I wonder if we realize the effect our words have on other people's lives, and even ourselves. Once spoken words can heal, inspire, encourage, motivate. They can also cause a great deal of pain. You don't have to speak out loud everything you think in your mind. Some things are better left unsaid.
Things my mother said to me as a child:
"I hope you have a daughter someday, and I hope she acts just like you do!" - I have NO children.
"You are TOO loud, I heard you over everyone else on the bus!" I have spent the last few years of my life learning to be more assertive and speak up! People constantly complain that I am mumbling and they can't hear me.
" Why do you always have to learn everything the hard way?" I am still trying to stop doing that.
My father had his own contributions. I was a chunky kid, and he was always concerned about my weight. I loved milk. But everytime I would pour myself a glass of milk, he would say " You don't need that whole glass of milk". I am 42 years old, and to this day I cannot pour myself a whole glass of milk.
Think real hard about the things you say to your children, your spouse, family and friends. Are they damaging? Are they hurtful and thoughtless? Do they encourage and inspire or tear down and jab?
Even more detrimental is the negative things that we say to ourselves! Do you constantly tear yourself down? " I believe that the brain doesn't know the difference between what is real and what you tell it. Try some positive affirmations. Write some positive things to say to yourself and paste them on your bathroom mirror. Say them every day, over and over. Tony Robbins has great affirmations like "Every day in every way I am getting better and better. (stronger & stronger or happier and happier) " All I need is within me now!" All the _____ I need is within me now!"
Don't think it works? Did it work when my mother told me I was too loud?
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
6/30/08
6/28/08
Don't Believe It!
I attended a meeting last week and heard it from a pretty reliable authority that all the prophets of doom and gloom are wrong! Hopefully, this is not a suprise to you.
I love listening to people speak who concentrate on the postive, and not the negative side of things. For example I learned that:
98.8% of homeowners pay their mortgage payment ON TIME. Another 1% pay late, but still make the payment. Let's see, that means that 99.8% of homeowners are not losing their homes. And .02% are being foreclosed on. These are not arbitrary numbers. This gentleman, Frank Norton Jr., is a credible authority on the subject. Not going into all the details, you're just going to have to trust me on this one, or call some banks and check it out for yourselves.
Here's another one:
95.4% of the working population is employed! I would bet you didn't hear that on yesterday's evening news.
Here are some other quotes that you might not have paid attention to, and they bear repeating.
" Today's home prices have fallen so much, mortgage rates are so low, and personal income is so high that homes are more affordable today that at any other time in this century."
Smartmoney.com 5/2/2008
"This could be the time to buy a house." Suze Orman 4/24/2008
"The housing crises is over." Wall Street Journal 5/6/2008
Oh, but you are waiting for interest rates to go down more. Here are some statistics and numbers on that.
-Interest rates went from 14% to 6% from 1983 to 2007.
-Interest rates have CLIMBED since January 2008.
If you are looking a a house and waiting for the price to go down before making an offer, consider this.
A $220,000 purchase price @ 6% cost you $1,319.01 per month or $474,843.60 at the end of 30 years.
A $200,000 purchase price @ 7% cost you $1,330.60 per month or $479,016.00 at the end of 30 years.
The $20,000 drop in price COST you $4,173.00 more!
Interest rates are going up folks...not down! A lower price will still cost you more if you continue to wait!!
The current FHA program is the best, most affordable, and most accessible loan program I have seen in my entire career. In addition, all of Dawson & Lumpkin Counties qualify for the Rural Development Loan Program. And Yes, there ARE 100% financing loans available.
Don't believe that you cannot get a loan. Go to the phone and call me now, and let's see if we can help you achieve your dream of home ownership! Every day you wait, it's costing you more money! It costs you nothing to see if you qualify!
contact Kimberly Wilson "Your Available Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!"
