My last attempt at a triumphant return to the "blogosphere" (if you will) was, well, less than triumphant. Really, who has time to write about the things that they barely have time to actually do? When I graduated from college with a degree in Creative Writing, I made a vow that I would always write. That vow, just as so many others, has fallen by the wayside. My days of pondering and writing notebooks have morphed into calorie counting and corporate deadlines. Long gone are the days of separating my work life and my personal life - who has the time? Time...the word that pushed me to log on to this ridiculous blog and start typing. At the risk of sounding like every other quirky, 20-something year old girl with the ability to jot down a few semi-thought-provoking posts, time is not on our side. Not now, not ever.
To be honest, I don't have much to say. This past week, I lost someone that I took for granted. Someone who I haven't seen in years because, quite frankly, I assumed he'd always been there should I have time to stop by. I could go on about how he changed my life and supported me through difficult moments, but that's far too cliche for a man of his intellect. Instead, I will say this "one can survive everything, nowadays, except death, and live down everything except a good reputation."
Rest In Peace, Sulcer. You were far too classy for this world.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, February 25, 2011
Ladies and Gentleman, I give you...Long Island Professionals.
After a successful event created by my good friend, Gary Riger, we have decided to partner and head up a new networking group. We have very different backgrounds, with very similar goals. We want to know what's around us. As you all know, I'm somewhat of a Long Island enthusiast. The purpose of this group is to meet our local professionals. There are plenty of us, and we have a lot to offer one another. If you're on LinkedIn, you can join the group at:
Long Island Professionals
We will be holding monthly events throughout Long Island. Our next event will be at the end of March.
Long Island Professionals
We will be holding monthly events throughout Long Island. Our next event will be at the end of March.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
An Explanatory Note
After putting much though into it, I have decided that I owe my cyberspace friends a bit of an explanation. It was recently brought to my attention (because I didn't already know...) that I've changed careers, and am no longer a "real estate matchmaker." There is truth behind this, and I'd like to explain.
In September, I decided to leave a position that was causing me nothing but agony, and move on to something a bit bigger and a lot better. I am now the Regional Sales Manager for a large construction company that deals with major retailers. There is, believe it or not, a lot of "real estate" involved with my job. Every deal is based on a location. If the location isn't right, the deal isn't happening (Sound familiar?). By nature, I am a salesperson. I will always be in the business of creating deals and relationships, it's who I am. I will also always have a knack for understanding real estate, and being able to use my knowledge to continuously push me to higher levels in my career. This blog is not for the sole purpose of "real estate." This blog was created as a means for me to communicate on a professional level with like-minded people, and hopefully offer some insight into my professional world, regardless of what that world may be. Business, is business. We all deal with similar issues regardless of our profession.
So, there you have it - the air has been cleared. Let's all move on with our lives and keep reading, okay?
In September, I decided to leave a position that was causing me nothing but agony, and move on to something a bit bigger and a lot better. I am now the Regional Sales Manager for a large construction company that deals with major retailers. There is, believe it or not, a lot of "real estate" involved with my job. Every deal is based on a location. If the location isn't right, the deal isn't happening (Sound familiar?). By nature, I am a salesperson. I will always be in the business of creating deals and relationships, it's who I am. I will also always have a knack for understanding real estate, and being able to use my knowledge to continuously push me to higher levels in my career. This blog is not for the sole purpose of "real estate." This blog was created as a means for me to communicate on a professional level with like-minded people, and hopefully offer some insight into my professional world, regardless of what that world may be. Business, is business. We all deal with similar issues regardless of our profession.
So, there you have it - the air has been cleared. Let's all move on with our lives and keep reading, okay?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A Resurrection, If You Will.
Well, long time...eh? What a crazy and wonderful few months it has been. I am happy to say that I have evolved from a place of self-deprecation, to a place of almost full contentedness. That being said, I am hear to complain. Over my time in "the business" (whatever business that may be...) I have learned one thing above all else: Customer Service. If your customer is not happy, neither are you. Now, I'm not necessarily a believer in the old adage "the customer is always right." However, I do believe that the customer always deserves the courtesy of an explanation.
This story is not to shred the dignity of a well-known pharmacy chain, it is merely to comment on the societal pressure put on menial employees to produce, versus the thought of customer service and self-satisfaction. This evening, I left work at 5:30pm. My normal travel time home is roughly 20 minutes. On my way home this evening, I had to stop to pick a prescription from a pharmacy that I use regularly. Now, this isn't the first time I've had an issue and I'm sure (unfortunately) it won't be the last. Today, I received three separate "courtesy" calls informing me that my medication was ready for pick up. When I arrived, I waited in line for about fifteen minutes and was then told that my prescription was not only NOT ready, but wouldn't be ready until January 30th. I was told I could pay for a partial dosage until that day came. I said "no problem," and asked how long it would take. "Five minutes," I was told. After sitting there for about twenty minutes, I started to glare at the pharmacist. I noticed that my stares of anger, and my head shakes of disdain were going unnoticed. During my plea for attention, I received a fourth "courtesy" call letting me know that my prescription was ready. That was the last straw. I had enough. I went up to the counter and simply asked when my prescription will be ready, and informed her that I just received another phone call (yes, while sitting in the pharmacy) about the positive status of my prescriptions whereabouts. Without answering, she turned to who I'm assuming is her superior, and just looked at him. Before I could even open my mouth, I was being scolded for questioning their employee's actions. Needless to say, a verbal altercation ensued.
Now, my point of this little anecdote is not to get my frustration out in writing (although, it did help). My point is to show that majority of situations that we deal with, be in on a professional level or a personal level, can be avoided. How many times have you gotten off the phone with someone and said "What an asshole?" Imagine what they say about you. I'm not here to preach about the power of kindness. I certainly understand that sometimes, people are really just being nasty for the sake of being nasty. In a situation like mine though, the confrontation could have been avoided by practicing the simple skills behind good customer service. The management (I use that term loosely) was clearly in the same frame of mind as the employee. That's the first problem. To be a successful manager, you have to fully embrace the idea of trying to make each situation work. I would even go as far to say that it's important for everyone to try to make each situation work. In life, we're thrown curveballs. If we're not ready to "make it work," we won't survive. Life is about living, not getting through the day. To me, this dynamic, pharmaceutical duo were unhappy. They wanted to be there about as much as I did.
