Don't stare at that closed door too long

There is a famous quote by Alexander Graham Bell:

“Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.”

Basically, the meaning is that when something negative occurs in life, people often dwell on for so long they miss the new opportunity that has opened up.

A few years ago I recall a situation in which I sold a home to someone. It was a scenario where I was building them a new home, so the process had taken about 3 or so months at the point in which they told me they wanted to cancel the deal.

In the new home sales business cancellations happen, it's just a fact of life, but this particular scenario, really seemed to bug me.

At the point of cancellation, I had invested a vast amount of time and energy trying to please this person, but nothing seemed to suffice.

I recall feeling a bit angry and somewhat dejected as I sat in my office when someone walked in the door.

When I heard the door make the BEEP! noise to let me know someone walked in I have to admit my first thought was....What now?

Horrible, I know.

In any case, I decided to suck it up and help this person that best that I could.

As it turned out, they bought that exact home that I cancelled earlier in the day, than over the ensuing 3 months, they referred 4 other family members and a couple friends.

They ALL bought homes from me and they ALL closed as Happy Homeowners.

I could have just put my head in the sand and felt sorry for myself, but I didn't. Because this other buyer cancelled, I had the NEW OPPORTUNITY to help someone else.

This NEW opportunity led to 6 NEW Sales!

That was the moment that I learned how important the quote from Alexander Graham Bell was.

Do you stare too long at a closed door?

Curt Fletcher is a Real Estate Expert, New Home Sales Professional, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!

New FHA Guidelines...Listen Up Fence Sitters-IT IS TIME TO BUY!

Okay, so the House and the Senate have both passed the Housing Bill and it is just waiting for the Presidents Signature.

The signature will happen this week and is just formality as he said last week he will.

Here are the touch points:

NEW DEAL: Immediate relief for those people impacted by impending Foreclosure.

IMPACT: Less Foreclosed homes in the market place, which will lower the supply allowing more people to sell their home at current market value---NOT the deflated market value created by the high amount of Foreclosures in the market. Basic supply vs. demand principle here.

NEW DEAL: Down Payment Assistance Programs WILL BE BANNED.

IMPACT: If you have a DESIRE to own a new home, and HOPE to NOT be putting at least 3.5% of your own money into the sale, YOU MUST BUY NOW!! The Down Payment Gift Programs like Nehemiah, Genesis, and Ameridream will Officially Disappear on 10/1/2008.

To STILL qualify for a NO MONEY Loan, you MUST have a VALID Home Purchase Contract, An Approved FHA Loan, and an FHA Case number Attached.

This means:

1. BUY A HOME,


2. FILL OUT A LOAN APP,


3. SUBMIT ALL PAPERWORK for the loan BEFORE 10/1/2008.

NEW DEAL: Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers.

IMPACT: First Time Home Buyers WILL be Eligible for a TAX CREDIT of 10% of the NEW Home Purchase or a TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $7,500.

This Tax Credit is really more of an upfront loan as it WILL be required to be paid back in equal installments over the course of the next 15 Years. It will be taken out of your Tax return Check each year, so in most cases it won't be necessary to actually write a check.

Still a good scenario to provide an Immediate Boost to help First Time Home Buyers budget with their NEW Home Investment.

A First Time Buyer is Classified as NOT having any ownership benefit over the course of the last 3 consecutive years.

There are other details involved in the NEW Housing Bill, but these are the 3 MOST Impactful items to Affect YOU.

THE TIME IS NOW FIRST TIME BUYERS! If you are undecided about a home, but desire to make a purchase, the COST of WAITING just got a bit higher.

Curt Fletcher is a Real Estate Expert, New Home Sales Professional, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!

Leadership is in what you DO, not what you say.

We are living in a an era where it seems change and guarded optimism is abundant.

In this time, many obstacles stand between us and the fruitful gains of a nation.

It seems, we as a people are looking to others for answers. We want someone to wave a magic wand of change that will transform the negativity and replace it with Prosperity overnight.

That is "the herd" mentality. People are hoping to embrace the ideals, convictions, and beliefs of others just for the slight chance that their lives can and will improve.

The ONLY way to effectively change anything is to Lead.

Leaders don't wait. They seize the moment.

Leaders don't follow. They are two steps ahead...always.

Leaders don't talk. They act.

Leaders turn a Vision into Reality.

