them.  

A buyer of a condominium owns his or her individual unit structure, plus a percentage of the surrounding property, including land and any amenities on the property.  Condo owners are responsible for the space inside their own walls, which means they can paint them however they wish.  They don't enjoy that same privilege on the outside of their homes.  However, residents are members of a home owners association and pay a monthly fee to the association in exchange for the maintenance of the common property.

A buyer of a townhome purchases his or her individual unit and well as the ground underneath that unit.  Townhome property lines are generally more consistent with single family homes and common areas are usually still individually owned.  Townhome communities may also have owner associations which maintain certain external structures, security gates, trash service and other common items.  They may also have restrictions about exterior alterations to the property, parking and maintenance.  

Working with a knowledgeable realtor can help you decide if a condo or townhome is right for you.  Now you've learned something about the difference between a townhouse unit and a condominium unit!  

And remember, that a realtor is always the best source of information for all your real estate needs.

If you have not reviewed my monthly Housing Trends Newsletter - you could be missing out. Everywhere I go, people are asking me about the housing market conditions - it's on everyone's mind. Staying abreast of local and national market conditions and factors that can affect the future sale or purchase of your home can make the decision process less daunting. I always tell my clients that in order to make the best decision they need to have all the information they can upfront. My Housing Trends Newsletter is just one of the tools in my arsenal to make sure you keep informed.

The April 2012 Local and National Housing Trends has just been released. This month's newsletter is packed full of local and national housing market statistics and news you need to know to stay current with today's changing housing market.

This month's housing trends issue features:

Create an Outdoor Resort in Your Backyard

Have $18 Million Lying Around? Coral Gables has a Home for You

Tornado Storm Shelters: Safe Room Protection When it Counts

Are You Looking for Energy Savings in All the Wrong Places?

What to Consider Before Building a Pool

You can view the newsletter here.

If you wish to receive FREE Housing Trends eNewsletter e-mailed to you monthly, click here to Subscribe.

If you are considering selling your house or buying a home and need more information, I am never too busy to help, please contact me for more information.

PERSONALITY TEST!

Let's hope today's "inspiration" isn't actually true, although we've all probably felt that way at one time or another. Regardless of the percentage, however, it cannot be denied that incompetence really does exist in every profession, even those like physicians, attorneys, school bus drivers and stock brokers.

Some people do a great job no matter what it is they do, while others can't seem to succeed even after trying several careers. Sometimes it's not really a matter of competence so much as matching a job to specific abilities, interests and personality. An introvert who enjoys working alone probably shouldn't pursue a career in communications, while a creative person who enjoys the outdoors likely wouldn't be happy in accounting. No matter how hard you try, you just can't force yourself to love brussels sprouts!

How much of the "incompetence" that we encounter is simply the result of a person who is mismatched for their job? We all have certain skills and personality traits that better suit certain types of careers, but we often start down that path before we've ever gotten to really develop and know ourselves. We believe our parents, guidance counselors, and spouses more than we do ourselves sometimes.

Realizing your true personality is challenging. Applying that knowledge to your choice of career is even more difficult, but absolutely necessary if you want to be happy in your choice. If you're feeling dissatisfied, try to find at least some small aspect of your job that you find enjoyable, and aggressively apply your personality to it to produce more satisfying results.

If that's not working for you, perhaps it's time to take a long hard look at where you've been and where you are and why you don't like it there. Matthew Arnold said, "Resolve to be thyself; and know that he who finds himself, loses his misery." You've probably learned a lot about other people in your lifetime. Aren't you ready to know yourself?

FILL IN THE BLANK!

From "Wellsprings of Wisdom" by Ralph Woods comes this story:

A successful businessman was invited to address a group of young executives on the subject of opportunities. He began his talk by tacking to the wall a big sheet of white paper and placing a black dot in the middle of the sheet. "What do you see?" he asked, pointing to the paper on the wall. "A black spot," called out everyone in the audience. "Yes, I see a black dot too," replied the speaker, "but none of you saw the much greater expanse of white. This is the point of my talk on opportunities."