I think I went off topic somewhere, but it's all good stuff here. The bottom line, if we can't stomach what we're doing enough to do our jobs the right way, we will never be successful. Customer service can only be practiced when we're happy enough to embrace it. I know from experience that if you don't care about what you're doing, you certainly don't care about the customer. Chose your paths carefully. Enjoy yourself, so you can enjoy others and they can enjoy you.
This story is not to shred the dignity of a well-known pharmacy chain, it is merely to comment on the societal pressure put on menial employees to produce, versus the thought of customer service and self-satisfaction. This evening, I left work at 5:30pm. My normal travel time home is roughly 20 minutes. On my way home this evening, I had to stop to pick a prescription from a pharmacy that I use regularly. Now, this isn't the first time I've had an issue and I'm sure (unfortunately) it won't be the last. Today, I received three separate "courtesy" calls informing me that my medication was ready for pick up. When I arrived, I waited in line for about fifteen minutes and was then told that my prescription was not only NOT ready, but wouldn't be ready until January 30th. I was told I could pay for a partial dosage until that day came. I said "no problem," and asked how long it would take. "Five minutes," I was told. After sitting there for about twenty minutes, I started to glare at the pharmacist. I noticed that my stares of anger, and my head shakes of disdain were going unnoticed. During my plea for attention, I received a fourth "courtesy" call letting me know that my prescription was ready. That was the last straw. I had enough. I went up to the counter and simply asked when my prescription will be ready, and informed her that I just received another phone call (yes, while sitting in the pharmacy) about the positive status of my prescriptions whereabouts. Without answering, she turned to who I'm assuming is her superior, and just looked at him. Before I could even open my mouth, I was being scolded for questioning their employee's actions. Needless to say, a verbal altercation ensued.
Now, my point of this little anecdote is not to get my frustration out in writing (although, it did help). My point is to show that majority of situations that we deal with, be in on a professional level or a personal level, can be avoided. How many times have you gotten off the phone with someone and said "What an asshole?" Imagine what they say about you. I'm not here to preach about the power of kindness. I certainly understand that sometimes, people are really just being nasty for the sake of being nasty. In a situation like mine though, the confrontation could have been avoided by practicing the simple skills behind good customer service. The management (I use that term loosely) was clearly in the same frame of mind as the employee. That's the first problem. To be a successful manager, you have to fully embrace the idea of trying to make each situation work. I would even go as far to say that it's important for everyone to try to make each situation work. In life, we're thrown curveballs. If we're not ready to "make it work," we won't survive. Life is about living, not getting through the day. To me, this dynamic, pharmaceutical duo were unhappy. They wanted to be there about as much as I did.
I think I went off topic somewhere, but it's all good stuff here. The bottom line, if we can't stomach what we're doing enough to do our jobs the right way, we will never be successful. Customer service can only be practiced when we're happy enough to embrace it. I know from experience that if you don't care about what you're doing, you certainly don't care about the customer. Chose your paths carefully. Enjoy yourself, so you can enjoy others and they can enjoy you.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
States With High Closing Costs
I received this in my e-mail today. Thought it was interesting:
10 States with Pricey Closing Costs Closing costs have risen an average of 36.6 percent compared to 2009, according to Bankrate.com’s annual survey.
The big increased was caused by the U.S. government requiring lenders to provide accurate good faith estimates of closing costs. Previously, lenders weren’t penalized for a bad estimate.
On average, the origination and third party fees on a $200,000 purchase mortgage added up to $3,741.
Here are the 10 highest states:
1. New York, $5,623
2. Texas, $4,708
3. Utah, $4,605
4. California-San Francisco, $4,566; California-Los Angeles, $4,406
5. Alaska, $4,327
6. Oklahoma, $4,254
7. Pennsylvania, $4,236
8. New Jersey, $4,110
9. Idaho, $4,077
10. Massachusetts, $4,025
10 States with Pricey Closing Costs Closing costs have risen an average of 36.6 percent compared to 2009, according to Bankrate.com’s annual survey.
The big increased was caused by the U.S. government requiring lenders to provide accurate good faith estimates of closing costs. Previously, lenders weren’t penalized for a bad estimate.
On average, the origination and third party fees on a $200,000 purchase mortgage added up to $3,741.
Here are the 10 highest states:
1. New York, $5,623
2. Texas, $4,708
3. Utah, $4,605
4. California-San Francisco, $4,566; California-Los Angeles, $4,406
5. Alaska, $4,327
6. Oklahoma, $4,254
7. Pennsylvania, $4,236
8. New Jersey, $4,110
9. Idaho, $4,077
10. Massachusetts, $4,025
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Dressed To Kill?
After five years of not having one, my office has implemented a dress code. As with most situations in my life, I have mixed feelings. One part me enjoyed the comfort of coming to work in jeans and a t-shirt, but another believes in "dressing for success." It's sometimes nice to dress at the level of professionalism you actually represent. I guess my main issue/question for everyone is this: Is implementing a dress code, after years of not having one, a feasible request? Also, if you're in a business that requires minimal-to-zero "face time," is it still necessary to wear business attire?
To address the first half of the question, obviously people will do what their boss requests regardless of how quick the change may occur (no one wants to get fired over wearing converse...in the grand scheme, it just doesn't seem worth the fight). Let's say though that the dress code is merely a strong suggestion versus a requirement. I truly do believe that some people are more effective when they're dressed in "work clothes." I, however, am not necessarily one of those people. I also do not like to be odd man out. If everyone's wearing dress pants, I won't be the idiot in jeans. I will take the strong suggestion and run. I do think though, that a company/head of a company, will face a lot of resistance by not implementing these "rules" from the start. I know in my office, the main comment is "why now?" And really, if nothing changed in the company/position you hold, why now?
The second part of the question is a little more tricky because it really is a matter of personal style. Many people have "phone jobs," and still but put on business attire to go to work. However, as previously mentioned, (::cough::me::cough::) not everyone needs to "dress for success" to feel successful. Personally, I conduct business the same regardless of my attire. Whether I'm working from home in my pajamas (My life's goal - if you're reading this, put that into the universe for me. K, thanks), or I'm sitting at my desk in a business suit, I'm the same. Actually, I feel more comfortable/ready to work when I'm not in business attire.
