Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Poem: Freedom is Not Free
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ERA's Peak Performance Strategy Session
We had the Anthony Robbins Company come to our office yesterday and do a presentation on this. It was great and very worthwhile! Duane
Special Moments Story
Special Moments
A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package: 'This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package.' He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. 'She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said: 'Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion'. I still think those words changed my life. Now I read more and clean less. I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day... I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it. I don't save my special perfume for special occasions. I use it whenever I want to. The words 'Someday....' and ' One Day...' are fading away from my dictionary.
If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.... I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come. Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.
Duane's Business Tip of the Day for May 28
If you know what your people have bought in the past, you'll know what they'll buy in the future.
Think about it.
Duane's Joke of the Day for May 28
A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her name plate that the teller's name is Patricia Whack. So, he says, "Mrs. Whack, I'd like to get a loan to buy a boat and go on a long vacation." Patti looks at the frog in disbelief and asks how much he wants to borrow. The frog says "$30,000." The teller asks his name and the frog says that his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it is OK, he knows the bank manager. Patti explains that $30,000 is a substantial amount of money and that he will need to secure some collateral against the loan. She asks if he has anything he can use as collateral. The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny pink porcelain pig, about half an inch tall. Bright pink and perfectly formed. Very confused, Patti explains that she'll have to consult with the manager and disappears into a back office. She finds the manager and says: "There is a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000. And he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink pig.
"I mean, what the heck is this?" The bank manager looks back at her and says,
"It's a knick knack, Patti Whack.
Give the frog a loan.
His old man's a Rolling Stone."
Duane's Quote of the day for May 28
Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength.
-- Anonymous (That guy has a lot of quotes to his name!)
Memorial Day Facts
| Did you know: |
| We celebrate Memorial Day as a day of remembrance for those who have died (approximately 1.1 million people) in our nation's service. This is in contrast to Veterans Day, when we honor all who have served in the U.S. military. |
| President Ulysses S. Grant presided over the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868. James A. Garfield — a Civil War general, an Ohio congressman and a future president — was the principal speaker. After the ceremony, some 5,000 participants decorated the gravesites of more than 20,000 soldiers. |
| In honor of Memorial Day, all Americans are encouraged to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time for a moment of silence to remember those who have died in service to the nation. |
Duane's Real Estate Video Text for May 27
Duane’s Video May 27
| “It’s a great day to be in real estate! Duane Beisner here… sales manager and a sales representative for ERA real estate. |
Duane’s Quote of the Day
"Moral courage simply means you do what you think is right without bothering too much about the effect on yourself."
-- William Slim, British Field Marshal
Duane’s Joke of the Day
VARNING: MinnySoda Compewtr Virus
Ve haf just sent you da NORVEGIAN VIRUS. Since ve do not haf any programming experience and do not know how to actually demage your computir, dis Virus verks on da honor system. Please forward dis Virus to eferyvone on your mailing list and den manually delete all of da files on your hard drive.
Tank you for your cooperation,
Sven and Ole
Duane’s Business Tip of the Day
The greatest negotiating tool of all time is to simply be nice to other people.
Think about it.
Duane’s Social Commentary How to Keep Your Facebook Profile Secure…
Here's how to navigate the new settings and keep your profile secure:
1) Review Settings
Simpler controls may help most users, but an opt-out system will do little for users who don't look at those controls, says Paul Stephens, the director of policy and advocacy for the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. Unless users say otherwise, everything is shared. Use the "preview my profile tool" on Face book’s privacy settings pages to see what others can spot. Also consider downloading the free tool at ReclaimPrivacy.org, which flags unsecure settings and offers tips to revise them.
2) Eliminate 'Everyone'
Users would do well to stop thinking of social networks as somehow cut off from the broader Internet. "People understand that when they tweet [using Twitter.com], that it's a broadcast to the world," Aftab says. Anything in Facebook settings that's available to "everyone" is available publicly in the same fashion, potentially showing up to anyone who clicks on your profile, visits sites such as OpenBook or conducts a search on Google (GOOG, News. "Don't post it unless you want your parents, the police, predators and your principal [or boss] to see it," she says.
3) Opt for Security
Face book’s new policy still allows users to specify restrictions post by post. Opt for a more secure setting and tighten or loosen it further if the situation calls for it, Aftab suggests. For example, users can set photo sharing to "friends only" but then specify that their boss can't view the newly uploaded pictures from a recent party. On the other hand, they can broaden a job-hunt status update to include "friends of friends," instead of just people in their immediate circle.
