Informative video about why Exit is the fastest growing real estate company in the world.
Finishing Strong and Starting Fast October 12, 2010
EXIT Realty Teaches REALTORS® How to Finish Strong and Start Fast
Free educational webinar designed to help real estate professionals and their business
One thing top real estate producers do that differentiates them from average agents is that they consider October 1st year-end and start now to ensure success when the calendar flips to January.
EXIT Realty Corp. International will host a free, live, webinar for real estate professionals designed to help them make the last quarter of 2010 their best quarter so they can hit the ground running come 2011.
Entitled “Finishing Strong and Starting Fast” the 30-minute webinar will be hosted by real estate expert and President of the US Organization of EXIT Realty Corp. International, Tami Bonnell, and will be held at two times, 4:00 pm ET and 7:00 pm ET on Tuesday, October 19th. This webinar is the latest in the popular series hosted by Bonnell.
“The purpose of this webinar series is to continue to raise the bar in the real estate profession – to educate serious real estate practitioners, regardless of their brokerage affiliation and ensure they are armed with the information they need to get the most out of their careers and best serve the public,” says Bonnell.
Bonnell will address topics such as creating the right habits and formulating measurable targets.
To register, click:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/467309834 for the 4:00 pm ET session or
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/940251187 for the 7:00 pm ET session
or visit http://www.exitrealty.com/live_events
About Tami Bonnell: Tami Bonnell is a thirty-year veteran of the real estate industry and was instrumental in building three major brands. Among her many achievements, she was recognized by real estate trend-watcher, Stefan Swanepoel, as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Real Estate.
Ms Bonnell has been a featured speaker at the National Association of REALTORS® convention to the Top 500 Power Brokers, The Women’s Council of REALTORS®, Inman News Connect Conference and she was a featured speaker at the opening session of RISMedia’s Leadership Conference earlier this year. Along with several other national and local speaking engagements, Ms Bonnell hosts quarterly webinars educating the general public on real estate issues.
She is a wife, mother of three and grandmother of three. In her spare time she is a martial artist, coach, judge and referee.
Ms Bonnell has been the President of the US Organization of EXIT Realty Corp. International since 2001.
Just Listed! September 14, 2010
Update: No longer available as of 10/2/10 – 1 year lease has been signed!
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Garden State Resales Outpace U.S. August 26, 2010
| According to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (NAR) second quarter 2010 State Resale Report, New Jersey existing home sales have far outpaced the nation. Existing home sales in the Garden State increased 15.4 percent from the first quarter of 2010 to the second. New Jersey’s resales are 29.9 percent higher than the second quarter of last year. The national figure for second-quarter resales only showed a quarterly sales increase of 9.1 percent and a yearly increase of 17.3 percent. In addition, each of New Jersey’s metro areas showed year-over-year growth in median home price, according to NAR’s Metropolitan Area Home Price report. |
Tami Bonnell, Exit President of US Ops July 26, 2010
Tami Bonnell, Exit President of US Ops coming to Mt Lakes NJ!
Please contact me if you’re an actively licensed agent and would like to be my special guest for this event. It is this Thursday, July 29 at 4:30pm – reception and dinner at the Zeris Inn in Mt Lakes NJ.
Do not miss this incredible opportunity to hear Tami speak and to meet and mingle with agents from all over the state!
Save the Date! FREE Seminar: Mold 101 May 20, 2010
Attention all agents and brokers, please save the date, June 18, 10am for a FREE Seminar: Mold 101.
Hope to see you there!!!
Also, tomorrow Friday May 21, 10am-3:30pm, I will be attending the WEXNET Career & Business Expo,
FREE at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange, NJ.
Looking to Purchase? May 12, 2010
We all like to indulge in life’s pleasures, but if we’re looking to buy a home, we want to make sure we can afford it. Lenders are getting stricter, credit score and net worth are so much more important nowadays. You can get a mortgage if you put as little as 3% down, however your monthly payments will be tougher to handle. The days of going out and burning through your paycheck will be reconsidered when you have a monthly mortgage due. Before you decide to start searching for your perfect home, make sure you can afford it. Use a simple calculator such as this one. Or simply speak to a reputable lender (steer clear from the internet lenders and brokers). If you need referrals I can give you some reliable direct lenders. Get educated on which products will work for you and your particular situation. If you were to put at least 20% down, you can save a bundle on mortgage insurance, which does make a huge impact. Banks use an amortization schedule, which can be seen here (input info and scroll down). Something to consider when they push you to refinance. You can save money each month, but you will be “resetting” the interest payback. Something to keep in mind. A different mortgage product could better fit your needs. Again, speak to a trustworthy loan officer(s). If your realtor cannot recommend one, take that as a red flag and find a new realtor that is more resourceful.
Make sure to be aware of property taxes and any applicable maintenance or community fees on your property (How much will utilities cost extra or is it included? How much is homeowner’s insurance?). Keep in mind, closing costs will be in the upper thousands (think around $8-10k). Also make sure you have a nice cushion of cash in case of emergencies as you should always be prepared for anyway. If you need to borrow extra money from family for instance, make sure it’s little to no interest. A general rule of thumb – the less debt you have a month (credit cards, car payments/insurance, student loans, other debts) the better. Your credit score is very important. If you have excellent credit you may be eligible for a discounted rate. Also make sure you are aware of specialized programs in participating areas that may offer some relief on your mortgage rate such as the LWYW (Live Where You Work) or UTA (Urban Target Area) programs in NJ. Shop around for homeowner’s insurance. Bundling your policy with your auto may be a way to get a possible discount.