I love listening to people speak who concentrate on the postive, and not the negative side of things. For example I learned that:
98.8% of homeowners pay their mortgage payment ON TIME. Another 1% pay late, but still make the payment. Let's see, that means that 99.8% of homeowners are not losing their homes. And .02% are being foreclosed on. These are not arbitrary numbers. This gentleman, Frank Norton Jr., is a credible authority on the subject. Not going into all the details, you're just going to have to trust me on this one, or call some banks and check it out for yourselves.
Here's another one:
95.4% of the working population is employed! I would bet you didn't hear that on yesterday's evening news.
Here are some other quotes that you might not have paid attention to, and they bear repeating.
" Today's home prices have fallen so much, mortgage rates are so low, and personal income is so high that homes are more affordable today that at any other time in this century."
Smartmoney.com 5/2/2008
"This could be the time to buy a house." Suze Orman 4/24/2008
"The housing crises is over." Wall Street Journal 5/6/2008
Oh, but you are waiting for interest rates to go down more. Here are some statistics and numbers on that.
-Interest rates went from 14% to 6% from 1983 to 2007.
-Interest rates have CLIMBED since January 2008.
If you are looking a a house and waiting for the price to go down before making an offer, consider this.
A $220,000 purchase price @ 6% cost you $1,319.01 per month or $474,843.60 at the end of 30 years.
A $200,000 purchase price @ 7% cost you $1,330.60 per month or $479,016.00 at the end of 30 years.
The $20,000 drop in price COST you $4,173.00 more!
Interest rates are going up folks...not down! A lower price will still cost you more if you continue to wait!!
The current FHA program is the best, most affordable, and most accessible loan program I have seen in my entire career. In addition, all of Dawson & Lumpkin Counties qualify for the Rural Development Loan Program. And Yes, there ARE 100% financing loans available.
Don't believe that you cannot get a loan. Go to the phone and call me now, and let's see if we can help you achieve your dream of home ownership! Every day you wait, it's costing you more money! It costs you nothing to see if you qualify!
contact Kimberly Wilson "Your Available Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!"
6/26/08
It's Epidemic! Real Estate Agents are Disappearing!
There's a growing trend among many real estate agents today. Not a day goes by that I am not hearing about it, or experiencing it myself.Real estate agents everywhere are HIDING! They hide from their customers, they hide from other agents, and worst of all they hide from their own clients! What is the reason for this growing epidemic? I can't answer that question with a satisfactory answer for everyone. But I can share my personal experiences.
I have a client who is transferring from New Hampshire to North Georgia. They called me as a result of an ad on Craigslist for a home we have listed for sale. I quickly developed a friendship with them, and started sending them properties to view. Eventually they tell me that they have already visited here and previewed several homes for sale. When they returned to New Hampshire, their agent simply disappeared. She would not return any of their calls. She would not return any of their emails. These folks are going to purchase a home with CASH, as soon as they get their home sold in New Hampshire. They subsequently allowed me to refer them to a terrific agent in New Hampshire to list their home. That agent got the referral from me because HE ANSWERED the phone when I called him. During my searches for homes in my area, often my clients ask for more information. When I call the local listing agent, I get....voicemail! (and usually no return calls)
My purpose for this post is to say that I am NOT that agent. I make a personal guarantee that if I don't answer your call by the third ring, I will return your call within 30 minutes. (during reasonable calling hours of course)
I'm your available agent!
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Available Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
I'm your available agent!
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Available Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
6/23/08
Traveling?
Many people travel during this time of year. Here are some helpful hints to keep you safe when you are on the road.
- Don't answer the door in a hotel room without identifying who it is. If the person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from their staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.
- When returning to your hotel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots.
- Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.
- Don't needlessly display guest room keys in public or carelessly leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be easily stolen.
- Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.
- Don't invite strangers to your room.
- Place valuables in the hotel's safety deposit box.
- Don't leave valuables in your vehicle.
- Check all sliding windows, doors, and connecting room doors to be sure they are locked.
- If you see any suspicious activity, report your observations to the management.