4) Share with Caution
Even information shared with "friends only" could pose a security threat if a friend's account is hacked or a bug occurs, Stephens says. Seemly innocuous data, such as a birthday, a mother's maiden name or a favorite pet's name is enough for hackers and identity thieves to do serious damage. "You're providing a source of data that might be used by a hacker to access password-restricted sites," he says.
There's also the embarrassment factor. In February, a temporary bug resulted in a handful of Facebook users receiving hundreds of private messages meant for others. In early May, another glitch allowed users to view friends' private chats with other people
Duane’s Real Estate News…
April New-Home Sales Spike 14.8%
Sales of new homes jumped in April, climbing 14.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted rate of 504,000 last month, up from 439,000 in March, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
Sales were up 47.8 percent over the same period a year ago.
The surge was driven by the home buyer tax credit, which expired April 30. "We got two solid increases in March and April," says Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wells Fargo. "We may see sales fall to a record low in the aftermath of the tax credit program, but any fallback should be short-lived." The government estimates that there were 211,000 new homes on the market at the end of April, a five-month inventory.
In a somewhat related report… Post-Tax Credit Buyers May Save Money
Missing the tax credit deadline might have seemed like a big mistake to some home buyers, but waiting could have been the smartest thing to do.
Interest rates have fallen so dramatically since April 30th that the typical purchaser of a $350,000 home, financed with a $280,000 mortgage, would have saved a bundle by waiting until May.
At April’s average rate of 5.34 percent, a home buyer would have locked in a 30-year fixed rate loan with a monthly payment of $1,561.82. The same borrower could have snagged a 30-year fixed rate loan at a rate of 4.625 percent in May and paid $1,439.59 per month. That’s a $1,467 annual savings. Over 30 years, it’s a $44,003 savings, dwarfing the tax credit.
This is Duane signing off. Happy Trails to you! As always, I am proud to be an American. You can email me at duane.beisner@era.com Or visit my website at www.rejedi.com
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Stress Buster Pictures
Enjoy!
I for one am so happy that God blessed us with animals!
Duane
"Look . . . I was thirsty man, deal with it"...
Touch de duck... I keel you!...
Weeeeeee!!! Look at me I'm Yoda!
"You want a piece of me? Bring it on!...
"Kid . . . You're askin' the wrong guy".
< /B>
I don't get it. Where's the milk?!
Wasssup!!
This bird's about to get a snot bath...
I Hate You!!!
It was only a little pee, why the 30 minute timeout??
Dad left when he found out about Mom and the Panda...
Duane's Joke of the Day for May 27 "Warning! Norvegian Computer Virus!"
I received this email recently and thought you might enjoy this…
Received in a recent email:
VARNING: MinnySoda Compewtr Virus
Ve haf just sent you da NORVEGIAN VIRUS. Since ve do not haf any programming experience and do not know how to actually demage your computir, dis Virus verks on da honor system. Please forward dis Virus to eferyvone on your mailing list and den manually delete all of da files on your hard drive.
Tank you for your cooperation,
Sven and Ole
Duane's Motivational Quote of the Day for May 27
"Moral courage simply means you do what you think is right without bothering too much about the effect on yourself." -- William Slim, British Field Marshal
Duane's Real Estate Video Text for May 26
Duane’s Video May 26
| “It’s a great day to be in real estate! Duane Beisner here… sales manager and a sales representative for ERA real estate. |
Duane’s Quote of the Day
I have never been a millionaire, but I have enjoyed a great meal, a crackling fire, a glorious sunset, a walk with a friend, a hug from a child, a cup of soup, a kiss behind the ear. There are plenty of life's tiny delights for all of us. -- Jack Anthony
Duane’s Joke of the Day
One warm summer evening a mother was driving with her three young children. A woman in the convertible in front of them stood up and waved. She was STARK NAKED. As the mother was reeling from shock, the five year old said, "Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!"
Duane’s Business Tip of the Day
If you were to keep track of the average salesperson's time each week, you would discover that at least 80% of a typical week's time is spent on nonproductive activities.
Think about it.
Duane’s Social Commentary
What states are the greenest?
Governors around the country, from California's Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to Colorado's Bill Ritter (D), have been signing legislation to attract green businesses, jobs and renewable energy sources to their states.
