Lets Get Excited About The New Year

It’s time to start planning for your future goals and future success. Where do you want to be in terms of your short goals and long term goals? Let start the year off right with a budget, realist expectations, and end state.

I’m excited about what 2013 is going to bring to me and has in store for me as I continue to make my daily affirmations. This will be the first time that I have thoroughly developed my Real Estate Business Plan. My business plans over the years were only two or three pages and now I’m up to twelve pages. As I plan it out I have a lot of excited energy because of the possibilities. My goal for this new business plan that I am creating is to include all of my procedures, systems and updated Action Plan. My main goal is to streamline my task and have another blessed year.

Make your 2013 successful by planning ahead and seeing your goals through!

 

MLS 177162

MLS 177162

2012 Realtor of the Year

2012 Fort Hood Area Realtor of the Year

I won Realtor of the Year and it was truly a big accomplishment for me. I am truly highly favored and the Lord has been blessing me. I can still remember in 2007 when I first started Real Estate with Century 21 First Team. I went to a new comer orientation and Jose Segarra was the instructor. At that time I didn’t know he was going to be my broker in the future. Kathy Brinkley was talking about TREPAC and how important it was to donate. At the end of the briefing I gave her my card and told her if she needed my help to let me know.

Later she did call me and told me to come to a meeting. I didn’t know that I was going to join the board, but I did join the TREPAC Committee. I always wanted to volunteer within my community and that opened the door for me to volunteer not only there but other places as well. Give back to your community and in the end you will recieve positive energy with many awards.

I believe in affirmations and I say them every day. I also say them with my boys as we say our prayers every night and mediate. They consist of asking the lord for us to be better people and bring positive energy into our lives.

I love Real Estate and I love working with clients that are excited about finding a place where their family can lay their heads. Or a home where they can start their family. Or a home that gives them the opportunity to reap the rewards of retirement.

I love Real Estate and, “I AM 2012 REALTOR OF THE YEAR”
View My YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbqAScQv_Ks

 

What Do You Do?

“What Do You Do When There is No Closing and You Are at the Closing Table”

Thank God this didn’t happen to me. I know an agent who seller went to the closing table and their client signed everything. Well the buyers didn’t bother to sign because the husband lost his job but didn’t think it was a big deal.

The question is did the buyer’s agent know about this incident. (That’s why it is so important to have good communication with the lender). If the buyer’s agent didn’t know from their client the lender could have updated the agent.

Now the listing agent is faced with telling her client they can’t close do to no fault of their. The only thing I could tell her was to look on the bright side of things. The listing was only on the market for 7 days before it went under contract. So they only used 37 days so far instead of 60 days of lost marketing. It may be nothing but I’m a firm believer that there is always bright side to everything.

          What do you think?

Real Estate Update: Short Sale part 1

Real Estate Update: Short Sale part 1: Happy Holidays Hopefully for a lot of people Black Friday was a success. I personally don’t go out on black Friday and shop. It’s jus...

Short Sale part 1

Happy Holidays

Hopefully for a lot of people Black Friday was a success. I personally don’t go out on black Friday and shop. It’s just my preference not to go into a high stressed environment.

Right now I’m working a Short Sale.  I believe a short sale is as good as the listing agent and the sellers allow it to be. So we are starting off with a low offer to test the water and to get where we really want to be.  This will be very interesting. I always want to be on both sides to watch some of the offers that come through. My goal is to be a great negotiator.  

We are in the beginning stages of purchasing this property. The listing agent said he has everything together and it just needs to be accepted. So I will keep you updated and let you know how everything goes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLKpSoZWMo4

Positive Energy

I was watching Oprah and Joel Osteen that I recorded.  The goal is to say these positive statements for at least 31 days. It is to encourage you and enrich you.

Declare your victory with me:

I AM BEAUTIFUL (HANDSOME)

I AM BLESSED

I AM VICTORIOUS

I AM STRONG

I AM HEATHY

I AM ENCOURAGE

I AM RICH

I AM CONFIDENT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAxo49dUBbo

Realtor - Lender – Client - Relationship

What’s the most important relationship for a client to connect while buying a house? I think it is the connection between the realtor-client-realtor. If the lender doesn’t stay in the lines of communication with everyone, then the closing isn’t going to run smoothly for anyone. The lender needs to explain every up front. Especially if the lender is going to require the appraisal fee up front the client should be aware.  I also think it is very important to go to the first meeting with your clients so you can hear and know what one person is telling your clients or what due outs are needed to turn in.

It really irritates me when the lender doesn’t explain everything and my client is hearing everything from me or the under writer because the lender didn’t tell anyone anything.