While it is so easy to focus on the "black dots" - the immediate tasks that face us each day - how often do you grasp the opportunities that no one else notices in the white space? Don't answer that you haven't the time to notice the white space. Do you ever find yourself daydreaming? When you do, you're visiting that white space. The question is: Do you recognize your ability to bring those daydreams to fruition?

Look around you. Do you find yourself envying what others accomplish? Perhaps you can learn from their example. All they have done is to act on their dreams - to recognize the value of their white space and put it into motion.

So - what's missing in your life? Why not try filling in the blanks - the white spaces - with the achievement of your dreams? Maybe a legal pad and pencil can help. Try making a list of every dream you've ever had. Write them all down, all of them. When you finish, place an asterisk next to the five you would most like to accomplish or experience.

Finally, make those five items the "black dots" upon which you will focus until completed. Once identified, it becomes much easier to concentrate your attention on them. Opportunity knocks!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY

"There's nothing as constant as change."

-Unknown

FEELING WIRED?

Feel on edge? Not sure what to expect next? Nerves frayed? Feeling overwhelmed by today's complex world situation? How is it that some people
are calm, fearless, and content, while others are frightful, worried, overwhelmed, and uncertain about the future?

In the 1950's there were only three models of Chevrolet, about four dry cereals, two or three types of soap, etc. Mom went grocery shopping weekly.
There were no shopping malls, computers, cell phones, portable CD players (or CD's), 401(k)s, Internet, or co-ed dorms. Life was simple and calm - and revolved around the family. Technology didn't dominate daily life.

Today, our choices have expanded exponentially. There are hundreds of vehicle models, 50 different cereals on the shelf, software for every occasion, hundreds of cable channels, and millions of pages on the World Wide Web. Think that might clog your thinking just a little? Want to get back to simplicity, peace, and security?

Try a few of the following suggestions. Begin limiting your choices. Spend less than you earn. Limit trips to the store. Spend the evening at home - with your family - with the TV OFF. Go directly home after work. Identify your principles - and live them. Count your blessings daily by entering them in a journal. Read. Treat yourself to a hot bath.
Think of your life as an extension cord with too many appliances plugged-in. Each vies for the limited energy you have available until a short-circuit or fire occurs. Start unplugging all those peripherals now, and you'll notice your life-light begin to shine.

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY!

"I keep waitin' for my ship to come in, but all that comes in is the tide."

- Lyrics from "Hard Time Losin' Man" by Jim Croce

THE WAITING GAME!

The well-known Nike commercials have hammered into our heads the phrase "Just do it!" Regardless of how you view their advertising, there is magic in the words "just do it." The real key to the message is "doing it," a.k.a. taking action. Anything you have ever desired is available to you if you will it.

Now, consider those who are constantly washed over by the "tide." Note that the lyrics in Jim Croce's song say, "I'm WAITING for my ship to come in . . ." and then, "but all that comes in is the tide." That sounds like a victim's lament, as in, "Oh poor me, here I am ready and excited, waiting for my ship to come in, and I get dumped on by the sorry tide. Bummer. How unfair." Duhh! Helloooo!

It's easy to see that "action" is the opposite of "waiting." Yet, it's so easy to do nothing - waiting passively. Action requires energy, enthusiasm, movement, and objectives, while waiting requires not even a thought.

Whether your desire (your "ship") is a relationship, wealth, a healthy body, or a new car, you must be the captain, not the port - the "master of your fate," not a tide-washed, sand-covered beach ball. Life is great! On your next trip to the beach, buy a boat, a map, and a compass, and then choose your own port of call. You'll dine at the Captain's Table every day!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY!

"Whoever gossips to you will gossip of you."

- Spanish Proverb

JUDGE NOT . . .