So which state is the greenest? Green directory website Greenopia.com, set out to answer that question by comparing a long list of data including water quality, recycling rate and eco-friendly buildings.
1. Washington
The Evergreen State is living up to its nickname. Washington made the top stop because of its high number of LEED buildings, green businesses and renewable energy sources.
2. Vermont
One of the state's renewable energy sources is the Searsburg Wind Power Facility, which can power some 1,400 homes a year. Vermont has also attracted a number of green businesses to the stat. Some 100 of them operate within its borders.
3. New York
The Empire State is cited as having low water consumption per capita compared to other states, according to the report. New York also has a large number of green businesses, some 3,000.
4. Oregon
Oregon has one of the highest recycling rates in the country at almost 50 percent. It was also cited for having a large number of green businesses relative to its population. There are about 600 green businesses.
5. California
The Golden State gets a large amount of its energy from renewable sources, such as eSolar's Sierra Sun Tower, which can power up to 4,000 homes in Southern California.
6. Nevada
One of the state's renewable energy sources includes ACCIONA's Nevada Solar One. Completed in 2007, it can power more than 14,000 homes a year.
7. Maine
8. Colorado
9. Minnesota
Target Field, achieved LEED silver certification (the third-highest level). The baseball stadium, which opened in April, has recycling stations, water-saving fixtures and utilized recycled building materials.
10. New Hampshire
The state's winning quality, according to the report, is its low energy consumption and emissions per capita.
New Hampshire's first wind farm opened in the town of Lempster last June. Developed by Iberdrola Renewables, the farm is expected to power 10,000 homes in the state.
Duane’s Real Estate News for something special…
Here's some good news for the struggling US housing market: Thanks to the European debt crisis, mortgage rates are at historic lows.
The current average rate for a 30 year fixed loan is 4.87 percent, according to Bankrate.com. That's the lowest rate for the 30 years since Bankrate started keeping track 25 years ago.
Even jumbo loan rates-loans for more than $417,000-have fallen. The 30-year fixed jumbo loan is at an average rate of 4.5 percent, down from nearly 6 percent at this time last year.
"It's the best time in our generation to buy," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's. "It may be the best time in any generation. Mortgage rates are so low and with homes prices down and lots of inventory, you couldn't pick a better time to buy or re-finance."
Europe's debt crisis is behind the drop. Nervous investors are flocking to the security of US Treasuries, which pushes down their yield and influences a host of consumer interest rates-including those on mortgages.
The decline is also good news for homeowners looking to refinance, particularly those who owe more on their mortgage than their house is worth.
"There's a tremendous window on re-financing," says Greg McBride, chief economist at Bankrate.com. "That's particularly true for people who can take advantage of the government's Home Affordability Refinance Program (HARP)-which allows home owners to refinance into low mortgage interest rates even if they're property value has gone down."
HARP, which was due to end at the end of this June, now runs through June of 2011.
"Think of the benefits if you buy or refinance now," says McBride. "Locking in now at the lower rates means more bang for the buck and more breathing room for homeowners when it comes to payments."
But the decline in rates probably won't last long, analysts say. So homeowners need to move fast.
"I think they won't last much longer than a month or two at the best," says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors. "I can see them going up to 5.5 percent by the end of June if not sooner."
The reasons? Yun says the worries over Europe will be fading soon and investors will be looking at other assets besides US Treasuries. And there's the US deficit, which will push up Treasury yields.
This is Duane signing off. Happy Trails to you! As always, I am proud to be an American. You can email me at duane.beisner@era.com Or visit my website at www.rejedi.com
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Duane's Real Estate Video of the Day Text for May 25
Duane’s Video May 25
| “It’s a great day to be in real estate! Duane Beisner here… sales manager and a sales representative for ERA real estate. |
Duane’s Quote of the Day
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress. -- Joseph Joubert
Duane’s Joke of the Day
A broker was dismayed when a brand new real estate office much like his own opened up next door and erected a huge sign which read 'BEST AGENTS.'
He was horrified when another competitor opened up on his right, and announced its arrival with an even larger sign, reading 'LOWEST COMMISSIONS.'
The broker panicked, until he got an idea. He put the biggest sign of all over his own real estate office. It read: 'MAIN ENTRANCE'
Duane’s Business Tip of the Day
To be good at selling, you must be good at creating emotion as you logically explain the benefits of what you have to offer.