Given the nature of my business, comfortability is important.It's funny how different the life of an agent is from the life of a consultant. As an agent, I always dressed in business attire. You have to. Appearance is half the battle. As a consultant though, (and I'd venture to guess this applies to any/all phone versus in person business) appearance means nothing. Body language is more important than what you're actually wearing.So, I guess I'm seeking opinions. If you were working for a company where a dress code was suddenly strongly recommended (keep in mind, my new dress code is mandatory. The question is hypothetical), what would you do? Also, do you feel more successful/professional in business attire?
To address the first half of the question, obviously people will do what their boss requests regardless of how quick the change may occur (no one wants to get fired over wearing converse...in the grand scheme, it just doesn't seem worth the fight). Let's say though that the dress code is merely a strong suggestion versus a requirement. I truly do believe that some people are more effective when they're dressed in "work clothes." I, however, am not necessarily one of those people. I also do not like to be odd man out. If everyone's wearing dress pants, I won't be the idiot in jeans. I will take the strong suggestion and run. I do think though, that a company/head of a company, will face a lot of resistance by not implementing these "rules" from the start. I know in my office, the main comment is "why now?" And really, if nothing changed in the company/position you hold, why now?
The second part of the question is a little more tricky because it really is a matter of personal style. Many people have "phone jobs," and still but put on business attire to go to work. However, as previously mentioned, (::cough::me::cough::) not everyone needs to "dress for success" to feel successful. Personally, I conduct business the same regardless of my attire. Whether I'm working from home in my pajamas (My life's goal - if you're reading this, put that into the universe for me. K, thanks), or I'm sitting at my desk in a business suit, I'm the same. Actually, I feel more comfortable/ready to work when I'm not in business attire.
Given the nature of my business, comfortability is important.It's funny how different the life of an agent is from the life of a consultant. As an agent, I always dressed in business attire. You have to. Appearance is half the battle. As a consultant though, (and I'd venture to guess this applies to any/all phone versus in person business) appearance means nothing. Body language is more important than what you're actually wearing.So, I guess I'm seeking opinions. If you were working for a company where a dress code was suddenly strongly recommended (keep in mind, my new dress code is mandatory. The question is hypothetical), what would you do? Also, do you feel more successful/professional in business attire?
Monday, August 2, 2010
40-Year Mortgage?
40-Year Mortgage is a Risky Move.
So, you can't build equity and your monthly payments are maybe $100 less. What's the point? To me, it seems like yet another way to scam buyers into taking out larger loans.
So, you can't build equity and your monthly payments are maybe $100 less. What's the point? To me, it seems like yet another way to scam buyers into taking out larger loans.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
50 States, 50 Tax Incentives?
I'm not sure how many people have heard about this yet. I, myself, only found out about this a few days ago. Apparently, there's been talk of different states individualizing tax credits in order to entice people to move within their jurisdiction. With the end of the nation-wide first-time buyer tax credit approaching (...again), several U.S. states have started to realize that incentive is the way to go (Isn't it always?). I, personally, couldn't agree more. The biggest problem we're facing right now is the abundance of inventory. It seems like it doesn't matter which state you call home, it's the "time to buy" everywhere.
Now, there hasn't been much discussion (from what I understand) as to which states will offer what. However, I'd imagine it would be based on their largest demographic. For example, on Long Island, we have A LOT of first-time buyers. Really, New York, as a whole does. For us, it would probably be most beneficial to continue a similar tax incentive to the one previously offered. However, maybe other states can offer retirement tax breaks or tax breaks for buyers with school-aged children. Whatever it is, the goal is to stimulate the market. To me, this makes a great deal of sense. Because the state will be making the rules, they can continuously amend them to fit the needs of their buyers. Given what a success (I know some of you will argue otherwise...) the first tax credit was, this new concept of enticement is worth a shot. It seems to be the best solution anyone has come up with in quite some time.
Now, there hasn't been much discussion (from what I understand) as to which states will offer what. However, I'd imagine it would be based on their largest demographic. For example, on Long Island, we have A LOT of first-time buyers. Really, New York, as a whole does. For us, it would probably be most beneficial to continue a similar tax incentive to the one previously offered. However, maybe other states can offer retirement tax breaks or tax breaks for buyers with school-aged children. Whatever it is, the goal is to stimulate the market. To me, this makes a great deal of sense. Because the state will be making the rules, they can continuously amend them to fit the needs of their buyers. Given what a success (I know some of you will argue otherwise...) the first tax credit was, this new concept of enticement is worth a shot. It seems to be the best solution anyone has come up with in quite some time.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Don't Hold Your Breath
No bounce back in sight. Well, that's a bummer...
Don't Hold Your Breath
More tomorrow...it's be quite a week!
Don't Hold Your Breath
More tomorrow...it's be quite a week!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Go Hofstra?
Nice to see my old stomping ground is making good use of their space...
Hofstra Buildings Sold For Workforce Housing
I'm curious to see what type of uproar this causes. I happen to think making use of the vacant buildings is a great idea. However, I'd imagine the parents paying top dollar to send their kids to a private university will not be happy.
Hofstra Buildings Sold For Workforce Housing
I'm curious to see what type of uproar this causes. I happen to think making use of the vacant buildings is a great idea. However, I'd imagine the parents paying top dollar to send their kids to a private university will not be happy.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
I'll Take The Million Dollar Home, With a Side of Fries.
I spoke to a guy a few days ago who, while very nice, was completely delusional. The conversation started off with the basics, "Where? How much? When? and why?" I was told "Manhattan, 450K, immediately, and for investment." The next series of questions "What part of Manhattan? Are you pre-qualified, or will this be a cash-purchase? Where do you live now? How large of a unit?" Here's where the trouble started. He wanted (well, I should say "wants") a 1bdr condo for 450K and a 10% down payment. On top of that, he hadn't yet consulted with a mortgage broker. Here's the problem, the one building that fits that price point (yes, there is one building in all of Manhattan...so I was told today), does not sublet. Meaning, he could purchase it, but then what? Now, I'm a fairly blunt person. When something doesn't sit right with me, I have no problem saying it. I basically told this man that it wasn't going to happen. However, because I have a few agents who owe me favors, I would humor him and have one get in touch with him. (Or, I said "your search doesn't quite add up, but I'd be more than happy to have one of my agents speak further with you"...whatever). My point is (I know you were waiting), there is nothing wrong with educating a buyer. In fact, I recommend it. However, if you see that someone is spinning their wheels and, in turn, spinning yours, put them on the back burner. I've seen far too many agents waste their time in the past few months. These buyers/sellers/investors give a whole new meaning to the term "testers." They test our patience, and most of all, they test our expertise.