You know the type - there's a gossip in everyone's life. It may be a friend, an acquaintance, or a total stranger. Regardless, it is the person who shares with you any amount of information about another, either about what they have accomplished, or more often, what they have not.

Why does a gossip perform his or her service so readily? Self-aggrandizement is often the culprit. Knowing such valuable information about another as to be able to share it, reasons the gossip, reflects favorably on the provider of such knowledge. In fact, however, gossiping is nothing more than the act of judging others.

When a friend passes judgment on another, might it be that, in your absence, they also pass judgment on you? In most cases that is true. Thus, one measure of another's character might be the presence or absence of such a tendency.

Steven Covey (of "Seven Habits..." fame) offers a solution when he says, "If you do not judge others, they will not judge you." In other words, if you are of such character as to never discuss the merits or actions of others, unless they are favorable, it is highly likely that others will reciprocate in kind. If someone makes a negative comment about another, Covey suggests that your reply might be, "That's interesting. He has always spoken very highly of YOU."

Many wise men, in many languages, over many centuries, have repeated and paraphrased the maxim "Judge not, that ye be not judged." It's easy to neutralize the gossip's sting by practicing such clear advice!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY!

"It is of immense importance to learn to laugh at ourselves."

- Katherine Mansfield

PLAY THE FAMILY GAME!

Feel like you're losing touch with your children? Wish you understood your spouse better? Want to enjoy closer family ties without the background noise of X-Box games or loud music? Does everyone seem to scatter the moment their last bite of food is swallowed? Introduce them to "the family game!"

It's a fun way to bring your family together at the dinner table and keep them there - without complaints. Furthermore, you'll soon have them willingly sharing their dreams, disappointments, likes & dislikes, interests, successes, and innermost thoughts. Finally, you will have created a new family tradition your children will delight in passing on to their own families.

Introduce your version of the family game at the end of a dinnertime meal when everyone is present. Don't make a big production of it, just ask everyone to remain at the table. Tell them you've heard of a fun game and would like to play it with them. Explain that each person at the table gets one turn (and only one turn). You begin by asking a question that everyone, including yourself, has to answer. For instance, your question might be, "What's the most embarrassing moment you've ever had?" Go around the table and let each family member contribute.

Once everyone answers, let the person at your left ask the next question. It might be, "What's the worst birthday present you've ever received?" or maybe, "If you could go back in the past and live in a different time, when would it be and why?" You'll be amazed at the sharing your family will suddenly experience.

Once the "family game" becomes a regular part of meals, add this twist: Before being seated, tell family members that they may sit in any seat at the table except their normal seat. The catch is that they must also "act" like the person normally seated in the chair they choose. This can produce hilarious results.

If your family seems fragmented and scattered, play "the family game." It's a natural for bringing joy, depth, communication and understanding back to your loved ones.

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

- Father James Keller (1900-1977)

GOT A LIGHT?

We all love a compliment. Your manager says to you, "I noticed that your last sale was handled very smoothly. Thanks for offering your customer such excellent service!" Your wife or husband tells you, "I'm so proud of the way you encourage our children!" Your grown child returns home for a visit and says, "Thanks for making it possible for me to get my degree!" Those are "feel good" times, aren't they?

If you live a more or less normal day-to-day sort of life, compliments are always welcome, but aren't absolutely critical to your sense of well-being. You don't have to get them to make it through the day. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy high self-esteem, why not consider becoming a "candle" to others?

There are many around us each day, both children and adults, who suffer from mild to extreme "compliment" deficiencies. They may have never been told that they are good, or attractive, or intelligent. As children, they may have never experienced the exhilaration of getting a base hit, or making an "A" on a test, or receiving an "Honorable Mention" in art class. As adults, they may have lost a job, a spouse, or their health. In short, many around us have never even had their "candle" lighted once.

You can become the greatest philanthropist of all time without giving away a dime. All it takes to make a life-changing difference in someone's life is to share the light from your candle. Each day, look for opportunities to encourage, compliment, or offer your knowledge to those who are "candle deprived." Think back to when you were a child. Was there some special person who took that time with you - someone you've never forgotten?