Think about it
Duane’s Social Commentary
Consumers with an income of $100,000 or more are among the most likely to use coupons, according to a new survey from digital coupon provider Coupons.com.
Six in 10 Wealthy Consumers Have Used Coupons
Six out of 10 adults (61%) with a household income of $100,000 or more have redeemed a coupon in the past six months. Additionally, about four in 10 adults (39%) in this income bracket have redeemed coupons printed from an online source in the past six months, making them nearly twice as likely to do so as adults with a household income less than $35,000 (21%).
Educated, Metro Consumers Use Coupons
Adults with college degrees are almost twice as likely to have used coupons in the past six months as those who didn’t graduate from high school. In addition, more than three in four adults (77%) who have used coupons in the past six months live in metro areas.
Male Couponing Behavior Increases
Men are increasingly using coupons, according to study results. About one in two adult males (51%) have used a coupon in the past six months. Not only are they using coupons, but more than one-third of men (36%) responded that they even have a designated place to keep their coupons Men are also just as likely as women to spread information about coupons: 18% of men have told a friend about a coupon they found online.
Coupon Popularity Not Directly Tied to Economy
Although usage of coupons by wealthy and male consumers has increased during the current economic recession, overall, consumers plan to continue using them even if the economy improves.
Duane’s Real Estate News for something special…
April Sales and Price Report
Quick Facts:
• Existing, single-family home sales decreased 8.1 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted rate of 483,830 units on an annualized basis compared with April 2009.
• The statewide median price of an existing single-family home increased 21 percent in April to $306,230, compared with April 2009.
• C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index rose to 5.1 months in April, compared with five months in April 2009.
“It’s likely that the state tax credit that went into effect May 1 created an incentive for many buyers to postpone closing escrow so they could take advantage of both the state and federal tax credits that were available,” said C.A.R. President Steve Goddard. “We should see the pace of closed sales edge up in May and June as these tax-incentivized transactions close.
“Sales dipped below the 500,000-unit level for the first time in 19 months also because of supply issues – the demand for attractive foreclosed properties well exceeds the number of properties on the market,” he said. “At the same time, mortgage interest rates continue to hover near their historic lows, and many buyers are out in force to take advantage of the combination of low interest rates and affordably priced homes. It’s an ideal time for many families to purchase their first home even though they may face stiff competition.”
Sales in April 2010 decreased 6.4 percent compared with the previous month.
The statewide sales figure represents what the total number of homes sold during 2010 would be if sales maintained the April pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.
The April 2010 median price increased 1.5 percent compared with March’s $301,790 median price.
“The strong demand for distressed properties continued unabated last month, and overall, inventory remains constrained in most segments of the market,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “Listings in April increased compared with a month earlier, typical for this time of year, as more sellers entered the market. At the $300,000 and below price point, the number of homes for sale is at a 3.3-month supply, well below the historical average of seven months.”
Highlights of C.A.R.’s resale housing figures for April 2010:
This is Duane signing off. Happy Trails to you! As always, I am proud to be an American. You can email me at duane.beisner@era.com Or visit my website at www.rejedi.com
Duane's Thought of the Day for May 26
Remain In The Game If You Want To Win The more you try, the greater your chance of succeeding.
The law of averages is on your side. Taking a risk is often your first necessary step toward success. If you don't take some risks, you won't get the chance to succeed. While you are trying, you are winning. Never get discouraged. Every wrong attempt is another step forward. People that make no mistakes usually don't make anything. Make up your mind not merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand defeats. Your mistakes are stepping stones to success and your installment payments to victory. You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose. "So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist.
For now I know one of the greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win. I will persist. I will win."
Og Mandino
(Posted by a friend of mine)
Duane's Quote of the Day for May 26
I have never been a millionaire, but I have enjoyed a great meal, a crackling fire, a glorious sunset, a walk with a friend, a hug from a child, a cup of soup, a kiss behind the ear. There are plenty of life's tiny delights for all of us.
-- Jack Anthony
Duane's Business Tip of the Day for May 26
If you were to keep track of the average salesperson's time each week, you would discover that at least 80% of a typical week's time is spent on nonproductive activities.
Think about it.
Hey I'm Trying to Fish Here!!!
| Hey I'm Trying to Fish Here!!! Love~~the most powerful force in the world. "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL… ONE HAS YET TO LIVE” Live by what you love, not what you fear |