Agents - Every so often sit down with your lender to ask question you may need a break down with one of your closings that didn’t go as planned.  Or you may need to learn more about the original good faith estimate and what really happened in the end. 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhUTLcVxO0w

 

 

Working HUD 203K

Oh my goodness this 203K is kicking my butt. It’s good when you have patient buyer that are willing to wait, which wasn’t always the case. Initially we thought we were going to be able to close a month ago and now we are going into our third month and our second extension. To top it off the title company is out of town and don’t want to answer a lot of questions.  Don’t leave me in the dark I had to demand some answers from them. The husband is leaving and the lender and the title company had to approve the POA. Military, you can’t hold them down and make them stay in place for very long.

We Have to Have Better Communication Between Agents and Lenders

We Have to Have Better Communication Between Agents and Lenders

I’m working with an out of town lender and I’m getting frustrated. Why, because I asked the lender if we could do the FHA with $100 down program. He said, “YES”. I asked this question in the beginning, so why now that we are about to close does he ask me where is some type of form. I told him I don’t have the form, so he sends me an example. When I read his paperwork, it said in bold ink, “$100 down only for full offers”. I called the Asset Manager because it was a HUD home and he verified the same information. So, I told the lender to call the clients and tell them. Instead he sends an email to them and it said something to the effect, “Call J’Neka she needs to explain the $100 down program. You and J’Neka told me that you were doing the $100 down program at the beginning of the loan process”.  EXACTLY, it was at the beginning of the loan process. So what if I says they can do VA but they don’t have any VA entitlements then what would he have said, “You and J’Neka told me you were doing a VA loan”.

I just felt like I was thrown under the bus with a drunk bus driver.  So I guess if we told the lender that we weren’t putting any money down on FHA, and then we could do that too huh.  We just need better communication that’s all.  And this should have been corrected at the beginning of the loan too with the lender (last time I check that was the lenders lane).

This will be one of my memorable moments.  Mark this down as a learning curve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REswH0ysyis
 

Foreclosed Property

There is a lot of great foreclosed property available with a lot of bang for the buck. A lot are listed around $50 per sq ft and under.  

The paperwork for foreclosures is getting more tedious. The contracts are made of course to be a to protect the banks or the companies owning the foreclosed properties. Paperwork is getting to be a bit much and buyers are going to have to be responsible for turning on the utilities for their inspection too.  There are definitely great deals available for any new home owner or investor. 

With foreclosed properties banks will not normally pay for surveys or title insurance on foreclosed properties.  Sometimes you can get the title insurance paid for if you use the seller’s title company. As for the survey, if you can find an existing survey then you can save about $500.00.

Who Wants to Increase Their Credit Score

 I’ve completed a little personal test myself with one of my clients to find out if I can increase their credit score by at least 20 points within 60 days. The goal is to get credit with one of these credit card companies to establish new credit. These companies sometimes have additional charges too.  This is one way you can increase your credit score. Apply, charge, and pay on time. I normally tell my clients to charge something like gas, because you always need it and it’s a constant. Also, you don’t want to over charge. If the company only gives you $250.00 then only charge $250.00 and no more. Allow the charges to hit your credit. Don’t pay the bill off before you get the statement. I had one client that charged gas and as soon as he charged it he paid it off. Well that didn’t help him at all and it made him taken longer than the 60days. You can make payments one or two ways. Pay your bill down to twenty dollars or pay a little more than the minimum amount due.  You have to remember you don’t want any collections, judgments or bad credit reflexing your credit. This is how I help my clients bring their credit scores up. Remember to always pay on time.

Orchard Bank                          Merrick Bank              Capital One

800-395-2120                          800-253-2322              800-955-7070

Flipping A House

I don’t know what it is but I get so excited when it comes to remodeling or flipping a house. My juices getting to pouring and my blood get heated and my mind gets excited.  It’s just hard to describe everything but this energy from nowhere just comes out of me.  It’s so bad that I have to tell myself, “Calm down and settle yourself”.  I definitely have to make sure I’m not just running into something that I’m not ready to tackle. For me it’s a get joy and an adventure. Planning is everything.  You first have to plan, do your research, and make sure the prices are right for the task at hand.

Outline your plan for your timeline you are setting for yourself. What do you think will be cost effective for the repairs? Give yourself a budget. What if the property sits on the market for a while? What would plan B be if the property sits? What type of timeline will you give yourself to flip the property before you go to plan B? Get all the estimates you will need for your remodel. Cost is everything. It can either make or break you.

Do your research for the area you will be in. Complete a Comparative Market Analysis to find out what you could sell the property for before you purchase it. 

Know what you would sell the house for a quick flip. Does the house you want to flip have the potential to pull in the profit you want to make? After everyone gets paid would you reach your goal? 

What you want to know is in the end was it worth it?