Sharing your candle by lighting many others can warm both hearts and souls. Make a difference - starting today!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend seven sharpening my axe."

- Abraham Lincoln

HOW MANY TREES IN '12?

OK, OK, - you've heard all the New Year Resolution stuff before. I'll try to steer clear of that topic today.

Going back to "Honest Abe's" quote, how many trees do you plan to chop down in 2012? 24? 48? 96? 300? The higher you plan to go, the sharper your axe had better be. What's more, most axe blades lose their edge after only a few trees. That means it will be necessary to step back from the hard work of chopping, and hone the blade numerous times throughout the year. Here are a few suggestions to keep your "edge" in 2012:

Planning is a necessary first step. If you don't know how many trees you want to chop, how will you know when you're finished? Will you be chopping small, medium or large trees? Apple, maple or pine? Will you take long powerful swings, or just hack away 'till they fall? Make some important chopping decisions before you begin.

Education is the next step. It comes in many forms, like books, recordings, videos, seminars, professional courses, and so on. Vary your approach to education to avoid boredom. Seminars and courses are an excellent way to boost your attitude by sharing ideas and strategies with colleagues and associates.

A positive attitude is critical too. It is the magnet that brings trees to your doorstep. Recreation is vital to maintaining that attitude. When you find yourself working 60 and 70-hour weeks, you'll also notice your energy level and attitude begin to dull very quickly. Learn to schedule time off for yourself and family members. Choose activities that leave no room for thoughts about work. You'll notice an immediate improvement in your tree chopping. Soon you'll be off to a flying start with a very sharp axe! Best wishes for the New Year

This month's featured video discusses why consumers should always use a realtor when buying real estate. 

Realtors subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge about the real estate market.  Real estate transactions involve one of the largest financial investments most people experience in their lifetimes.  Your realtor can help you determine how much you can comfortably afford.  They may also be able to refer you to lenders who will be able to help you.  Your realtor has many resources at their disposal to assist you in your home search.  Your realtor can also provide objective information about each property in which you are interested.  They will also provide you valuable insight during the evaluation of the property. 

Your realtor can help you negotiate the price paid, contract terms and closing costs.  Your realtor can guide you through the closing process, and make sure everything flows together smoothly.  The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most buyers.  Your realtor is the best person to objectively help you resolve any issues, and move the transaction to closing.  So now you’ve learned why you should  use a realtor when buying real estate.

Remember a Realtor is always the source of information for all your real estate needs.

If you have not reviewed my monthly Housing Trends Newsletter - you could be missing out. Everywhere I go, people are asking me about the housing market conditions - it's on everyone's mind. Staying abreast of local and national market conditions and factors that can affect the future sale or purchase of your home can make the decision process less daunting. I always tell my clients that in order to make the best decision they need to have all the information they can upfront. My Housing Trends Newsletter is just one of the tools in my arsenal to make sure you keep informed.

The February 2012 Local and National Housing Trends has just been released. This month's newsletter is packed full of local and national housing market statistics and news you need to know to stay current with today's changing housing market.

This month's housing trends issue features:

Simple Tips to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal

7 Best Remodeling Projects for the Money

How to Claim your 2011 Energy Tax Credits

What You Need to Know About Buying a Home Security System

Considering Retirement Communities? Top 10 Picks

You can view the newsletter here.

If you wish to receive FREE Housing Trends eNewsletter e-mailed to you monthly, click here to Subscribe.

If you are considering selling your house or buying a home and need more information, I am never too busy to help, please contact me for more information.

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before."

- James Buckham

YOU'RE NOT DONE YET!

Ever noticed how great leaders often come from humble beginnings? From the devastating depths of silence and inability to speak, Helen Keller inspired the world once she had overcome great adversity.

