Sometimes it's easy to forget how young America really is.  Our nation is so vibrant and full of promise that optimism sometimes hinders a mature grasp of reality.  America is the land of the Free and the Brave, the nation in which cowboys ride into the sun speckled range and the Rocky, though bruised and bloodied, always manages to win the sparring match in the end. 

It is that irrepressible enthusiasm that gives us the strength to recover in spite of horrifying setbacks and defeats and to will things to go our way even when the deck of cards is stacked against us. 

The fact that America has been able to do this so successfully is a testament to her relative youthful vigor amongst the sisterhood of nation states. 

When you look at ancient civilizations in Africa, the Middle East and the Far East, you appreciate the fact that a few hundred years is youthful against a backdrop of many centuries.

In some ways we're like teenagers; not really believing that certain types of mistakes have the capacity to change us on a fundamental level.  A teenager may experiment with drugs and sex not realizing that the wrong needle or partner could fundamentally cost him or her their life.  Teenagers are young and naive enough to be willing to roll the dice and hope that they can get away with it.

However, the dice of life is unpredictable.  And youth rarely calculates the odds of a catastrophe.  The recklessness which has precipitated the crisis on Wall Street is a reminder of the fact that our collective actions can have ramifications far beyond our limited perspective.  The thing about experience is that it forces you to grow up.  A kid who impregnates his girlfriend becomes a father by default...readiness for the responsibility is not the criteria...the ability to have sex is.

In recent years, our ability to access easy and abundantly available credit has been about Availability, not Responsibility.  Through every crisis, our country has learned something and we'll learn some lessons this time too.  That's guaranteed.  The real issue is if we'll learn the lessons which we need to learn to help us to mature and grow up.

Here are 5 Lessons Which I hope that this crisis will force us to grapple with.

1.  Using Credit for Disposable Items Never Makes Sense

I'll never forget the exact moment I saw someone whip out a credit card to pay for a grocery purchase!  It was about 15 years ago and prior to that time, most stores in my area only allowed cash or checks.  I remember wondering WHY someone would be buying groceries which would be gone in a week with a credit card on which the balance could last for years.

I remember discussing this with an associate who told me that it was merely a matter of convenience; most people would pay off their card at the end of the month and furthermore this action could accrue points to be used towards the gain of free stuff.  That was such a crock.  Whether it was groceries or meals in a restaurant, the vast majority of us are still paying for meals we ate a long, long, time ago.  Meals which have long exited our systems.

2.  If you can't Pay For it...A Credit Card does not change that fact

There's a type of security which comes with having a plastic magic wand in ones wallet.  I didn't know how strong this power was until I tore up my credit cards in my early twenties.  As I prepared to walk out the door, I realized that I was nervous and shaky...I didn't have the security of my cards.  That was a huge wake up call for me and it changed my life.  I realized that I had believed a lie in thinking that just because I could charge something meant that I could afford it.  So, not true.

3.  Creative Accounting does not make a big Fat Zero disappear

Asset valuation became a game of pretense that was so extraordinary that in the last stages of our demise, we began to totally imagine it.  Just imagine you make...X Dollars.  Just imagine you're worth X amount.  If you say so, we'll believe you.  In fact our bankers started imagining with us and giving us money which we could not prove that we could repay.  Imagining things is a great childhood game.  Grown ups deal with reality.  Less fun, but far safer when it comes to financial well being.

4.  Consequences are Real and Don't go away Quickly

The thing about a Consequence is that it tends to stick around.  That's not necessarily a bad thing if one understands that the reason that Consequences exist is to teach us the Lessons of Life.  Since youth tends to gloss over important lessons, the message that Consequences are sent to teach us almost always require time and repetition. 

5.  Being Mature requires having the Courage to take Responsibility for your Mistakes

This one may be the hardest lesson to swallow.  Watching or listening to any news or media right now is to watch the 'Blame Game' in full swing.  Everybody is blaming someone else and pointing fingers.  No one seems willing to take responsibility. 

Witness the specter of a government which refuses to focus on solutions for fear of being blamed for taking action.  Immaturity plays out in the world of nations in much the same way that it does in our personal life.  We ignore stuff that we need to pay attention to, we hope that it goes away, we continue doing things that we know are not healthy and then try to find anyone to blame but ourselves. 