View YouTube on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDuHjFiAj7E

CHANGE

Definition of Change:

change

[ chaynj ]

1.    become or make different: to become different, or make something or somebody different

2.    substitute or replace something: to exchange, substitute, or replace something

3.    pass from one state to another: to pass or make something pass from one state or stage to another

Here are some ways to use change in a positive direction. Here are some positive Thoughts spelling out the word C-H-A-N-G-E.

C- Challenge their comfortable routine

  H- Halts their mental slump
 
  A-   Addresses their fears

  N-   Narrows their excuses

  G - Gives today power over yesterday

  E- Ends that part of the journey
------------------------------------------------------------------------

   C- Creates Confidence

   H – Has the power to correct the wrong

   A – Allows you to adopt a new course

   N – New possibilities are exposed

   G -  Gives today a new meaning

   E – Energize you from the inside out

View my YouTube:

Best Interest Rate Ever

My client was able to get a great interest rate as a First Time Home Buyer. I told her about all the available programs we have in our area and she decided to go with VA program being that she is an ex-Marine. At one point in time after our option period she did want to change to the First Time Home Buyer program, but her interest rate wasn’t going to be nearly as good. So she stayed with the TxVet program and a low interest rate of under 3% (you can’t beat that). With the regular First Time Program rate she wouldn’t have been able to touch those rates. I’m very glad she stayed with her current program and was able to purchase the house that she wanted.

I’ve also received a referral from her for one of her family members. I love referrals.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XLM7fhXtB0

Refinancing Your Home

I was just on vacation in Saint Croix having a great time with friends.  The water was beautiful and clear. Everyone was talking about their jobs and then my turn came. As you know I am a Realtor, so a good friend of mines sister refinanced her house last year and now she wants to sell it.  She said she is saving a few hundred dollars by refinancing it. I didn’t go into any specifics but to me a few hundred means three maybe four.  I asked her why she refinanced only to want to sell.  She said she wanted to lower the payment and the refinancer rushed her through the process.  I asked her about the fees and she said there were a lot. Later that day I talked to her other sister and she was inquiring about refinancing her house and then selling it too. It just completely surprised me that she wanted to refinance then sell the next year.  I asked again why she was willing to refinancing only to sell.  She said she just needs to do something to bring her payments down. (Washington D.C.)

I believe the reason why a lot of owners are willing to refinance is because they don’t have to pay any out of pocket fees. My advice to her was, “Talk to a good Real Estate Agent”. Let them complete a comparative Market Analysis for you and let you know what your house can sell for and what it would cost you to sell your house.  She would need to sit down and write out her plans for her home. 

My tips:
***Don’t refinance if you intent is to sell within a few years.
***Don’t refinance if you can’t bring your interest rate down by at least 2%
***Don’t refinance without talking to a Real Estate Agent first.

 Before my husband and I were married I always advised him against refinancing but he had to fine out for himself.  So he called or they called him to sit down and talk about refinancing.  He sat down with an agent and saw all of those fees and enough said.  My mission was completed no refinancing for him and he wasn’t sure if he was going to sell it or keep it either. Bottom Line is he didn’t listen to the resident expert.

Some home owners entering into serious relationships or ending a marriage sometimes began to see their houses as burdens instead of what it are “an investment”. They may not want the hassle. For some it’s like being on a raft that is slowly sinking and your reaching our for anything to keep you a live.  You just want to stay a FLOAT.

Mentoring

Definition: A wise and trusted counselor or teacher

What is the importance of mentoring? It’s a balance of learning from others and you have no obligation to partner or work with. It’s a two way relationship to encourage and learn from each other.  When I was in the military they always pushed mentoring all the time. I understood its importance then but never really took the opportunity to get a good mentor.  Fraternities and sororities are big on having mentors and establishing connections as well. Churches are another great place to find a mentor.  These different organizations are great places that provide opportunities to discover mentors.

I’m looking for a mentor not only for my job, but also for a financial advisor that I can bounce ideas with and it wouldn’t be a payment method of advice. Mentoring is a person volunteering their time.  Not only do children need mentors but also adults need to be mentored.  Rather they are first time parent, have a new job, or need more life skills.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6XKksys-XI

Why Wait Until the Last Minute

I meet a lot of people interested in purchasing a home, but get nervous about getting qualified for a loan.  After I ask my client if they have been pre-qualified they sometimes respond with, “We are ready to look for a house but we aren’t ready to get our credit ran”.
I understand some people are nervous about their credit, but this is the first step towards the home buying process, but this is the first step towards the home buying process.  Good credit is the number one way to get into your house, unless you have cash.  By getting your credit checked it allows you to know where you stand. You may have a collection that you weren’t aware of, or you may need to get your points up a little more, or you may have additional documentation that you need to turn in, and there may be something on your credit that you didn’t tell the real estate agent about (me).
If you’re interested in buying a home go ahead and get pre-qualified even if you don’t think you’re going to purchase until 6-12mo from now, that’s fine too.  This will allow you to work out any issues that may pop up later.  