Diagnosed with amyontrophic lateral sclerosis and standing before a full-house crowd in Yankee Stadium on July 4th 1939, Lou Gehrig proclaimed, "I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth! I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for." He spent the last two years of his life as Parole Commissioner for New York City, hoping to make a difference in the lives of young people in trouble.

Today, we use more contemporary quotes to explain the same concept. We say, "No pain - no gain!" or, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." No matter how we verbalize it, it is true that through adversity comes strength.

Think back to the toughest times you've faced during your life. Chances are you'll have to agree that you grew and became a better person for the experience. As for temptations, they are more easily given in to than conquered. Nevertheless, the value system to which you subscribe today probably evolved from temptations overcome.

As Richard Bach put it in his wonderful book "Illusions," "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts." Whether it be a physical or moral challenge you face, suffer if you must, but look also for its gift. And remember another Richard Bach quote, "Here is a test to find out whether your mission here on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't."

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY!

"You will be what you will to be."

- James Allen

START SOWING!

You say to yourself, "I think I'll go shopping," - and you do. You say, "I think I'll buy that new CD," - and you do. You say, "I think I'll put it on my credit card," - and you do.

James Allen lived from 1864 until 1912. As was popular in the early 1900's, he wrote a series of short essays known as pamphlets. The best known, "As A Man Thinketh," was his most famous work. In it, he provided timeless inspiration on the value of thought as it motivates us to action.

In his pamphlet, Allen states that, "All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts." Speaking of mankind, he continues with, "They themselves are makers of themselves." Thought precedes all action; thus, he reasons that by controlling our thoughts, we also control our destiny.

Notice in the first paragraph above that the "I think" part always seems to lead to the action of "doing." Rarely do we hop in the car, drive aimlessly around, accidentally arrive at a music store, plunk down our credit card, and then say to yourself, "I think I'll go shopping."

If we are the sole controller of our thoughts, it stands to reason that we can also control our actions - and our outcomes in life. Our mind and our thoughts are the seedbed of our futures. What a novel thought. Plant some great thoughts in your mind. Do it today!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY!

"There's nothing as constant as change."

- Unknown

FEELING WIRED?

Feel on edge? Not sure what to expect next? Nerves frayed? Feeling overwhelmed by today's complex world situation? How is it that some people are calm, fearless, and content, while others are frightful, worried, overwhelmed, and uncertain about the future?

In the 1950's there were only three models of Chevrolet, about four dry cereals, two or three types of soap, etc. Mom went grocery shopping weekly. There were no shopping malls, computers, cell phones, portable CD players (or CD's), 401(k)s, Internet, or co-ed dorms. Life was simple and calm - and revolved around the family. Technology didn't dominate daily life.

Today, our choices have expanded exponentially. There are hundreds of vehicle models, 50 different cereals on the shelf, software for every occasion, hundreds of cable channels, and millions of pages on the World Wide Web. Think that might clog your thinking just a little? Want to get back to simplicity, peace, and security?

Try a few of the following suggestions. Begin limiting your choices. Spend less than you earn. Limit trips to the store. Spend the evening at home - with your family - with the television OFF. Go directly home after work. Identify your principles - and live them. Count your blessings daily by entering them in a journal. Read. Treat yourself to a hot bath.

Think of your life as an extension cord with too many appliances plugged-in. Each vies for the limited energy you have available until a short-circuit or fire occurs. Start unplugging all those peripherals now, and you'll notice your life-light begin to shine.

This month's featured video discusses homeowners associations.  These entities can be found in almost every housing environment. Consumers must research to determine if a homeowners association (HOA) has authority over any home they might be considering for purchase. When a person buys a home in an area with a HOA, he or she becomes a member of the association and is responsible for membership dues.  By design a HOA has the goal of ensuring that living in the area or on the property is pleasant for all residents.