The moral: Be blunt. Though we're trained to beat around the bush and not offend, in this market, that doesn't fly. If it doesn't exist, tell them. If their money won't buy them a 5bdr house on an acre, show them. Utilize the information you have to prove that you are the expert. Sadly, in real estate, the customer is usually not right.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Money Vs. Happiness
I spent a lot of today thinking about Money vs. Happiness. It stemmed from a phone conversation I had with a guy who will be starting Law School in the fall. When I asked him if he was excited, and what kind of law he'd be studying, he said "Who cares? I'm in it for the money." I think it goes without saying that the ideal situation is to work in a profession that offers both happiness and financial reward. What about those of us who aren't fortunate enough to be in that situation, though? I am lucky enough now to be on the path of achieving a nice balance between the two. However, for a long time I wasn't. I always vowed to myself that happiness would trump all else, and I'd never be the type of person who takes a job just to get a paycheck. As we all do though, I grew up and got a reality check. I've come to find that without financial independence, it is hard to be truly happy (clearly, this doesn't apply to all of your heiresses out there. You know, because Paris Hilton is sitting home reading my blog...) I grew up in an upper-middle class town on Long Island, and never needed for anything. I grew accustomed to a certain lifestyle. My whole life, my parents reminded me that my expensive tastes and likes would someday have to be supported by me. That led me to start working at 13. Was it the financial independence that drove me? The idea of freedom? Or, was I scared to live my life based solely on happiness? Let's face it, if I was basing my career choices on happiness, there would be a lot more sleeping and a lot less working. The age old question still remains, though. Does money actually equate in happiness? Or, can our happiness be enough to get us through life?
To be honest, I'm torn. On some level, I'd like to think that I'm down-to-earth enough to not need excessive amounts of money. Money, on that level of my thinking, should be a want. There's the other part of me though, that equates money with freedom. In the real estate world, most of us base our successes on numbers - How many houses did we sell? How much did we gross for our companies? How much did we pocket?- -It's hard not to. While it may be an emotionally satisfying profession on many levels, the ultimate goal is a hug goodbye and a check. In real estate, it's pretty straight forward that if you're not doing any deals, you're not successful. Then again, who knows? Maybe you're just happy to have your real estate license? What is success, though? I'm not going to get all philosophical on you, but isn't it fair to say that if you're happy with your success, you're "successful?" The first time I met my first manager in my first office, he asked me "How many deals do you need to complete this year to make you feel like a success?" I gave him my answer (4...it's my favorite number, and I was 20 years old), and he then explained that he'd be happy with any number, as long as I achieved it. Success is ultimately measured in achieving the goals you set for yourself. On that level, I find happiness to be more important than money. That being said, had I not achieved my goal and not reaped the financial rewards of it, I would feel quite the opposite.
While writing this, I think I've answered my own question. If you're unhappy with a job, chances are, you're not being a very effective worker. We do the best at the things we enjoy. If you're being ineffective, you're not making money. Therefore, happiness is not only more important than money, but is directly correlated. Though I do think money is important, I am a strong proponent of weighing your options. There is no such thing as being "stuck." I've had friends/co-workers/family describe their lives with this term before, and I just don't believe it. We, as human beings, have the power to constantly reinvent ourselves. "Stuck," is not an option.
The moral: Measure your success in your level of satisfaction. Be it financially or emotionally driven, your personal satisfaction is what will ultimately make or break you.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy Fourth Of July!
Just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth! Today is a day to relax, and enjoy your surroundings!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monster Calls.
As you've probably figured out by now, I'm in the business of psychotherapy. (Minus the pills, the degree, or slightest knowledge of psychological studies. Although, there was that one semester in college...) Really, most of the people I talk to for business are insane. Yet, I'm still shocked by the level of comfort people have when it comes to ripping apart a total stranger. Now, I'm not a solicitor. I call you based on your request for contact. (Cold calls were never really my thing.) Still though, more often than not, I reach people who act like I killed their first born when I call them. (Really, the "how dare you's" are a touch dramatic, don't you think?) What is it, though? What is it about a stranger on the other end of the phone that makes us snap? Is it the unknown of what they want? Is our time really too precious to exchange quick pleasantries with a stranger? Have we lost our fear of that bitch called karma?
Given my job, one would think I'd be less nasty and more forgiving to a cold caller. I'm not. One would also think I have a heart of gold, and let telemarketers finish what they have to say. I don't. I can't explain it, but something starts to rile me up the second I see an unfamiliar phone number on the Caller ID. This laid back, passive-aggressive girl (well, sometimes) turns into a two-headed demon. There is no rhyme or reason behind it (I don't think. That's what I'm trying to figure out), I just snap. Why are we, as humans, totally comfortable being confrontational, honest and abrupt to a stranger? Yet, in our personal lives, we maintain a balance between truth and politeness. I understand the comfort in anonymity, but this is a bit excessive.
Recently, I got a new phone number (no, you can't have it). Because I thought the days of carpet cleaners and newspaper companies calling your house at 2am (due, of course, to Al Gore's invention of the internet) were long-gone, I didn't even think to block my number right away. Bad move. Within the first three days of having said, new number, I had 46 missed calls. Now I'm barely ever home, so the chances of me catching these "people" in the act was slim to none. Every day I'd come home to a bevy of missed calls from Missouri, Minnesota and Newsday. None of which I have any interest in. This past week, while watching The Real Housewives Of New Jersey, I caught one. Missouri. Now, I had no intention of screaming or yelling. My plan was to simply say "I'm not interested." My plan was a huge failure. I ended up telling him off. I was possessed. As soon as I hung up the phone, I had a "what the hell?" moment. This poor guy wasn't calling to ruin my life, or even really calling to bother me. He was just doing his job. Annoying? Yes. Worthy of a verbal beating? No. When relaying this story to my friends, I was told that I did the right thing (Keep in mind, I included the verbatim rant I went on when I told them) No one seemed to have a problem with it. Scary,right? (You know you're from New York when...) Ultimately, I decided I can't handle solicitors with the dignity and poise I hoped I could and signed up for the "do not call" list.
So, where am I going with this? How is this going to help you better-understand real estate? Well, real estate's a people business. It boils down to this, everyone is a stranger, until they're not (how profound, right?). You're a stranger to your customers until they feel comfortable around you. And customers, you're strangers to agents until they have your loyalty. My point (I knew I'd get here, eventually) is that in this very small world, we have to make a conscious effort to treat people well. You never know who you're speaking with (especially over the phone), and you never know how that person will impact you later on. I know (well, I hope) for most of you this isn't something new. We are well-trained in our business to always put our best foot forward, but do we carry it further? I'm saying we should constantly be looking over our shoulders, and biting our tongues even when we're alone, at home, yelling at telemarketers.
Given my job, one would think I'd be less nasty and more forgiving to a cold caller. I'm not. One would also think I have a heart of gold, and let telemarketers finish what they have to say. I don't. I can't explain it, but something starts to rile me up the second I see an unfamiliar phone number on the Caller ID. This laid back, passive-aggressive girl (well, sometimes) turns into a two-headed demon. There is no rhyme or reason behind it (I don't think. That's what I'm trying to figure out), I just snap. Why are we, as humans, totally comfortable being confrontational, honest and abrupt to a stranger? Yet, in our personal lives, we maintain a balance between truth and politeness. I understand the comfort in anonymity, but this is a bit excessive.
Recently, I got a new phone number (no, you can't have it). Because I thought the days of carpet cleaners and newspaper companies calling your house at 2am (due, of course, to Al Gore's invention of the internet) were long-gone, I didn't even think to block my number right away. Bad move. Within the first three days of having said, new number, I had 46 missed calls. Now I'm barely ever home, so the chances of me catching these "people" in the act was slim to none. Every day I'd come home to a bevy of missed calls from Missouri, Minnesota and Newsday. None of which I have any interest in. This past week, while watching The Real Housewives Of New Jersey, I caught one. Missouri. Now, I had no intention of screaming or yelling. My plan was to simply say "I'm not interested." My plan was a huge failure. I ended up telling him off. I was possessed. As soon as I hung up the phone, I had a "what the hell?" moment. This poor guy wasn't calling to ruin my life, or even really calling to bother me. He was just doing his job. Annoying? Yes. Worthy of a verbal beating? No. When relaying this story to my friends, I was told that I did the right thing (Keep in mind, I included the verbatim rant I went on when I told them) No one seemed to have a problem with it. Scary,right? (You know you're from New York when...) Ultimately, I decided I can't handle solicitors with the dignity and poise I hoped I could and signed up for the "do not call" list.
So, where am I going with this? How is this going to help you better-understand real estate? Well, real estate's a people business. It boils down to this, everyone is a stranger, until they're not (how profound, right?). You're a stranger to your customers until they feel comfortable around you. And customers, you're strangers to agents until they have your loyalty. My point (I knew I'd get here, eventually) is that in this very small world, we have to make a conscious effort to treat people well. You never know who you're speaking with (especially over the phone), and you never know how that person will impact you later on. I know (well, I hope) for most of you this isn't something new. We are well-trained in our business to always put our best foot forward, but do we carry it further? I'm saying we should constantly be looking over our shoulders, and biting our tongues even when we're alone, at home, yelling at telemarketers.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Section Hate.
What is one of the most difficult, frustrating real estate transactions out there? No, not short sales. I'm talking about Section 8 rentals. I can't even believe the overwhelming amount of Section 8 inquiries I'm seeing, lately. For those of you who don't know, Section 8 is a government program set up to help house low-income families. Basically, Section 8 gives you a budget and housing requirements, (I.e. Number of bedrooms to occupant ratio..) and then you find the property. If you use a real estate agent in the transaction, Section 8 is supposed to pay the broker fee. Before the tenant can move in, a caseworker will come to inspect the property. Due to the disdain and avoidance from real estate agents for these types of rentals, New York State has created a law saying that we, as agents, cannot refuse to work with Section 8 clients. Additionally, a landlord can only advertise if they accept government programs, not the opposite. On a personal note, I've had nothing but negative experiences with Section 8. They lack respect for both the broker and the client. More so, the broker. I think governmental housing programs are a fantastic concept. However, they lack (at least I've found) the necessary organization to carry out a successful real estate transaction.
Two years ago, I took on a Section 8-approved client. I thought, "Wow, this is great. They have a government-determined budget and can only have a certain type of house. Plus, the government is paying me. What could possibly go wrong?!" The answer? Everything. Everything possible went wrong. I showed the client a million homes in a million different areas for months.(At the time, landlords could say that they didn't accept programs, so the houses that did accept programs were few and far between). They ended up taking a house on the South Shore of Nassau County. The inspection went well, the house was nice and we seemed to be on our way to a goodbye and a check. Little did I know, the matriarch of the family not only half-asked her paper work, she was pregnant with her fifth child. Meaning, the housing requirements would change. Section 8 determined the house met their needs anyway, and allowed them to proceed. Leases were signed, tenants moved in, landlord moved out (so we thought), and on we went. After a week of not getting a check on what should have been an easy deal, I started to question what was going on. The other agent and I became friendly enough during the transaction and were both concerned about our fees. She called the caseworker to find out what was going on. Nonchalantly, the woman told her that the proper paperwork had yet to be submitted from the tenant and payment would be held until then. I was baffled. So, the tenant had already moved in, yet her paperwork was incomplete? Weeks went by, then two months and still, no check. In this business, it's important to know when to cut your losses. I had enough. The $800 wasn't going to make or break my year. After losing hope and giving up, I received a phone call from the tenant. She said that the house wasn't suitable, the landlord was verbally abusing them, and had yet to fully move out. I basically told her it wasn't my problem. While I felt for her, (really, I did...) I don't work for free. I told her that I'd help her if she submitted her paperwork that day and I had a check in my hand from Section 8 the following week. Apparently, things weren't that bad. Not only did I never hear from her again, I still haven't received payment for my completed transaction. Here's the kicker: Out of sheer curiosity, I drove by the house about three months ago to see if they were still living there rent free. At this point, I'm sure you're not shocked to find out that they were.