The sad truth is that until we come to terms with our actions, we can't move on; we remain mired in the sticky mess as we wallow in self pity.  True Maturity means having the courage to say, " I was Wrong, I made a mistake and I will do what I need to do to take care of it." No blame, no finger pointing, no accusing, no hiding...just plain old fashioned transparency. 

picture is courtesy of respres photostream on flickr

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

A blind date has got to be one of life's scarier moments! Many of us have been the recipient of this form of 'relationship assistance' at some point in our lives.

Although, it's exciting to not know exactly who you will be meeting, the experience is fraught with much angst and trepidation for precisely the same reason...you don't know exactly what you'll get when your date shows up in person!

Today, online dating has spawned hundreds of thousands of successful unions.  However, we all suspect that for every success story, there are oodles of folks who don't have a storybook outcome. 

We all worry about the potential for this:

• A person whose in person appearance is not even remotely connected to how they appear online

• Fake Testimonials which promise more than they deliver

• Individuals who are not what they purport to be...ie the 'pretend doctor' syndrome with fake credentials

These issues are also a concern for millions of consumers who are now going online to select professional services like those provided by members of the real estate community.  Data from the National Association of Realtors indicates that more than 80% of all consumers will utilize the Internet as a part of their selection process for choosing an agent and/or home.  Selecting the right agent for your specific concerns can make all the difference in the world.

Although, there are no guarantees that even your best efforts will yield the results you desire, taking the time to do some preliminary research will greatly enhance your prospects for a successful match.  Let's examine some critical aspects which you should consider as you review potential prospects.

Do You Know if they're the Real Deal?

I mean this literally.  Make sure you're dealing with a real person or business.  Do some checking.  It's pretty easy.  Here are some suggestions:  Contact the local real estate board to inquire about their membership and status.  If they indicate they hold certain awards or designations, call or go online to see if they are on the membership roster.  Google the physical location/address and if you still have doubts, do a drive by.  If things don't check out at this basic level, there's a problem.

Are their Products Visible?

You'll be hiring a real estate agent to market your home.  The disappearing agent who sticks a sign in the yard and NEVER calls is well documented in real estate folklore. 

But what about the disappearing listing? When the home is placed on the market, it becomes a part of the real estate companys' listing portfolio. 

Did you know that there is a dramatic difference between the levels of exposure which your home may receive on the Internet? Did you know that your agent's understanding of Search Engine Positioning and Optimization will be key determinants of your exposure?

For instance, a good online real estate agent can literally put your home on the map...the google indexing map that is.  Imagine being able to say to your friends and family...did you google my home?  If you're competing with 50 other homes for sale in your community, this may make all the difference in the world.

Do They Know What They're Talking About?

Here's the area where the Internet can be of the greatest benefit.  While an increasing number of agents and their agencies have websites, these will provide you with only static information about their listings and services.  To dig deeper, it's prudent to see if the agent you are considering also writes a blog.

Blogging provides a tremendous amount of benefit to the consumer who is in the process of selecting an agent.  For starters, it can save you TIME!  In reading a good agent blog, you will be able to determine the areas of an agent's expertise, their style with clients, the kinds of transactions they handle, and the way they resolve conflicts and solve problems.

Can You Interview them Without Extra Hassle?

You'll find that reading an agent's blog is similar to conducting an interview.  What's great is that you can e-mail or respond in the comment section if you have any additional questions or would like clarification on certain issues.  This type of dialog can be tremendously informative and provides a great platform to become comfortable with someone before hiring them for the job.

It's important to hire the right agent to get the job done.  Using this simple list will improve your chances of selecting someone who has the skill and personality which will be most in alignment with your specific needs.  If you are in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area and are looking for an Online Real Estate Expert, the real estate specialists at Audu Real Estate would be happy to explore how we can assist you.

Where Should you be looking?

Our listings are advertised in a number of Venues which include:  our website, numerous blogs, the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service, the NAR (National Association of Realtors), Zillow, Trulia, Real Estate Shows, Google, Yahoo, Oodle, Twitter & Flickr.  Contact us to discuss how we can create an Internet marketing strategy which makes sense for you!

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

Here's what's on my mind. Can we talk?

Whenever bankers work on weekends, there's reason to be concerned.  For the past couple of weeks, the specter of major announcements about significant entities in the financial world such as the takeover by the Federal Reserve of Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae and the announcement of the pending bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers occurring on Sunday evenings has been unsettling.