The first act of the HOA is to establish a set of rules or guidelines to hopefully accomplish that.  The HOA Board of Directors then establishes monthly dues for all homeowners and can restrict the rights of the way a person can use his or her own property or the joined or common property.  For example the rules may govern the number of people who can occupy a house, the colors one can paint a house, or the time at which common areas like exercise rooms or pools can be used.  Fines or fees can be assessed or even evictions for those that don’t abide by the rules.

Many find the HOA well worth extra fees associated with owning property.  When well administered, the HOA can provide certain predictability to owning a home and clearly delineate both the homeowner’s and association’s responsibility.

Remember a Realtor is always the source of information for all your real estate needs.

If you have not reviewed my monthly Housing Trends Newsletter - you could be missing out. Everywhere I go, people are asking me about the housing market conditions - it's on everyone's mind. Staying abreast of local and national market conditions and factors that can affect the future sale or purchase of your home can make the decision process less daunting. I always tell my clients that in order to make the best decision they need to have all the information they can upfront. My Housing Trends Newsletter is just one of the tools in my arsenal to make sure you keep informed.

The January 2012  Local and National Housing Trends has just been released. This month's newsletter is packed full of local and national housing market statistics and news you need to know to stay current with today's changing housing market.

This month's housing trends issue features:    

2011 Energy Tax Credits: What You Need To Know To Collect

8 Small Space Solutions for Shared Kids' Rooms

Top 3 Most Common Home Defects to Check For

Home Security Cameras: Peace Of Mind While Your Away

Winter Gardening: Plants That Provide Beauty All Year Round

You can view the newsletter here.  

If you wish to receive FREE Housing Trends eNewsletter e-mailed to you monthly, click here to Subscribe.   

If you are considering selling your house or buying a home and need more information, I am never too busy to help, please contact me for more information.

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next."

- Abraham Lincoln

TEACH VALUES 101!

What do children and government have in common?  That depends on which classroom you visit.  If you have children and are actively involved in their lives, you are likely to encounter a classroom filled with intelligent, interested, involved and respectful children.

Unfortunately, many teachers today will tell you that's not what they are seeing.  In some 1st & 2nd grade settings, children fall asleep because they spent the night in the family car while mom or dad sold drugs.  Others are antagonistic and disrespectful, traits also learned from other family members.  Still others are raised in a "no rules" family, where parents simply abdicate their parental responsibilities.

Many parents still take their responsibilities seriously.  In fact, there appears to be a resurgence of young parents who teach their children the values of honesty, integrity, and service to others.  It's about time.  If you're one of them, I applaud your commitment to making the world a better place.

There has also been a dearth of honesty, respect and morality over the past 30 years or so.  Children brought up during that time often experienced the negative effects of a no rules society.  Today those same individuals are beginning to lead companies and be elected to office, yet we are surprised that company CEO's and elected officials could ever lie and mislead as they have been exposed to do recently. 

As the children of today's classrooms are disposed to believe and behave, so will they as the adults of tomorrow's generation.  Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, you can make a difference for the next generation of leaders.  Take time to encourage, nurture, and teach the children in your family.  Sometimes, a single comment or gesture can give a child the impetus to become great.

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference."

- Robert Frost

FORGET THE LEADER!

On the playground of any school, and on any day, you can witness examples of children playing "follow the leader."  One hops, skips, or jumps, and all the others follow.  As adults, however, many of those children play a variation of that game - called "follow the follower."

On the job, they look around, see how someone else is doing their work, and duplicate the effort.  What they don't realize is that their fellow employee is also watching someone else.  A circular game of "follow the follower" evolves, resulting in a mediocre work force.  The same can be true in marriages, education, hobbies, and sports.

Consider the story of a telephone operator in a small town.  Every day she received a call from a gentleman asking for the correct time.  Finally, one day, she asked the mystery caller who he was and why he called every day.  His answer?  "I'm the one who blows the whistle at the factory each day at noon.  I like to be right on time!"  The operator laughed and then responded, "Here at the telephone company, we set our watches and clocks by the noon whistle at the factory!"

