A day does not go by without someone asking about their schedule of activities and how they can balance their business with their personal life.

The answer to this challenge is not easy, but it is simple. You need to follow a well thought out plan.

1. Commit to yearly goals for personal development and professional accomplishment. Translate yearly goals into quarterly goals and then into “actions steps” that become part of your “to do” lists that are revised daily.
2. Create a comprehensive calendar planning system and follow it.
3. Create a time analysis chart of all of your activities. Break your time into 15 minute blocks. Note your chief activity for each block. Do this for one week. Study the results. Decide how to better manage your time.
4. Stop wasting the first hour of your workday. Having that extra cup of coffee, surfing the Internet and socializing are the three costliest opening exercises that lower productivity.
5. Get enough rest, nutrients and exercise. If you don’t feel good, you can’t do good. (Try to exercise at least 3 days each week.)
6. Recognize your peak energy or prime time occurs during the day and allocate your most difficult tasks to that period. Work on easy projects at low energy times.
7. When you recognize your energy level is dropping, take a break. (This is when I like to go take the dog for a walk!)
8. Do one thing well at a time. It takes time to start and stop work on each activity. Stay with a task until it is completed.
9. Don’t open unimportant email or snail mail. At least 25 percent of the mail you receive can be deleted or thrown away without taking the time to open it.
10. Handle each piece of paper only once and never more than twice. Don’t set aside anything without taking some action. A great plan, but it can’t help you if you don’t follow it. Try it for one week and see what  happens

A short sale can be an excellent solution for homeowners who need to sell, and who owe more on their homes than they are worth. In the past, it was rare for a bank or lender to accept a short sale. Today, however, due to overwhelming market changes, banks and lenders have become much more negotiable when it comes to these transactions. Recent changes in corporate policy and the Obama administration have also improved the chances of getting a short sale approved.

• A homeowner is ‘short’ when the amount owed on his/her property is higher than current market value.
• A short sale occurs when a negotiation is entered into with the homeowner’s mortgage company (or companies) to accept less than the full balance of the loan at closing. A buyer closes on the property, and the property is then ‘sold short’ of the total value of the mortgage.

For homeowners to qualify for a short sale, they must fall into any or all of the following circumstances:

• Financial Hardship – There is a situation causing you to have trouble affording your mortgage.
• Monthly Income Shortfall – In other words: “You have more month than money.” A lender will want to see that you cannot afford, or soon will not be able to afford your mortgage.
• Insolvency – The lender will want to see that you do not have significant liquid assets that would allow you to pay down your mortgage.

This seems simple enough, but it is a complicated process that takes the expertise of experienced professionals. I hold the CDPE® Designation and am ready to identify all possible options and, when possible, assist in the quick execution of a short sale transaction.

If you have questions or feel you may qualify for a short sale, please contact me for a free consultation.

Understanding your options now could mean all the difference in the world.

Distressed Property MLS

Carefree, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Rio Verde, Scottsdale

To take responsibility we MUST commit to growth both personally and professionally. When we try to grow, we must be willing to confront pain, which can be a powerful obstacle to growth. This pain can manifest itself in many ugly ways: fear, resistance to change, facing a truth about ourselves we don’t particularly like.

Often the pain is powerful enough to deter us from growth, sometime it’s a heinous pain. Heinous because it is a subtle pain that robs the life from us, brings on stagnation, and sends us through life on cruise control.

The good news is that pain is temporary, but GROWTH is permanent.

 Many times a child desperately wants something or wants to do something that would be destructive or dangerous for the child to have or do. The wise parent loves the child enough to say no regardless of how much the child is hurting or felling the pain of not getting what they want. The parent knows that giving in to the child would temporarily relieve the child’s pain, but what about the long term consequences? All of us know what happens to a child whose parents never say no. The child grows up spoiled, expecting the world to be given to them on a silver platter. Short term relief long term heart ache. What about you? Are you being a good parent to your inner child? Are you giving yourself short term relief but insuring yourself long term heartache by not disciplining yourself to do the activities you need to do?

Are you accepting the responsibility for your growth and success?

Don’t answer with words. Answer with actions!   

If it’s to be it’s up to me!

In late-breaking news Tuesday Brookfield Residential Property Services, a Brookfield Asset Management Inc. affiliate, announced that it has purchased Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services (PRERS), a recognized leader in employee relocation and real estate franchising from Prudential Financial, Inc. Prudential Relocation Services operates as Pricoa Relocation in Asia and Europe.

The addition of PRERS to Brookfield’s existing residential real estate franchising and employee relocation services businesses establishes Brookfield as the world’s second largest employee relocation services provider and the third largest residential real estate franchising business, the company announced.

Under a licensing agreement, Prudential Real Estate brokerage affiliates will be able to continue to use the Prudential brand based on the terms of their franchise agreements.

“This transaction creates a global employee relocation services and real estate franchising leader,” said Graham Badun, CEO, Brookfield Residential Property Services. “We have now increased the breadth and depth of our service offering, keeping pace with the evolving needs of our clients around the world.”