Courtesy of the American Hotel & Motel Association- Washington DC
Home Sellers: Don't forget to tell your agent that you will be out of town. It's a good idea to ask your agent to check on your home every few days while you are away.
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
6/16/08
What are Short Sales?
It’s a sale where the debt owed combined with the costs associated with the sale is more than the property’s market value. The lender may be willing to agree to allow the property to be sold for less than the balance of the loan, which is called a "short sale". The seller would need to prove that they are financially incapable of paying the loan including providing financial documents , an asset & liability statement, and a hardship letter to the bank.
As a buyer, it could be an opportunity to get a great deal. But there are no guarantees that it will close. Some close, but some do not. One of the biggest problems are that sellers are waiting until the last few weeks before the foreclosure sale date, and then trying to get the short sale agreement approved by the bank. The bank has a "loss mitigation" department to handle these accounts, and sometimes they work very quickly. But most lenders are so overburdened by these requests, they simply are not able to get to the file before it is too late!
So, what is a seller to do? If your home is in trouble and you are facing foreclosure, RUN, don't walk, to the phone and call me today! Getting the required paperwork completed, submitted and approved can take a week or two! If your home is scheduled to be sold in 3-4 weeks, it could be too late. Make sure not to attempt this feat without the advice of an agent with experience in short sales. There are many details that cannot be overlooked, such as protection clauses to protect you from the possibilities of deficiency judgements.
Buyers should know that the opportunity is there if you are willing to take the chance. There are no guarantees that there will be a successful close.
The good news is that banks are getting somewhat more efficient at processing short sales. It is also rumored that banks have too many properties on their balance sheets, which affects their regulatory requirements and may encourage them to be more agreeable to short sales in the future.
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
As a buyer, it could be an opportunity to get a great deal. But there are no guarantees that it will close. Some close, but some do not. One of the biggest problems are that sellers are waiting until the last few weeks before the foreclosure sale date, and then trying to get the short sale agreement approved by the bank. The bank has a "loss mitigation" department to handle these accounts, and sometimes they work very quickly. But most lenders are so overburdened by these requests, they simply are not able to get to the file before it is too late!
So, what is a seller to do? If your home is in trouble and you are facing foreclosure, RUN, don't walk, to the phone and call me today! Getting the required paperwork completed, submitted and approved can take a week or two! If your home is scheduled to be sold in 3-4 weeks, it could be too late. Make sure not to attempt this feat without the advice of an agent with experience in short sales. There are many details that cannot be overlooked, such as protection clauses to protect you from the possibilities of deficiency judgements.
Buyers should know that the opportunity is there if you are willing to take the chance. There are no guarantees that there will be a successful close.
The good news is that banks are getting somewhat more efficient at processing short sales. It is also rumored that banks have too many properties on their balance sheets, which affects their regulatory requirements and may encourage them to be more agreeable to short sales in the future.
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
6/8/08
What's In Your "Bucket List"?
Recently, someone asked me about my "Bucket List". I am sure that some of you have seen the movie, and are familiar with the term. I have not seen the movie yet, but I am familiar with the plot.
I do have a "Life List". I have it posted on a website called, Superviva. I am amazed that I have been able to cross some things off my list. It's exciting to write and commit to things you used to only dream of. It's as if admitting them and writing them down has some magical power that propels you in the direction of achieving them. Or maybe it's just that by writing them down, it makes you ask yourself the question, "Why Not?" If nothing else, it seems to provide some direction in my life.
I'm a huge promoter of goal setting and thinking positive. I believe that your brain doesn't know the difference between what's real, and what you tell it. What do I mean by that? Well, let's say that you want to lose some weight. If you constantly profess that you cannot walk by a piece of chocolate without eating it, every time you walk by chocolate you will probably eat it. If you proclaim that you can eat a piece of cake and gain 3 pounds, your brain hears you and can make it happen.
What if you said something like, "I am in control of what I eat, and every day I am losing weight and getting healthier". Try saying that out loud at least 20 times every morning for the next week, and see if your chocolate cravings suddenly have no power over you.