You will be able to own a piece of the dream.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2TVmGf309Q

The Choices We Make

When we are motivated about something then we are able to focus on it. More energy is created to finish the task. Energy we don't know where it comes from. The excitement and the thoughts of completing or accomplishing an object motivate us more.

We find a new level of excitement that stimulates us. Its like buying a new house. Yes, some may be nervous but you’re also very excited. New buyers just want to make sure that they made the right decisions, starting with the light fixtures to the correct floor color.

 We all have choices and we have to decide if we are making the correct choices.

C – clear on the cost and willing to pay

H – having a support team in your life

O – organization that keeps the focus clear

I – investigating all option

C - coming to grip with your dream

E – emotional staminia

Stamina is created by passion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=Ivym8f0NXPU&NR=1

Happy Mother’s Day

Wouldn’t it be great if every mother could have a new house for their mother’s day gift? Only in our dreams would that happen. That would be a dream of a dream. Since I can’t get you a New House I’ll give you words of wisdom. Most mothers are leaders.

Leadership- allowing people to grow and become better than they are today in a particular direction to accomplish a mission.

A – Allow for organization (outline for the mind to follow)

G – Give people a focus

E – Expectations are established

N – New items can be added

D – Directs their actions

A – Allows for task complement

What happens if there is no Agenda for people to follow? It allows for people to watch and not work. Their direction is missing. Ensure you have direction in life

Happy Mother's Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2TVmGf309Q

Two closings in one day with two great families using two different loan programs.

I had the pleasure of working with the Mitchell family to sell their home purchased under VA loan.  4408 Aspen, Killeen Tx., we were able to get an offer and put it under contract in three weeks.  I was able to help my clients locate their survey as well as put them in contact with repair people and professional cleaning people to help everything work smoothly.  Whenever you're remodeling or getting repairs I like everyone to call at least three people to compare prices.

Click here to view their video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR2xIgUz7qA&feature=relmfu

The other family I had the pleasure of working with was the Long family.  First Time Homebuyer using the Bond program.  This is an excellent program for people having to use FHA with this program the buyer didn’t have to put down the 3.5%.  We were able to write everything up and she paid zero out of pocket. To find out more about the bond program call or email me. jneka@exithomevets.net or call 254-285-4282

View here to view her video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX70kF_HExM

POSITIVE GROWTH

You are at your best if you are better than you were yesterday!!!

Positive Growth is surrounding youself with positive people.  Like mind people reaching towards a positive goal is always a blessing.  What are you doing right now to improve or to be better? What changes are you implementing to make you better? What books are you reading? What task are you adding to your lifestyle? Get better in your life when you overcome obstacles that hold you back.

B             Believe there is something more for you

E              Extra Effort

T              Take a risk

T              The quality support group

E              Emotional Control

R             Resilience

Failure is an option that doesn’t work

View me on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh9LmZknTRU
Click "Like"

Market Trends in the Fort Hood Area

Single Family Homes for the month of December 2011, we sold 197 homes with an average sales price of $132,672 and Days On the Market (DOM) 6.54%.  We are still in a buyer’s market.

Our current Foreclosures sold were 25 at 12.69%. People are always talking about foreclosed homes, but really there are only 4.66% percent of Foreclosed homes that are in our market ready to sell. Because interest rates are down (very low) which make payments low. 

Remember now is a great time to buy.

View YouTube:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh9LmZknTRU

My Utopia and Goals

Utopia is being decisive, fair, and having a confidence about yourself that is easy.  I remember playing a Utopia game when I was younger.  I really didn’t understand it at first and it was a simple game, but never the less I always played it.

My Utopia is Harmony.  Harmony with the universe, harmony with family, and harmony with friends.  My goal is to have pleasantries with family and daily desire to improve wealth of knowledge. My harmony is the beauty of getting along with neighbors and the ability to give back to our community.  That my family will meditate on a daily basis to bring positive energy to our family.  My Utopia is having a business that requires little to no effort making money. My daily saying is, “Money comes easily and freely in 2012”.  My goal is to also Patton a product that everyone can utilize.  Put my designs together, the paperwork, and follow through with my plan.  Learn as much as I can about the process and make a dream a reality.

Invest in another property for 2012 rather its rental property or it’s a flip.  Own the dream of real estate and invest.

These are my plans and goals for 2012.

Sign J’Neka 1-2-12

http://jmorrison.killeen-homesearch.com/