For any Real change to ever take place, it will take the actions of many NEW leaders to stand up, clear the path, and guide the way.

In the housing market, negative stories rule the day.

We need ALL Real Estate Professionals, Home Builders, Mortgage Companies, Construction Workers, and Home Owners to STAND UP!

It's time for everyone to UNITE and push back the false negative stories and replace them with positive stories. Every single day all across the country, new home owners are handed the keys to their beautiful new home.

Where are those stories?

It's time to tell your story.

It's time to let your voice be known.

It's time to stand up and Lead.

Let me hear your stories.

Curt Fletcher is a Real Estate Expert, New Home Sales Professional, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!

Attention all Sales People! Sell Yourself FIRST!

I have read article after article and listened to trainer after trainer give tips and clues how to sell more effectively.

Typically, you hear the same general stuff, with almost NO emphasis on the MOST important factor.

YOU!

In the eyes of the public---your prospects---whatever it is that you sell is not perceived as unique or "One of a Kind."

No matter how hard you try, people generally will not see things the way you see it. You know your product is unique and is great, but relaying that message in a sales environment is difficult.

With this understanding, it is IMPERATIVE that you sell yourself first.

If you go into demo mode or persuasion mode without selling yourself, you might as well just save your breath, because it won't matter.

The difference in virtually every decision that a prospect makes comes down to their experience with their sales person.

In home sales, it is the opinion of many decision makers and trainers that the sales person is not as important as the home itself or the options that are inside.

WRONG!

The sales person is THE MOST IMPORTANT aspect of the equation.

Don't fall into the trap that homes, prices, options, or anything else is what you should be selling.

You are selling yourself FIRST!

Once you do that, the rest comes next.

People make the difference.

YOU make the difference.

Curt Fletcher is a Real Estate Expert, New Home Sales Professional, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!

The TRUTH about the Housing Market!

It seems day after day, I read story after story that promotes the downfall of the housing market. I see where homes are losing value and mortgages are more difficult to obtain.

There is only one problem with stories like these. They are NOT an actual representation of the housing market!!

For some reason it has become acceptable and almost expected to tell false blanket stories that project a very negative and false picture of the housing economy.

Is it true that housing has lost value in parts of California?....YES!
Is it true that home values have decreased over parts of the East and West Coast?....YES!
Is it true that the Economic conditions for job growth in Detroit are difficult?....YES!

As a Real Estate Expert in Texas I can tell you that these issues that are being faced in other parts of the country have little to no effect in the Texas market.

These are the FACTS!

• 262,000 NEW Jobs created from April of 07' to April of 08'!
• 11,000 NEW People move to the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex EVERY Month!
• Homes are NOT Losing Value on a wide scale.

So then why is it acceptable to issue Negative Blanket Statements for the Housing Industry to the Public?

In any other aspect of life, accepting blanket statements and stereotypes is considered the lowest form of journalism, is unethical, and is for the most part ignorant.

If Housing is down in Miami, does that mean it is also down in Dallas?.....NO! That makes NO sense!

If crime is high in Washington DC, does that mean crime is also high in Trophy Club, TX?....NO! That makes NO Sense!

The Media Needs to stop trying to Localize a National Issue. It is both inaccurate and Dangerous. The negative news flow is hindering the housing market across the nation by fear mongering and scaring the public.

THE TRUTH ABOUT what the media is doing is this:
In Texas and other very solid markets around the country, people are waiting to purchase homes because they HEAR the market is bad. They are waiting to purchase because the NEWS tells them prices will keep falling.

Only one problem....IT'S WRONG!

The TRUTH in TEXAS

• Prices WILL begin to rise very soon. With higher gas prices come higher building costs--just like anything else you purchase.
• Interest Rates will be going back UP to their normal range. 5% and 6% Mortgage Rates are NOT the norm.
• The LONGER you are told to wait...the HIGHER the cost to you.

The TRUTH about Interest Rates

• 20-Year Average is 7.3%
• 30-Year Average is 8.8%
• Pre 9/11 Average back to 1990 is 7.67%
• POST 9/11 Average is 6.23%
• *9/11 Shocked the world. Rates were lowered to stimulate buying to spur the economy and lower consumer fear.

The time has come to end the False Stories and the Negative Information Exchange. It is doing nothing except promote a poor economy, costing Americans more of their future money (the cost of waiting), and perpetuate a growing feeling of insecurity.