Goal setting

Goal setting is easy. However, how many times have you set a goal and accomplished it to find that it wasn't really what you wanted? Finding clarity and knowing why you are doing what you are doing is vital to success. Have you set a goal and only completed a portion? Or did you never even take a step toward it? These may be signs that you are not in sync with what your goal. Re-visit goals daily and check to see if they are still resonating. Be clear about what you want and break your goal down into yearly, monthly, weekly, and then daily steps. That is the path to achievement.

Keep Moving

Albert Einstein said, "Life is like a bicycle. You have to keep moving to keep your balance" Even if you are unsure of your direction, just take action. Even the wrong action will help you on your way to success because of momentum. You will soon realize the error of your direction and make a course correction. But you must be moving to even acknowledge that it might be in the wrong direction. Don't be afraid of mistakes- be afraid of inaction.

Buyer's Beware

Buyer’s Beware!
The market has begun to change and the buyers are the last to know. Great homes are moving fast- clever agents are pricing them below market value which draws a feeding frenzy of multiple offers and bidding wars. The final selling price is likely higher than anyone would have previously thought. However, a good portion of buyers are laboring under the mistaken impression that prices are continuing to drop in all market areas and they can name their price. Educating these buyers as to the reality of the market is proving difficult and sellers and agents alike are getting frustrated with ridiculously lowball offers. The tide has begun to turn and a home in good condition in a desirable area is under contract before some buyers are even able to view it. So many homes that can’t be shown because of a renter or some other situation, have multiple offers before anyone has viewed them based solely on the listing details, price, and location. Watch out for the bottom- if you are diving in to the market now you might strike your head on it.

Feng Sui, Front Doors, and First Impressions

Feng Shui, Front Doors, and First Impressions
I was walking my geographic farm in Southern California, hand delivering my newsletter over Easter weekend. It is a tract home community of homes from 3 to 5 years old ranging from 1,800 to 3,100 square feet. The style of the homes is Spanish Traditional with stucco exteriors and tile roofs. As I walked, I noted the different elevations and the variety of landscaping. But the thing that struck me the most was the dismal condition of a large percentage of the front doors. The California weather is not kind to paint and the finish on the doors was mottled, stained, and faded. In addition, a large percentage of the doors were white. And the door was not the only problem with many of the entrances.
Feng Shui, the Chinese art of design and placement for optimum good energy, specifies the importance of a home’s entrance to the chi, or energy flowing into and through the home. Begin with the front door itself; color choice is important. White in Asian cultures is the color of death so that would be a poor choice. Red is considered especially auspicious and attracts prosperity and good fortune and is considered a color of high energy. Red, however, does not go well with the soft adobe and stucco neutrals prevalent in California. Earth tones are excellent choices as well. Colors in nature, soft browns, taupes, and sage would be ideal.
Next, look down and consider the doormat. How many sad and tired examples I saw this weekend! Spring calls for fresh beginnings and doormats have a definite lifespan. If there is printing on your doormat that is no longer recognizable, frayed edges, colors that have bled away, or has a motif from a long past holiday, it is time for a new welcome mat. Regard the style of your front entrance when making your doormat selection.
Now it is time to consider the accent touches. A great pot with a beautiful plant is a wonderful addition to the entrance but only if you remember to water the plant. Dead foliage or an unhealthy looking specimen is bad for the chi of the home. Be cautious about the wreath on the front door as well. It should be appropriate to the season and look vibrant- not as if the occupants are in mourning. You might consider placing a fountain near the entrance to encourage money and prosperity to flow to you. And beware placing anything thorny, spiky, or threatening as far as foliage goes- it discourages good will and good fortune.
Spring is the time of renewal and reviving a tired entrance might give your home and everyone who lives there a fresh outlook on the season.

Fairy Gardens

There are many stories about garden fairies but do you know about creating a fairy garden? A fairy garden is a special miniaturized garden scaled to fit the denizens of Faerie. The tradition of fairy gardens began in England where belief in fairies is infamous and the vagaries of a fairy’s whims are notorious
Householders began creating little gardens to placate the fairies and to bring good fortune to their home and hearth.
There are plants that fairies are known to enjoy;
A flower with a bell shape such as a snapdragon or campanula is used for a fairy dress.
Fairies like to eat the nectar from plants that produce sweet nectar like honeysuckle.
Plants with tiny leaves that are in scale to tiny beings are especially prized. Good examples are baby’s tears and Irish and scotch moss.
To bring good luck to your home try the following;
Select a secluded site or use a large round clay pot or bowl for your fairy garden. You can place Bonsai or miniature conifers (available from mail order garden sources) as the structure in your garden and fill with scotch moss for grass and tiny leaved plants for accents. Find a small house, preferably something made out of natural materials with a secretive, rustic look, to put in the garden. Tiny furniture is also appropriate as well as food plants and those they can make their garments from. Keep your garden tidy but not too much so as fairies are wild creatures and scorn the tame and meek. Place little gifts occasionally and see what happens. Watch your good fortune abound!

Stimulus Package: How REALTORS are Helping

Stimulus Package
How REALTORS are helping

When the current administration’s first stimulus proposal appeared, it looked much different than it does today. The National Association of REALTORS lobbied for several improvements that are vital to providing the best results for homeowners. NAR asked for loan limit increases to be raised in high cost areas beyond 2008. Loan limits for these areas have now been set at $729,750 for FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac products through 2009.
The Association also asked for the original $7,500 tax credit for first time homebuyers to be higher and to be a true credit with no repayment requirement. The credit is now $8,000 with no payback unless the home is sold within 3 years of the date of purchase. This credit applies only to homes purchased during 2009. If any credit amount remains unused, the unused portion will be refunded as a check to the purchaser. This credit is available to those with a gross adjusted income of no more than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 if filing jointly. The credit applies to any single-family residence, including co-ops, condominiums and townhomes that will be used as a principal residence.
If you are a potential homebuyer anxious about your job security, there is more exciting news from The California Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program; first time homebuyers who lose their jobs may be eligible to receive up to $1,500 per month for up to 6 months to assist in making their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer also can participate in the program for a reduced monthly benefit of $750 a month for up to 6 months. Program benefits also include coverage for accidental disability and a $10,000 death benefit. CAR’s Housing Affordability Fund is dedicating $1 million to the program this year, and estimates that as many as 3,000 families will benefit from the program in 2009. To qualify for this program applicant must:
Be a first time homebuyer (someone who has not owned a home for the last 3 years)
Open escrow from April 2, 2009 and close on or before December 31, 2009
Use a California REALTOR in the transaction
Purchase the property in California
Be a W-2 employee (no self employed or military)

Stimulus Package Homebuyer Credit

How REALTORS are helping

When the current administration’s first stimulus proposal appeared, it looked much different than it does today. The National Association of REALTORS lobbied for several improvements that are vital to providing the best results for homeowners. NAR asked for loan limit increases to be raised in high cost areas beyond 2008. Loan limits for these areas have now been set at $729,750 for FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac products through 2009.
The Association also asked for the original $7,500 tax credit for first time homebuyers to be higher and to be a true credit with no repayment requirement. The credit is now $8,000 with no payback unless the home is sold within 3 years of the date of purchase. This credit applies only to homes purchased during 2009. If any credit amount remains unused, the unused portion will be refunded as a check to the purchaser. This credit is available to those with a gross adjusted income of no more than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 if filing jointly. The credit applies to any single-family residence, including co-ops, condominiums and townhomes that will be used as a principal residence.
I will tackle the refinancing aspects of the package in the next issue. For more information check out some of these helpful websites:

http://www.car.org/governmentalaffairs/federal/hrlmp/

http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov