Renter Update

Finally got a call from the renters. They are in California, the woman's mother had had a stroke. By the time I got the call notifying me why the rent had not been paid (what a coincidence that the stroke and payday happened on the same day) it was the 9th and she said the mom was getting better, should be home in a couple of days, and they would be back here in a couple of days too. Now, it has been 4 days more and I have a sneaking hunch that the rent money is gone. SO, it is a couple of weeks before Christmas and I'm really thinking eviction is the thing to do. Oh, and I found out when I called his work looking for them that he'd been laid off a couple of days before payday. One thing I do know is I have better things to do. So management company is sounding better all the time.

Sunday and Renters

On Friday (yes the 5th) it was payday for some people. My renters for example get paid on the 5th and the 20th. Now, I would really like to know if anyone else out there has this kind of a problem and have you decided yet that it is time to turn your property over to a management company so the frustration will be gone. Yes, it would cost a little more, but this is really getting to me. So anyway, on the 5th, friday, I went over to collect the rent and my tenants car was not home. I thought they must just be at town, cashing their check (they always pay cash). Later, still no car. Saturday, still no car and no one home. I'm getting upset that they have maybe gone to Mesquite or something and are spending the rent money! Saturday night I put a For Sale sign on the front yard, 'cause if I sell the place I could put that money into a little bigger nicer place. (the rental is paid for) Anyway, here it is Sunday night and they are still not home. SO, instead of mad, now I'm getting worried. It just is crazy.

Today I went to church and had a wonderful experience listening to others talk about their gratitude for all the blessings of life. Doesn't matter how tough things are there is always something to be grateful for. I love the saying "be kind to all you meet, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle." We are in this together. This economy is tough, but we still live in the best country with still so much opportunity. If we look around and show thanks for what we have I believe that the Lord will make sure we have enough. He is waiting for us to have complete trust
in Him. Let down the guard and the defense and let Him in.

Business Plan

Just spent the morning with Dave Jenks from the Keller Williams. He was in St. George and gave about 40 agents a class on putting together our 2009 business plan. It was an awesome insight for me. Yes, I've heard before about how to write a BP, but the KW method just put a whole new light on it. It is really truly focused on "vision" not just numbers. I am able to see it and write it now and make it personal and make it a challenge and fun, not dragging and kicking all the way to the lead generation hour that I used to hate. I think when I can see it broken down like we did today and see that it is really my own creation it will put a whole new light on my success for the coming year. It is going to be a good year.

UPDATE

I just spent a few minutes with a client who walked into the Coral Springs office. She is looking for a second home and investment property. They are here from Salt Lake. I talked to her about the advantages of buying in this market and she had a lot of gloom and doom (things she'd heard) - oh and her mother had a condo in Bloomington Hills that she couldn't give away. I asked if the condo in question was on the market and she said no, so I asked is she trying to sell it on her own as a FSBO? No, she really hadn't tried selling it for a couple of years now. SO, I just get the feeling that sometimes people are just talking and repeating things they've heard someone else say 'cause they don't have an opinion of their own. Sometimes I do the same, but I try to keep it zipped if I know I don't know. This is a good market! St. George is THE place to buy right now, and there are just as many articles out there to back that as there are negative ones. The people that are not ready to buy are going to have the awful stories to fall back on and use as excuses, and in a few years they will kick themselves when they say "if only we had bought back in 2008!" it is going to come back around and I'm going to do what I can to take advantage NOW, not later!

Closing - Woo Hoo

Dont' know about the rest of those agents out there that have decided they are going to stick it out, but I'm staying. Got my dues paid and I had a closing today. I've been busy with short sales mostly but the market will find it's own equilibrium in time and those that stay with it will be ahead of the game, when times get good, those that stayed will find it quite kind to them. I'm sticking with it! And thanking God for my good fortune. I hope we all have success in the coming year. And I ask God's blessing on the leaders of our country, present and future.

Market Activity

Had a great lunch with the girls from Terra Title, Linda Mattson and Chris. It was great fun! Sarah Hindi who is a new agent with Keller Williams was there so it was the four of us, on a business lunch. I used to do a lot of that kind of schmoozing when I was in the corporate world and it was okay. As a matter of fact, I should do it more often. We talked about the market picking up. The title company says they are busy, not swamped but steady. In sales meeting this morning at the office several agents talked about how they were having buyers come in this week or next, so I think it is picking up. I love looking at the stats and am going to examine them tomorrow. In the morning I am putting some things together to take over to Lori's step son, Ryan Cooper's funeral. He was killed coming up the gorge on Monday. So sad!

Got bills paid tonight. One more month of "made it" this market is killing me, the suspense, and wonder of it all. But gas prices have me even more discombobulated! (is that a word?) This is the real war of the terrorists, they know exactly where they can get us - at the pumps! This will really put our nation in a crunch and the powers that have the control over this whole thing are watching carefully and are laughing their heads off at our discomfort. It's all political and it's insane! The rich oil companies, ha, it goes much deeper than that.

Just got back home from a birthday party for Selinda at Paula's Mexican Restaurant. Whitney and her girlfriend came with their hair ratted up so big it looked like huge afro dos. It was pretty hilarious.

Talking House

I just rented out my talking house equipment to a friend. I'm hoping that he will have great luck with it, He is a new agent and is trying his best to make it here in St. George. I would like to hear from anyone else to see if they have used the Talking House transmitor and if it is working for them. Memorial Day weekend. I also am taking some time off real estate to go see my mom's grave. And visit my grandson. My daughter and her husband are going to leave town while I am there so I get to stay at their house with him. And mom and dad gone! Whoa! how fun is that going to be! And I'll take the dogs too. Just to see if Ricky loves Jeffers as much as I think he will.