The Beachy Beach Fireside Chat....

It was a perfect evening, just a slight chill in the air. It made the roaring fire feel just right. We gathered, one by one, at the boathouse to celebrate a great year and to share our hearts and souls with each other about 2012 and what we plan to do to make it even better. It was difficult to keep it a secret from Karen Smith, our broker, but we actually pulled it off. She was totally suprised and in awe. We decided at the onset that she should not know because she would assume some type of responsibility for the evening. And after a very busy year, Karen ended 2011 like a whirlwind. There were board meetings & extra beach shows. We opened a new office on 30A, and then Karen was named Broker of the Year for Bay County Board of Realtors and there was a huge banquet. Then there was the office Christmas party, the other office Christmas party, and planning for Christmas. And if that wasn't enough to fill her busy schedule, she pulled off a wedding for her son on Christmas Eve! whew!

 

This was our night, and Karen's night. It was our turn to get her to sit down and relax by a warm fire while we all, one by one, shared our hearts about each other and for Karen. There was laughter and tears, lots of thankfulness and appreciation for each other and for our wonderful little company. It was a great opportunity for me to share with everyone how I came to be here, and how awesome God is that he led me to this place and these people. "I know the plans I have for you", it says in Jeremiah.

As I sat there listening, I was reminded of how much God must love me. And how that his plan for me is always so much more than what I could imagine for myself. I learned a few things about my office team, and I learned a few things about me. 

This was one of those moments you put away in the corner of your memory and will never forget. It brought synergy to our group and pulled us together, and brought our minds together for a greater purpose. You see, here at Beachy Beach Real Estate, we don't feel like we are here just to sell real estate. We feel like we are here to make a difference in people's lives. And as a team of professionals, we strive every day to be a positive force and an inspiration to each other and to our community. There's no doubt that our 'little office' is quickly becoming the 'big deal' on the beach. Karen's philosphy is that the only people we have to get even with are the ones who have helped us. And together, we plan to do alot of 'getting even' with folks this year.

Gratitude and love is all around, and we are so blessed.

~Kimberly Luna

Don't Miss Energy Tax Credits for 2011

2011’s federal energy tax credits of up to $500 for various home improvements include items such as: 

• Heating, ventilation, air conditioning

• Insulation

• Roofs (metal and asphalt)

• Water heaters (non-solar)

• Windows, doors, and skylights

• Storm windows and doors

The energy tax credits are small, but a credit is better than a deduction. With a credit, you get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax liability. If you get the $500 credit, you pay $500 less in taxes. Deductions just reduce your taxable income.

There are some important things to know about these credits. There can be limits on energy tax credits. Certain systems are capped below $500. And installation is not always covered.

How can I claim the 2011 energy tax credit?
1. To determine if the system you’re considering is eligible for the credits,  go to Energy Star’s website for detailed descriptions of what’s covered. Then talk to your vendor.
2. Make sure to save system receipts and manufacturer certifications. You’ll need them if the IRS asks for proof.
3. Make sure to provide this information to your tax professional, or file IRS Form 5695 with the rest of your tax forms in 2012.

You should consult a tax professional for tax advice, and remember that tax laws may vary by jurisdiction.

A few years ago, I started a Women's Networking Group in North Georgia. It was such an awesome group of wonderful, motivated, and inspiring women. I remember once near the end of the year I spoke about dreams and goals, looking back and looking forward. It was a very thought provoking meeting. 

In my real estate career it seems that every broker every year has the same class as well, goal setting, business planning and reviewing the past year. It was also the subject at my Mastermind Group meeting where several of my best friends and real estate pro's would gather once a month to share ideas, experiences, and motivate and encourage each other.

So, what's all the fuss every year about business planning and goal setting all about? Why must we do this over and over, year after year? There isn't just one answer. There are many answers. I'm sure you have your own answers, but here's one that rings true, year after year.

If you don't know where you are going, how will you get there? Jim Rohn says the best place to 'start' is at the 'finish line', then go backwards. In sales, you have to figure out how many sales you want to close, how many calls produce leads and how many leads result in deals. Then figure out how many calls a day you have to make to reach your goal. Or maybe it's losing weight. Of course you realize that the weight 'gain' was little by little, ounce by ounce, over a period of days, years, and months. And the weight 'loss' must happen the same way in reverse.

 

Whatever your endeavor, rejoice over each small success and realize that moment by moment you are one step closer to your goal. Before you can run a marathon, you have to be able to walk a mile.