But, not necessarily only for obvious reasons.  The obvious reasons would be that the domino like collapse of major institutions is a serious national crisis.  The less obvious reason is that most people who I meet are NOT talking about it.  I don't think it's because people don't care.  I sense, it's largely because we've lost the ability to think critically about the implications of anything which does not appear to immediately impact our wallets.

And, that's what concerns me.  This complicated mess that is rapidly unraveling will impact our pocket books in a manner which most of us are unprepared for. And, for a long time. The housing market was simply the first major domino to fall.  So, in a sense, those of us in the real estate industry have had the opportunity to have a bird's eye view of the crisis if we are willing to educate ourselves. 

I found the video clip below about the story of Money.  As a little girl, my Father always used to tell me that money was a simple matter...It was all about TRUST.  Money is a means of exchange...period.  The erosion of TRUST in our society may prove to be the greatest asset devaluation.  A monetary system that fails the Integrity Test is in deep trouble.  Right now, the integrity of the very foundations of our government is on the line.  Did you know that?

At a recent company sales meeting, I spent an hour of instruction on the structure of the current financial crisis.  When I asked, WHO was responsible for solving the problem, someone answered...the government.  My next question was...WHO is the government?  The answer is it's WE THE PEOPLE. 

Do You Know Which President said the statement below?

I am a Most Unhappy Man...

In 1913, on his deathbed, President Woodrow Wilson was quoted as saying, "

"I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." -Woodrow Wilson, after signing the Federal Reserve into existence

PLEASE READ PART 1 BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE REMAINDER OF THIS BLOG POST.

Dealing effectively with NOISE pollution requires on thing above all else.  It's actually an obvious solution, but one which we miss in the confusion of the moment.  It's a quality called Stillness.  And, it's the most challenging element of sanity to maintain in the midst of a hullabaloo.

Stillness requires having the ability to turn OFF the most incessant elements of NOISE...the elements that are clamoring for the most attention.  It entails being able to step back, breathe, and take the time to figure out what is really important.  Noise is banking on the fact that most of us won't do this.

The reason this is difficult to achieve is because Noise thrives on creating disorientation.  It knows that if you STOP and become STILL, you're more likely to decipher the underlying issues and make a rational decision. The primary agent of Noise Making is Hype.  Hype sells stuff which needs the cover of ambiguity to make it palatable.

In dealing with Emotional Noise, the issue of withdrawal even if just for a few moments is crucial.  This is because emotions have a way of creating their own drama.  When combined with hype, this becomes a toxic conundrum.

Stillness requires discipline. Stillness requires us to quiet the Noise in our minds and our circumstances or at least step away from it long enough to be able to observe what the patterns are really intuiting.  One of the best examples of this character trait is the behavior of an experienced Mother with a screaming baby. 

When a baby is screaming bloody murder, a new Mom is likely to become increasingly agitated.  A Mother who has dealt with the screaming baby syndrome successfully in the past, is more likely to remain calm.  She will sniff the diaper, check to see if the child has gas or is in pain and make inquires regarding the last feeding. Focusing carefully on the underlying issues of discomfort for the child often results in a quicker solution and quieter baby.

The issues confronting the real estate industry are very noisy right now. Talking heads across every major network are predicting gloom and doom.  Prior to that, they were chattering about the bursting of the bubble and skyrocketing house prices. 

In all the chatter, everyone missed the huge elephant which had firmly planted itself in the middle of the living room. Loans were being made across the board which made NO sense!

The rapid demise of the sub-prime market with the accompanying domino effect which now threatens the entire economy of the entire world was not a topic for discussion at the time. 

This was because few understood it and even fewer could predict how weak the underpinnings of the economy really were.  The assumption was that the American consumers insatiable appetite for more would never dampen.

It is in times of chaos like this that economic fortunes are made and lost.  That's because opportunity does not reside within the growing cloud, but stretches around it's perimeter in what we commonly call the silver lining.  The silver lining exists at the outer edge because it must escape the noise to gain proper perspective.

For anyone investing in the real estate community today, this has many important applications and lessons.  Today, all sorts or realignments are taking place in the financial and housing sector which will create options and obstacles which have not existed before. Risky loan products have all but disappeared from most markets.  Home buyers are being required to put money down on their investment.  This reduces risk.  Government control will increase...this can be a double edged sword.