Tired of playing follow the follower?  Want to rejuvenate your life?  Begin acting like the unique person you already are.  See what everyone else is doing . . . and do something different.  Strike out in the direction of your own imagination instead of theirs. 

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined."

This month's featured video discusses why consumers should always use a realtor when buying, selling, or leasing a property.  Realtors subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the buying process and selling real estate.  Real estate transactions involve one the biggest financial investments that most people will experience during their lifetime.  Your Realtor can help you determine how much you can afford to spend and possibility more importantly how much you should spend.

Your realtor has many resources to assist you in your home search.  Sometimes a property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market and it will take some leg work by your realtor to find all available properties.  Your Realtor can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property.  Realtors can provide local community information and insight during evaluation of the property. Depending on the area this can include inspection for termites, asbestos or roof condition just to name a few. 

When selling your home your Realtor can give you up to date information about what is happening in the market place.  This is the key to getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.  Your Realtor acts as marketing coordinator, distributing information about your property to other real estate agents through a multiple listing service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses, etc.  Your Realtor can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.  The required paperwork along is overwhelming for most sellers.  Your Realtor is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing.  A Realtor is always your best source of information for all your real estate needs...

If you have not reviewed my monthly Housing Trends Newsletter - you could be missing out. Everywhere I go, people are asking me about the housing market conditions - it's on everyone's mind. Staying abreast of local and national market conditions and factors that can affect the future sale or purchase of your home can make the decision process less daunting. I always tell my clients that in order to make the best decision they need to have all the information they can upfront. My Housing Trends Newsletter is just one of the tools in my arsenal to make sure you keep informed.

The December 2011  Local and National Housing Trends has just been released. This month's newsletter is packed full of local and national housing market statistics and news you need to know to stay current with today's changing housing market.

This month's housing trends issue features:    

San Antonio is Number 1 in Texas and US in 2011 Best Performing Cities

Hidden Treasures Found Beneath Homes

Stay Warm and Keep In Budget This Winter Season

Buying a House at Foreclosure Auction is Risky

7 Tips For Staging Your Home

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Dave Liniger, Co-founder and Chairman of RE/MAX shares what he views to be the Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2012 and provides what he thinks the real estate market will bring to 2012.... 

Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2012

Overall the forecast for 2012 is better, due in part to the pent up demand for housing creating by young buyers entering the housing market. This creates a tremendous opprtunity for investors, and those same people will help with the hosuing recovery.

1. Interest rates will continue to be both historically and generationally low.
2. Prices should remain stable the first half of the year with a possibility of some markets seeing a small decline. We should then see home prices start to rise in the latter half of the year.
3. Increased home sales resulting in steady gains.
4. Rising inventory, with foreclosures and distressed property making up a large percentage.
5. Increase in distress property sales.
6. Improved short sale and foreclosure process.
7. Lower homeownership rates with an increase in rental rates.
8. Investors will make up 25% of the market including foreign and domestic
9. Increased reliance on REALTOR expertise due to the changing market
10. Consumer friendly technologies will continue to be available and tech savvy REALTORS will continue to make use of these tools.

See the video below....

Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2012

Overall the forecast for 2012 is better, due in part to the pent up demand for housing creating by young buyers entering the housing market. This creates a tremendous opprtunity for investors, and those same people will help with the hosuing recovery.

1. Interest rates will continue to be both historically and generationally low.
2. Prices should remain stable the first half of the year with a possibility of some markets seeing a small decline. We should then see home prices start to rise in the latter half of the year.
3. Increased home sales resulting in steady gains.
4. Rising inventory, with foreclosures and distressed property making up a large percentage.
5. Increase in distress property sales.
6. Improved short sale and foreclosure process.
7. Lower homeownership rates with an increase in rental rates.
8. Investors will make up 25% of the market including foreign and domestic
9. Increased reliance on REALTOR expertise due to the changing market
10. Consumer friendly technologies will continue to be available and tech savvy REALTORS will continue to make use of these tools.

source: YouTube REMAXIntl Channel