 

2011 has been the most life changing and challenging year of my life, and I've learned some valuable lessons. I've learned that life is like flying a jet plane from California to Hawaii. The route is never in a straight line. Coordinates are set and reset many times while en route. Eventually, after zig zagging back and forth the plane sets down on the tarmac successfully reaching it's destination.

 

I've learned that just when you thing you have it all figured out, life can throw you a curve ball. And if you want to survive, you'd better keep your catcher's mitt conditioned and in working order.

 

Maybe a good idea is to spend more time in reflection of the year realizing what you've learned, what you failed at, and what didn't work out. Why? Because failure is the path to success. Each lesson learned is an opportunity to move forward. 'Lesson Learned' being the opportune words here. If you experienced failure but you refuse to learn from it, you are doomed to repeat it. It's like having a huge book collection vs. reading alot of books. 

How about you? Have you set your 2012 Goals yet? Is your business plan written and segmented into months, weeks, and days? I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is absolute magic in writing your goals and setting deadlines. It makes every day a day of purpose. As one of my favorite people, Anthony Robbins, says... "The purpose of setting the goal or achieving your dreams is not to get things, The purpose of the goal is what it will make of you as a person. Making a million dollars can only inspire you so much, but becoming a person of abundance will last you the rest of your life." 

 

Wishing you and yours a joyous Christmas Season, and a prosperous New Year! 

It's the most wonderful time of the year........

Well, here we are again. Christmas time. As I get older the years pass more quickly and time gets more and more valuable. I remember when I was a child waiting with such anticipation for Christmas to arrive. It wasn't just about gifts and getting things. For me, it was more about 'family'.

When I was 4 yrs old, my dad accepted a pastorate at a church in South Florida and we moved away from the rest of our family. And every year, there was a family reunion at Christmas time. On dad's side of the family, it was always on Christmas eve. And on mom's side it was Christmas Day. We'd leave several days ahead of time, and it would usually be at least a week filled with lots of visits with cousins, favorite uncles and aunts, and of course..lots of presents. I never could figure out how mom & dad were able to hide all of my brother and I's presents in the car to take up there without us seeing them.

Grandma's and Grandpa's have passed on now, and I haven't been to any of the family reunions in awhile, seems that as we grow older 'life' happens and things change. But I'll always remember that feeling. Anticipation, excitement, and pure joy.

Life is full of memories, old and new. It's important to remember to live each day to the fullest. Today, on the 13th day of December I spent a couple of hours walking the beach. The sun was shining down, it was warm and the water was spectacular. Quite a difference from the 15 winters that I spent in the cold, rain, and freezing wind of north Georgia.

I'm very thankful it's Christmas time again, because it truly is....the most wonderful time of the year.

Merry Christmas!!

~Kimberly

Have A Little Faith

I recently had a conversation with a gentleman who was dating a wonderful girl that he knew he loved, but he just couldn't tell her. It seems he had experienced the pain of a divorce and had cold feet about saying 'I love you' again. It's natural that when we are hurt we guard our hearts and become afraid to let someone else back in for fear of being hurt again.

The news is full of stories depicting the severity of the unemployment rate, the foreclosure rate, and other negatives. There are many people with good jobs who want to buy a house, but are afraid that they too will wind up in the employment line. The truth is, no job is safe.

However, the days of a one career life have reached their end. Very few people work the same job or even the same career for 30+ years anymore. Your career is not a job, it's who you are. It's what you enjoy doing. And by not making the decision to take advantage of the lowest prices in the housing market in decades, you are cheating yourself from what you really want.

Later, I was thinking about the conversation about love and I thought of a response. And I think it applies to both situations.

It's all about faith. We exemplify faith in our lives every single day. We get up and have faith that our cars will start so that we can go to work, and the bus will show up to pick up the children. We drive onto the highway in faith believing that the person driving the car coming towards us at 65 mph will stay in their own lane, yet nothing separates these 2 vehicles but a painted yellow line down the middle of the road.

Everything you do or participate in every day is a result of faith. If you can have faith in a person you don't even know to stay on their side of the road and not cross over and hit you, how can you not have faith in a person you know? Are you putting off your happiness out of fear? When it comes to matters of the heart, you should cherish every day as if if could be the last. Don't withhold your feelings from someone you love.   

Having faith, or assuming the positive result, is what drives us. Of course there are no guarantees, not for anyone no matter who you are. There's no promise of anything in life, not even a promise of tomorrow.

But this isn't about promises, it's about facts. The facts are that home prices are the lowest in centuries, interest rates are the lowest they have ever been in my lifetime, and the financial benefits of home ownership simply outweigh the 'if's' and fears. 

Put yourself and your financial future into overdrive. It's time to step out in faith and believe!