There are many other important points to consider. Make sure you ask questions and have your realtor help you figure out what you can afford and what you are comfortable affording. There are always small changes you can make such as downgrading our gyms, cable service, cell phone service, going out to eat, clothes shopping, bad habits… Whatever it is that you can cut down on, consider it. You don’t want to get behind on your mortgage, therefore, make sure you are looking in the right price range and making wise decisions. Utilize all resources! If you still want that “dream” house, it may not be the right time for you financially. Consider saving more money to put more money down and lower your monthly mortgage. If you have no idea where your money goes each month, make sure you create a budget and keep track beforehand, it will help you out tremendously in the long run when you realize all your bills are paid for the month and you don’t know why you have $50 left in your bank account!
Why Do I Need a Realtor? May 5, 2010
The internet has changed the way we do things. We have so many resources readily available to us, such as Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, FSBO, RealtyTrac, open houses, the list goes on and on. With all of these resources, we sometimes wonder why we need an agent to help us find the home we want. Well, the truth is an agent should be used as a tool to help you find the home you want, but that should not be your main objective. Agents are paid commission for a reason, and that reason is not so they can send you homes and help you find a home. It’s also not an agent’s job to show you every home that you might like and hope you find one that fits your needs. Part of an agent’s job is to help you make decisions. There are many homes for sale out there, and not all of them are listed on the MLS. An agent should help you be able to negotiate and get the best deal. It is also their job to fully understand what you want and how to advise you to get what you want at the best price. This involves not only skill and experience but also research. Your agent should be doing their best research and spending time on what makes sense for you to get the best deal. If you want to look for homes yourself, let your agent know. That way your agent can better spend their time doing other important things. An agent also has more resources, tools and knowledge that you do not necessarily have. A good agent should be trustworthy – enough for you to know they will do their best. You want a home, the agent should get it for you at the best price possible and set the right expectations.
Selling It May 4, 2010
When selling your home it’s important to keep in mind that you’re trying to make an impression on buyers. Imagine you’re selling your car. Wouldn’t you wash, wax, detail, shine, and proudly outline all the features of the car? Same goes for a house. Accentuate the positives. Showcase the strengths of the house. Imagine that you are a potential buyer. Have your agent give you advice on what to do to make the house attract more buyers. There are always little changes that can be made that will give someone on the fence a little extra push. Important things to pay attention to:
1 – Curb appeal. What changes could make your house look more attractive? The front of your property is the first impression. Relatively inexpensive things to replace or add include old mailboxes, house numbers, chipped paint on railings, cracks in pathway, storm door handles/knobs, door knockers, doorbells, potted flowers, welcome mats. These little details could make all the difference. Make sure to choose universally appealing choices. Perhaps a bright pink mailbox wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Anything chipped or worn can be easily and quickly freshened up with new paint.
2 – Neutralize odor. Who doesn’t love the smell of a new car? The same goes for a house. Even if a house is old, it doesn’t have to smell that way. Try to maintain an odor free home. If you have pets, be mindful of potential buyers that do not own pets and wouldn’t be as understanding as those that do. Same can be said about cigar/cigarette odor. Be sure to keep air circulating throughout the house, especially during the times it will be shown. Any musty or moldy smells pose questions and hesitation for buyers. At the same token, don’t cover up smells with overpowering sprays or candles. That might trigger suspicion as well. An odor-free house seems so simple, yet it’s not something we always think about.
3 – Brighter is better. Buyers want a bright and airy home. If your home seems dark, consider adding more light, opening drapes, perhaps even changing the color of the rug or walls. Neutral colors make spaces seem bigger and brighter. They also attract more buyers. Not everyone wants a forest green living room. It may be a really nice color, but attract more buyers by sticking to basic tones. Think beige, tan, light pastels, light gray, and shades of white.
4 – Make updates. Even if your house was built in the 60s, it doesn’t have to reflect that. You don’t have to completely renovate a space in order to make it look updated. Simple fixes include new kitchen and bath fixtures, flooring, rugs, cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, stainless steel metal film, pendant lights… the list goes on and on. If your kitchen could use more counter space, invest in a kitchen cart and put it in the middle as an island. The possibilities are endless. Think updates and think efficiency. Buyers will appreciate anything that will make their lives easier.
5 – Clear clutter. A vacant house shows well. So does a staged house. If you can’t afford a home staging professional, some agents now have home staging accreditation. If your agent isn’t a certified home stager, they should be able to refer you to one. A home stager will help reduce the clutter in your house and make it more attractive to buyers. Not only can they emphasize the desirable features of the house, they are also able to design the space so that buyers can imagine themselves living there. Each room is carefully designed to showcase its function. You could also do this yourself. Study home decor magazines and websites. Keep in mind, minimal is key. A neutral living room with a balanced sofa, side tables with matching lamps, artwork, coffee table and a few books on top is enough for the buyer to know that the living room is nice, neat, and used as such. Any clutter would be distracting. A smaller bedroom can have a desk, chair, bookcase, perhaps even a laptop and printer to show that it is functional as an office space. Sometimes it helps for the buyer to visualize a space and see a staged office is more attractive to them than an empty bedroom that just shows it is too small, thus a negative. Less is more. If your house lacks square footage, it’s better to clear out unnecessary furniture and possessions that make the space seem even smaller.
Amazing! 160 Twitter followers. Thanks for all the love!