The moral: Well, I guess there's two. The first, as I said, know when to cut your losses. Not everything is worth a battle. The other agent wanted to take them to small claims court. To me, that would have been a huge waste of time and effort. Don't get me wrong, I was pissed. I ran these people around like I was selling them a $3,000,000 home, but it just wasn't worth the energy. And second, know who you're getting involved with. I think it's unethical to not allow real estate agents the right to refuse Section 8 clients. As independent contractors, we should have the right to refuse working with anyone. Ethics go both ways. We're not volunteers, we need to get paid. As much as I enjoy real estate, I'm not doing it for my health (maybe my health insurance, but not my health). For most of us, real estate is our career. I will hold your hand and your child all through the process, but at the end of it, I need to be paid. Am I saying avoid Section 8 deals like the plague? No. I'm just saying to watch your back in any situation. No one cares about your payment except for YOU. Take care of yourself, and know what you're getting into.
Two years ago, I took on a Section 8-approved client. I thought, "Wow, this is great. They have a government-determined budget and can only have a certain type of house. Plus, the government is paying me. What could possibly go wrong?!" The answer? Everything. Everything possible went wrong. I showed the client a million homes in a million different areas for months.(At the time, landlords could say that they didn't accept programs, so the houses that did accept programs were few and far between). They ended up taking a house on the South Shore of Nassau County. The inspection went well, the house was nice and we seemed to be on our way to a goodbye and a check. Little did I know, the matriarch of the family not only half-asked her paper work, she was pregnant with her fifth child. Meaning, the housing requirements would change. Section 8 determined the house met their needs anyway, and allowed them to proceed. Leases were signed, tenants moved in, landlord moved out (so we thought), and on we went. After a week of not getting a check on what should have been an easy deal, I started to question what was going on. The other agent and I became friendly enough during the transaction and were both concerned about our fees. She called the caseworker to find out what was going on. Nonchalantly, the woman told her that the proper paperwork had yet to be submitted from the tenant and payment would be held until then. I was baffled. So, the tenant had already moved in, yet her paperwork was incomplete? Weeks went by, then two months and still, no check. In this business, it's important to know when to cut your losses. I had enough. The $800 wasn't going to make or break my year. After losing hope and giving up, I received a phone call from the tenant. She said that the house wasn't suitable, the landlord was verbally abusing them, and had yet to fully move out. I basically told her it wasn't my problem. While I felt for her, (really, I did...) I don't work for free. I told her that I'd help her if she submitted her paperwork that day and I had a check in my hand from Section 8 the following week. Apparently, things weren't that bad. Not only did I never hear from her again, I still haven't received payment for my completed transaction. Here's the kicker: Out of sheer curiosity, I drove by the house about three months ago to see if they were still living there rent free. At this point, I'm sure you're not shocked to find out that they were.
The moral: Well, I guess there's two. The first, as I said, know when to cut your losses. Not everything is worth a battle. The other agent wanted to take them to small claims court. To me, that would have been a huge waste of time and effort. Don't get me wrong, I was pissed. I ran these people around like I was selling them a $3,000,000 home, but it just wasn't worth the energy. And second, know who you're getting involved with. I think it's unethical to not allow real estate agents the right to refuse Section 8 clients. As independent contractors, we should have the right to refuse working with anyone. Ethics go both ways. We're not volunteers, we need to get paid. As much as I enjoy real estate, I'm not doing it for my health (maybe my health insurance, but not my health). For most of us, real estate is our career. I will hold your hand and your child all through the process, but at the end of it, I need to be paid. Am I saying avoid Section 8 deals like the plague? No. I'm just saying to watch your back in any situation. No one cares about your payment except for YOU. Take care of yourself, and know what you're getting into.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Chump Change.
Well, we all know what the biggest topic of today is: The First-Timer Buyer Tax Credit. I've heard a million different versions of what's going on, all of which have yet to be confirmed. As far as I know, (and keep in mind, I'm mid-transit so I might be about an hour out of the loop) they are most likely extending the credit until September.
I have to admit, I'm actually little annoyed at the moment by a conversation I had with someone who feels that the First-Time Buyer Tax Credit was, and will continue to be, a huge waste of time. They called the credit "excessive" and "ineffective." Naturally, I asked "What business do you work in?" They said "real estate." They then asked me if I really think that the tax credit had that big of an impact on business.(A little piece of me wanted to smack him. I refrained.) Wake up, People! That tax credit drove almost all of our business this past year! Without that $8,000 worth of buyer-courage, we'd be twiddling our thumbs and looking for supplementary income. I can't even begin to tell you how many people I had spoken to from summer of '09 until April who's motivation to buy was solely credit-driven. In short, I'm a fan of the tax credit.
We then spoke about the possibility of another extension, or another credit being offered. Again, big fan. Buying your first house is horrifying, and it's nice to know that you have the encouragement of your country to move forward with such a huge decision. I do agree that if you're buying a home, $8,000 shouldn't make or break you.(That was another one of their arguments) It's not the amount though, it's the principle. Because people are so scared to buy and spend their money, they take comfort in knowing the people running this country are not just saying "go ahead, it's okay," but are offering financial rewards for helping stimulate the economy. Lately, business on my end has been slow. As I've said before, there are a lot of window-shoppers. Everyone's looking, but not too many people are ready to pull the trigger. However, the agents I work with are super busy because, as most of them will tell you, they're finishing up the last of their tax credit-buyer's transactions. It's fairly obvious from my end of this business that another tax credit similar or the same to the previous one, would continue to stimulate sales. Otherwise, I feel a lot of people will continue to wait for what's next. Most people are at a standstill because the market is so finicky. Whatever direction the market goes, directly effects the amount of sales actually happening. If the government were to re-encourage first-time buyers to buy, the market would naturally pick back up.