But the flip side is that in many markets, the price for housing has dropped 25%-30% in the last 12 months to levels not seen within the past 10-15 years.  New tax incentives have been created to provide even more tax breaks to buyers who are able to invest in a home.  Today, some of the best neighborhoods across Grand Rapids, Michigan and around the country are on Sale!  It is not uncommon to hear of $500,000 homes being sold for $350,000 or less.

Investors around the world are becoming more interested in American real estate as prices decline and the dollar is weak.  This cycle will not last forever...for nothing ever does.  In fact, this article about the 66 best cities in which to invest by Marilyn Lewis of MSN provides an amazing chart of the return of investment that a home owner will make by 2012 if they purchase a home correctly today.  That's only 4 short years away!

So, study the chart, study your area, contact your local real estate professional and start your research in earnest.  Some smart people are going to take the time to decipher the deeper meaning within the noise and make sense of it.  Those who do will make intelligent decisions which will prove to be very profitable in the long run.  Determine to calm down noise.  Ignore the lure of false hype. Because failing to do so increases the risk of becoming unhinged by it.

Photo of expansive relationships and bags under the eyes are courtesy of DerrickT's photostream on flickr.com

Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

A familiar ritual at the dining table as a youngster involved being reminded time and time and again to mind my P's and Q's.  What was commonly referred to as Table Manners were a set a rules that adults felt we needed to know to avoid embarrassing them in polite company.  Thank God their persistence helped to ensure that we didn't become little hellions.

Rules of engagement are a necessary part of social interaction as well as business.  As real estate professionals explore the online world, it is often difficult to clearly understand what the rules are because the context changes so quickly.  It was barely a decade ago that the most progressive agents were those who had a website.  Today, a blog is a pre-requisite for the web savvy practitioner.

Therein lies the confusion.  Do the rules really change just because the context does?  Are there some things that will not change regardless of how drastically technological advancements redefine the business landscape?  I would argue that YES, there are foundational issues which will not change inspite of the shifting sands which continually realign various aspects of the real estate industry.

The first foundation is the Code of Ethics, a standard which defines the rules and practise of professional behavior for real estate practitioners. 

The Code of Ethics stands alongside the laws of each State to support the ethical conduct which should define every real estate transaction.  Although the Code of Ethics is modified from time to time to encompass new arenas such as the Internet, it remains the bedrock solid foundation which defines the conduct of the well mannered agent.

As new agents continue to funnel into the business and more experienced practitioners find themselves working in unfamiliar territory, there are some additional qualities which will continue to provide solid guidance for success.   I refer to these as the Three P's of Priority, Perseverance and Patience.

Proper Priorities

Knowing what your priorities should be is the biggest single factor which determines success or failure for many agents.  There are only a few things that actually make money for a successful agent.  These are: listing or selling a home, prospecting for new business, following up on leads and asking for the appointments necessary build relationships and build our business.  Everything else that we do, including attending closings, is a result of the above activities.  When we loose sight of this and spend little time on these basic activities, our business is bound to suffer.

Perseverance

Persevering involves keeping on, in spite of, not because of.  The old saying 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going' is true.  Many agents give up far too quickly.  This is where it can be helpful to talk to other successful people or read their books.  One will quickly discover that everyone has struggled in one fashion or another.  It's a fact of life.  Persevering is a pre-requisite for success because it proves that you are willing to do what it takes to get the prize...your goal of a successful career.

Patience

Patience develops character.  I'm often amused to hear the term 'overnight' success.  To the individual who supposedly achieves this feat, it most often feels like a very long, long, night!  We tend to refer to the achievement as an overnight success because we are unfamiliar with the journey that enabled someone to gain the status that they now enjoy.  Upon closer examination, it is often revealed to have been a far longer more involved process than a cursory glance would suggest.  Patience is what enables what you are doing to mature to the point where it becomes a fruitful endeavor.

A wise man was once quoted as noting that 'there is nothing new under the sun.'  Knowing HOW to do something is as important as having a clear understanding of WHAT one should actually be doing.  Regardless of how quickly technology shifts our business, the solid foundations of a business built on Right Priorities, Perseverance and Patience are the tools that a determined professional will need to cultivate in order to thrive and succeed.