At this point, you are wondering what any of this has to do with helping you get your home sold, or finding just the right home for you to buy. Believe me, it applies! Having a positive outlook will make a huge difference in the way you see situations that arise, help you keep an open mind and be able to "think outside the box" and get the task completed. I want you to believe that whatever obstacles are against you, we can work together and overcome them. It absolutely CAN be done! But first, you must believe! Whatever the mind can believe, it can achieve!
"Whether you think you can, or think you can't...you're right!" - Henry Ford
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
I do have a "Life List". I have it posted on a website called, Superviva. I am amazed that I have been able to cross some things off my list. It's exciting to write and commit to things you used to only dream of. It's as if admitting them and writing them down has some magical power that propels you in the direction of achieving them. Or maybe it's just that by writing them down, it makes you ask yourself the question, "Why Not?" If nothing else, it seems to provide some direction in my life.
I'm a huge promoter of goal setting and thinking positive. I believe that your brain doesn't know the difference between what's real, and what you tell it. What do I mean by that? Well, let's say that you want to lose some weight. If you constantly profess that you cannot walk by a piece of chocolate without eating it, every time you walk by chocolate you will probably eat it. If you proclaim that you can eat a piece of cake and gain 3 pounds, your brain hears you and can make it happen.
What if you said something like, "I am in control of what I eat, and every day I am losing weight and getting healthier". Try saying that out loud at least 20 times every morning for the next week, and see if your chocolate cravings suddenly have no power over you.
At this point, you are wondering what any of this has to do with helping you get your home sold, or finding just the right home for you to buy. Believe me, it applies! Having a positive outlook will make a huge difference in the way you see situations that arise, help you keep an open mind and be able to "think outside the box" and get the task completed. I want you to believe that whatever obstacles are against you, we can work together and overcome them. It absolutely CAN be done! But first, you must believe! Whatever the mind can believe, it can achieve!
"Whether you think you can, or think you can't...you're right!" - Henry Ford
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
6/1/08
Tax Rebate Check Tips For Sellers
Selling Your Home? Getting A Tax Stimulus Check?
Here are some great tips that could turn your rebate into an offer on your home.
Spring Clean your house inside and out! Hire professionals including maids, carpet cleaners and window washers. Make your home sparkle and shine. Be sure to ask your agent to host an open house immediately after the cleaning project is completed.
Offer A Bonus to the Buyer! You could offer it as a "Decorating Allowance", or purchase a large ticket item such as new appliances, or a giant screen television. For example, offering a new washer & dryer with purchase of your home will mean more to a potential buyer than simply leaving the old ones behind.
Get a Facelift! Hire a painter and update the look of your home. Paint the front door a bold color and add some pizazz to your curb appeal.
You'll be surprised how far you can stretch the money and how much you can accomplish if you will do your homework and research your options. The best advice? Get a professional consultation and find out how to best spend the dollars where it will pay off at the closing table. Ask your agent to help you locate a home staging expert in your area.
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
Here are some great tips that could turn your rebate into an offer on your home.
Spring Clean your house inside and out! Hire professionals including maids, carpet cleaners and window washers. Make your home sparkle and shine. Be sure to ask your agent to host an open house immediately after the cleaning project is completed.
Offer A Bonus to the Buyer! You could offer it as a "Decorating Allowance", or purchase a large ticket item such as new appliances, or a giant screen television. For example, offering a new washer & dryer with purchase of your home will mean more to a potential buyer than simply leaving the old ones behind.
Get a Facelift! Hire a painter and update the look of your home. Paint the front door a bold color and add some pizazz to your curb appeal.
You'll be surprised how far you can stretch the money and how much you can accomplish if you will do your homework and research your options. The best advice? Get a professional consultation and find out how to best spend the dollars where it will pay off at the closing table. Ask your agent to help you locate a home staging expert in your area.
contact Kimberly Wilson, Your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
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