Because majority of first-time buyers are buying in the 300K to 500K range, we should re-stimulate them now. We have such an overwhelming amount of inventory in that price range (especially on Long Island), that it could only benefit us to have more qualified (this is key) people out there searching within that price point. It's basic logic, People. Qualified Buyers + Abundance of Inventory = Increase in Sales. If you're going from a market where everyone is just poking around and unqualified (i.e. now) to a market where finances are in order and there's a nation-wide deadline, sales have to pick up.
There is no great moral to this, My Friends. It is not my job to sway the opinions you are entitled to have. All I can say is that I, personally, think the tax credit is one of the best governmental ideas this administration has had so far. I'd love to know what other people think about it, as there really seems to be great divide amongst my colleagues. I understand why someone would say we're giving away money, but it goes along with the logic of spending money to make money. This economy will not reboot itself. It's not an iPod. If we do not make the appropriate efforts to fix what we've essentially created, we will find ourselves in much deeper water than we're in now.
I have to admit, I'm actually little annoyed at the moment by a conversation I had with someone who feels that the First-Time Buyer Tax Credit was, and will continue to be, a huge waste of time. They called the credit "excessive" and "ineffective." Naturally, I asked "What business do you work in?" They said "real estate." They then asked me if I really think that the tax credit had that big of an impact on business.(A little piece of me wanted to smack him. I refrained.) Wake up, People! That tax credit drove almost all of our business this past year! Without that $8,000 worth of buyer-courage, we'd be twiddling our thumbs and looking for supplementary income. I can't even begin to tell you how many people I had spoken to from summer of '09 until April who's motivation to buy was solely credit-driven. In short, I'm a fan of the tax credit.
We then spoke about the possibility of another extension, or another credit being offered. Again, big fan. Buying your first house is horrifying, and it's nice to know that you have the encouragement of your country to move forward with such a huge decision. I do agree that if you're buying a home, $8,000 shouldn't make or break you.(That was another one of their arguments) It's not the amount though, it's the principle. Because people are so scared to buy and spend their money, they take comfort in knowing the people running this country are not just saying "go ahead, it's okay," but are offering financial rewards for helping stimulate the economy. Lately, business on my end has been slow. As I've said before, there are a lot of window-shoppers. Everyone's looking, but not too many people are ready to pull the trigger. However, the agents I work with are super busy because, as most of them will tell you, they're finishing up the last of their tax credit-buyer's transactions. It's fairly obvious from my end of this business that another tax credit similar or the same to the previous one, would continue to stimulate sales. Otherwise, I feel a lot of people will continue to wait for what's next. Most people are at a standstill because the market is so finicky. Whatever direction the market goes, directly effects the amount of sales actually happening. If the government were to re-encourage first-time buyers to buy, the market would naturally pick back up.
Because majority of first-time buyers are buying in the 300K to 500K range, we should re-stimulate them now. We have such an overwhelming amount of inventory in that price range (especially on Long Island), that it could only benefit us to have more qualified (this is key) people out there searching within that price point. It's basic logic, People. Qualified Buyers + Abundance of Inventory = Increase in Sales. If you're going from a market where everyone is just poking around and unqualified (i.e. now) to a market where finances are in order and there's a nation-wide deadline, sales have to pick up.
There is no great moral to this, My Friends. It is not my job to sway the opinions you are entitled to have. All I can say is that I, personally, think the tax credit is one of the best governmental ideas this administration has had so far. I'd love to know what other people think about it, as there really seems to be great divide amongst my colleagues. I understand why someone would say we're giving away money, but it goes along with the logic of spending money to make money. This economy will not reboot itself. It's not an iPod. If we do not make the appropriate efforts to fix what we've essentially created, we will find ourselves in much deeper water than we're in now.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
We Salute You, Mr. President.
Just a quick link to peruse while sipping your morning coffee!
Presidential Homes Hit By Housing Crash
Presidential Homes Hit By Housing Crash
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Buyer Beware.
In today's world of corporations ripping off their loyal customers to support their own "yacht club lifestyles," it's hard to ignore a consumer-fueled resource like Craig's List. For those of you who don't know what Craig's List is, (and really, if you don't know, pop your bubble and explore the world a little bit) it's a web site in which anyone can post any service/product they have to offer. Services offered on the site range from car sales, to job applications, to real estate, to sex solicitation. Really, anything. While there is some regulation of what can/cannot be posted, it's minimal at best. I can see why some would argue that Craig's List is "creepy," and "unsafe." I don't disagree. I mean, given the amount of scandal associated with the web site I can't disagree. However, I'm a strong proponent of people bartering on their own behalf's and being in full control of their negotiations (How strange given my profession, right?). It's your money, and you should be able to do with it what you please. I, personally, have rented an apartment via Craig's List. However, I'm a licensed agent. If you lack the knowledge of what you're trying to buy/sell, it's imperative that you enlist the help of a professional. I say this from the overwhelming experience of speaking with hundreds (seriously) of people who have tried to buy/rent a home via a self-bartering web site, and have gotten royally screwed. I get at least two phone calls per day from someone asking me if a Craig's List post is a "real" listing. 99.9% of the time , it's not. You know the saying "If it's too good to be true, it's probably not true?" Well, apply that here. If you think you found a 3bdr/3bath on Park Ave for $1,900 per month, sadly, you thought wrong.
This topic has been brewing in my head for some time, but after a really over the top experience I had today, I felt compelled to impart some knowledge on all of you. I spoke to a woman this afternoon who was asking me about a property that she was already "renting." I sarcastically use the term renting because she paid two years up front, and hasn't been allowed in the home yet. She told me the lease has (according to her "landlord") been on the kitchen counter inside the house for three months, but they haven't been able to get into the property because of an "alarm code issue." Believe me when I tell you, I know this sounds ridiculous and I almost hung up on her. After some poking and prodding, she told me that the landlord lives in Dubai, she lives in England, the property is in The Hamptons, and they found the property online. She also told me that they mailed the required monies directly to the landlord and do not know his full name. At this point, I wasn't sure what was going on, but I knew that someone had taken advantage of her. Naturally, my next question was regarding the amount of money that actually changed hands. She said, "$5,000,000." I almost choked on my gum. Even I, having a lot of real estate fraud experience, couldn't believe what I was hearing. I triple-checked that I had the amount right, tried to rationalize why someone would send that amount of money to stranger, and then decided to continue listening to her. She casually stated that the rental equaled 2.5 Million per year. It was supposedly a fully-furnished home, filled with amenities such as a personal chef, and maid staff. Out of a combination of curiosity, horror and pity, I pulled up the property's public record. Now, public records can sometimes be wrong, but the assessed property value is usually within a certain range from the actual market value. Meaning, it's relatively accurate. The house they were "renting" was most recently assessed for a sales value of $780,000. Also, there were no records of real estate transactions (buying, selling or renting) since 2006. At this point, I let her know my findings, but sadly couldn't do much else. Yes People, this ridiculous story actually happened. I know you're probably thinking "Well, that person's an idiot." Think about it though, they're not from the U.S., and have no real estate experience. They are the ultimate easy-target. While I personally don't spend over $50 without knowing exactly where it's going, I can't speak for other people. Sadly, things like this happen all the time. Just three days ago, I spoke to a college-aged student who was hoping to rent an apartment in Manhattan. After already sending her out-of-country landlord money and giving out her social security number, she called me. Again, the property didn't exist, and there was nothing I could do. Obviously, this situation is more common than the aforementioned one. Regardless, people are being played left and right.