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

BLOG DISCLAIMER

The information contained in the articles on this, blog is the property of Audu Real Estate. Comments posted in response to individual blog posts are the opinions of the respondents. Audu Real Estate is not responsible for the opinions, thoughts or ideas expressed by visitors to this blog nor for any liability for any damages or losses direct or indirect that may result from the use or reliance on information contained herein. The information provided is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This blog is provided for informational purposes only. Readers are advisedto contact a real estate professional for specific counsel related to their individual real estate needs.

Blogging is taking the nation by storm. In case you haven't noticed...they're everywhere! Infact, according to Technorati, a leading aggregator of "all things blogs related," over 175,000 new blogs are being created every day.

Blogs are becoming a part of every type of business. They span the relm of politics, religion, education, sports, real estate, retail, electronics, medecine...you name a topic or interest...someone, somewhere in the world is blogging about it.

Perhaps, you have wondered how to start a blog. You may have even bought a book or taken a class to help you get started. But you still find yourself stumped. You're paralyzed at the prospect of starting or...maybe, you just need a little personalized direction to help you to develop your blogging voice.

Don't worry. Help is on the Way! We have developed two Training Options for professionals who want more in depth instruction about blogging. These tools are designed to:

1. Help you to overcome Your Resistance to Getting Started

2. Evaluate the Focus of your Blog.

3. Suggest Topics to Write about

4. Enable New Bloggers to Find their "Voice."

5. Provide helpful critiques to enhance the effectiveness of a blog post

6. Teach Blogging Etiquette.

7. Make Your Blog an Effective Lead Generation Platform

The following class options are available:

Blogging Therapy^TM ~ Individualized Coaching Sessions (one hour) These sessions are designed to allow for individual attention. They are available for Brand New Bloggers and more experienced Bloggers.

Sessions are tailored to address specific issues such as: Creating an Effective Blogging Style, Making a Blog Post Attractive, Cultivating a Blogging Community, Developing a Blog Theme, Optimizing & Expanding your blog's Reach On Line, Generating Leads & Profits from your Blog.

Requirements: Access to a computer, phone and Internet connection. Highly recommend high speed wireless connection to make the best use of the session training. Payment for all sessions must be received in full prior to commencment of training.

*Training for Individual coaching sessionswill be conducted via telephone by appointment. Live coaching sessions are available.  Please call for price quote.

Cost per session: $120. Call or e-mail for quote regarding a Package of 3 Sessions.

Option #2 ~ Blogging Boot Camp^TM~ This option is available for groups ranging between 5-10 individuals per session. Group Sessions are 2 hours in length. Topics covered include many of the topics available in the Blogging Therapy^TM  option. Group sessions can also be customized by written requests recieved at least 1 week in advance of the session. Customized requests are not guaranteed.

Group sessions can be conducted at client's premisis. These sessions will require participants to bring a laptop. A room rental fee of $150 will be assessed in addition to Blogging Boot Camp^TM costs for groups of 6 or more individuals unless suitable accomodations are available at the clients premisis to include access to computers with high speed internet availability.

Blogging Boot Camp^TM Costs: $100 per person for a 2 hour session. A Non-Refundable $100 Fee is required to reserve a date for Blogging Boot Camp^TM. Payment must be received in full prior to the commencement of training. An Advance booking of at least 2 weeks is strongly suggested to reserve a date for Blogging Boot Camp^TM.

Cancellation policy: Full refund 10 days prior to the event, 50% refund 5 days prior to the event. All other cancellations less than 5 days prior to the event will be charged the full fee. A Non Refundable Deposit of $100 is required to hold and reserve a date for the Blogging Boot Camp^TM.

NEW OFFERING 2008!

Marketing Your Brand in a Web Connected World!

Did you know that "Who You Are" online has become a very valuable commodity?  Your online Branding is key to your success in the emerging business marketplace.  Learn how to create a Successful online presence and connect to new opportunities for business and networking in this interesting and interractive course. 

Time:  2 hours

Cost:  $75

For further inquiry or to book a Session, please e-mail: laudu@grar.com. or call 616-791-0511.

To Read articles that Lola has written about a Variety of Blogging Related issues...Click here

Visit Lola's Blogs on line:

http://www.activerain.com/blogs/auduhomes

http://laudu.realtownblogs.com

*Policy is subject to change without notice.