Here are three signs that, I've come to find, point to a listing being a scam:
1. The first tell-tale sign of a fake listing is the price. If nothing else you've seen in the area is comparable price-wise, you need to question A. Is it "real?" and B. If it is real, what's wrong with it? A great web site to check out to find out more pricing info is streeteasy.com. I have access to every system out there, and I use streeteasy more than anything else. Granted, it has mostly Manhattan listings, but it's still a great resource that could end up saving you a ton of money. If you're on Long Island, I would highly recommend checking out MLSLI.com.
2. Another common theme in these bogus listings are foreign landlords. I'm not sure why, but almost all of these issues I've dealt with have had an international landlord attached to them. The most common are Dubai, and England. My guess, is that they're less traceable.
3. If you are immediately asked for your social security number, run. They do not need it. Unless you are working with a real estate agent, there is no reason to give out your personal identification number. A real estate agent would obviously use your social to run credit, but if an agent isn't involved, you should run the credit yourself. There are many web sites that do it for free, the most popular being freecreditreport.com (You know, the one with those annoying commercials). You will be able to produce the standard credit report on your own, while maintaining your privacy.
The moral of this is plain and simple: Buyer Beware. If you are going to enter into a deal on your own, make sure you've successfully covered your behind. If you don't, you have no one to blame but yourself. I'd also highly recommend having a lawyer involved. If you're unwilling to work with a real estate professional, at least have some type of legal representation backing you in case something goes wrong - and believe me, something will go wrong.
This topic has been brewing in my head for some time, but after a really over the top experience I had today, I felt compelled to impart some knowledge on all of you. I spoke to a woman this afternoon who was asking me about a property that she was already "renting." I sarcastically use the term renting because she paid two years up front, and hasn't been allowed in the home yet. She told me the lease has (according to her "landlord") been on the kitchen counter inside the house for three months, but they haven't been able to get into the property because of an "alarm code issue." Believe me when I tell you, I know this sounds ridiculous and I almost hung up on her. After some poking and prodding, she told me that the landlord lives in Dubai, she lives in England, the property is in The Hamptons, and they found the property online. She also told me that they mailed the required monies directly to the landlord and do not know his full name. At this point, I wasn't sure what was going on, but I knew that someone had taken advantage of her. Naturally, my next question was regarding the amount of money that actually changed hands. She said, "$5,000,000." I almost choked on my gum. Even I, having a lot of real estate fraud experience, couldn't believe what I was hearing. I triple-checked that I had the amount right, tried to rationalize why someone would send that amount of money to stranger, and then decided to continue listening to her. She casually stated that the rental equaled 2.5 Million per year. It was supposedly a fully-furnished home, filled with amenities such as a personal chef, and maid staff. Out of a combination of curiosity, horror and pity, I pulled up the property's public record. Now, public records can sometimes be wrong, but the assessed property value is usually within a certain range from the actual market value. Meaning, it's relatively accurate. The house they were "renting" was most recently assessed for a sales value of $780,000. Also, there were no records of real estate transactions (buying, selling or renting) since 2006. At this point, I let her know my findings, but sadly couldn't do much else. Yes People, this ridiculous story actually happened. I know you're probably thinking "Well, that person's an idiot." Think about it though, they're not from the U.S., and have no real estate experience. They are the ultimate easy-target. While I personally don't spend over $50 without knowing exactly where it's going, I can't speak for other people. Sadly, things like this happen all the time. Just three days ago, I spoke to a college-aged student who was hoping to rent an apartment in Manhattan. After already sending her out-of-country landlord money and giving out her social security number, she called me. Again, the property didn't exist, and there was nothing I could do. Obviously, this situation is more common than the aforementioned one. Regardless, people are being played left and right.
Here are three signs that, I've come to find, point to a listing being a scam:
1. The first tell-tale sign of a fake listing is the price. If nothing else you've seen in the area is comparable price-wise, you need to question A. Is it "real?" and B. If it is real, what's wrong with it? A great web site to check out to find out more pricing info is streeteasy.com. I have access to every system out there, and I use streeteasy more than anything else. Granted, it has mostly Manhattan listings, but it's still a great resource that could end up saving you a ton of money. If you're on Long Island, I would highly recommend checking out MLSLI.com.
2. Another common theme in these bogus listings are foreign landlords. I'm not sure why, but almost all of these issues I've dealt with have had an international landlord attached to them. The most common are Dubai, and England. My guess, is that they're less traceable.
3. If you are immediately asked for your social security number, run. They do not need it. Unless you are working with a real estate agent, there is no reason to give out your personal identification number. A real estate agent would obviously use your social to run credit, but if an agent isn't involved, you should run the credit yourself. There are many web sites that do it for free, the most popular being freecreditreport.com (You know, the one with those annoying commercials). You will be able to produce the standard credit report on your own, while maintaining your privacy.
The moral of this is plain and simple: Buyer Beware. If you are going to enter into a deal on your own, make sure you've successfully covered your behind. If you don't, you have no one to blame but yourself. I'd also highly recommend having a lawyer involved. If you're unwilling to work with a real estate professional, at least have some type of legal representation backing you in case something goes wrong - and believe me, something will go wrong.
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