A North American & Global Leader

Through its various brands, Brookfield’s residential real estate franchisees are now present in all 50 U.S. states, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and Portugal, with a network of approximately 80,000 real estate agents, 2,800 real estate brokerage locations and more than $150 billion in annual residential real estate transactions.

U.S.-based Brookfield Global Relocation Services moves nearly 85,000 families in and out of over 125 countries around the world each year. With the acquisition, more than one third of Fortune 100 companies are its clients. In addition, Brookfield is now the largest provider of relocation services to government, with long term relationships with the U.S. and Canadian governments.

The acquisition greatly strengthens Brookfield’s existing U.S. business and results in the expansion of its operations in nine countries, with a rapidly growing presence in China, Brazil and India.

“Today, Prudential’s real estate and relocation services businesses join a global company with a track record of over 100 years of success,” said Earl Lee, President of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services. “We’re excited to become part of a company that is focused on and deeply immersed in the real estate sector and is in the business for the long?term.”

Earl Lee will continue to lead the U.S. real estate business, and Rick Schwartz, President, Brookfield Global Relocation Services, will assume responsibility for the combined global relocation services business.

Brookfield’s parent company, Brookfield Asset Management, is a global asset manager with approximately $150 billion in assets under management. Brookfield is co-listed on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges under the symbol BAM and on NYSE Euronext under the symbol BAMA.

Company Info: About Brookfield Residential Property Services

Brookfield Residential Property Services is a leading global provider of real estate and relocation services, analytics and knowledge. The company’s portfolio consists of leading brands, including Brookfield Global Relocation Services, the second largest provider of global relocation services, Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Brookfield Real Estate Services, Royal LePage, Real Living, Via Capitale and Centract. Through its real estate brands, it has nearly 80,000 real estate professionals in more than 2,800 locations, who transact over $150 billion annually. Its global footprint spans North America, the United Kingdom, France, China, Singapore, India, Brazil and Australia, and includes more than 2,500 employees worldwide. It is a division of Brookfield Asset Management, a global asset manager with approximately $150 billion of assets under management.

According to global ratings agency Fitch Inc. and Managing Director Diane Pendley industry experts are expecting to witness more short sales and fewer foreclosures in 2011, an encouraging sign for homeowners in the D.C. Metro, northern Virginia and Maryland regions as well as those seeking alternatives to foreclosure. A short sale, or a sale in which a property is sold for less than what is owed on the mortgage, can be an effective alternative to foreclosure while allowing homeowners to escape the burden of bankruptcy. The Tania Ivey Real Estate Group, which services Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., offers a number of Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) to advise clients in the short sale process. Home sellers in specific areas such as Fairfax County VA, or Loudoun County VA are seeing the number of Short sales increase. If you are a homeowner in Leesburg VA or Ashburn VA trying to sell your house you are competing with numerous Short Sales. Even areas such as Great Falls VA and Vienna VA are seeing a major part of the market being short sold. The Tania Ivey Real Estate Group, closes more short sales in a single month than most agents complete in their entire career, offers additional help for homeowners at http://www.Help34.com. Homeowners are able to receive a number of Free Reports regarding Short Sales and the impact they will have on the homeowner along with reports telling the truth regarding loan modifications and why they are so difficult.

“Avoiding foreclosure through a short sale can have significant benefits for a person’s future financial stability,” said Marc Cormier, a Real Estate Consultant and Certified Distressed Property Expert, Divorce Real Estate Specialist and Seniors Real Estate Specialist. “A successful short sale can reduce the damage to one’s future loan eligibility, credit rating, employment, security clearance and more—and it’s important to work with a competent team.”

With millions of Americans struggling to make overwhelming mortgage payments, engaging a CDPE can help a homeowner to better navigate the short sale process. CDPEs complete specialized training in short sales and foreclosure prevention and are well-versed on the importance of writing an offer than not only the seller—but the bank—will accept.

“When you’re pushed to foreclosure, it’s important to know your options,” said Cormier, whose business was up 48.3% in 2010. “I close more short sales in a single month than most agents sell in their entire career—it’s my goal to put my clients back on the path to financial stability and restore their hope for the future.”

Let me share with you my description of a Seller’s Market. When buyer’s are competing with multiple offers and seller’s are receiving offers above listing price, would that define a seller’s market?

In Arizona this scenario is unfolding today. If you are buying a home under $250,000 you may be experiencing what feels like a seller’s market.

With record low interest rates combined with the large decrease in values who would even think it could be a seller’s market, but all the indicators are there. I can hear it now, “Well we are at 40 to 50% of our values.” Well tell that to my first time buyer who has been out bid on 5 homes. Or my Midwest client who now understands what I mean by “This is one crazy market.” They were shocked that their well qualified offer was turned down because the seller wanted cash, forcing them to make offers on short sale listings.

This maybe a very good sign that the market may have reached it’s bottom. Of course we still have the “gorilla” in the room and no one can tell what he weighs!

Gary May
Owner / Broker
Real Living Success

The minimum forbearance period is three months, although a mortgage service provider may extend it depending on the investor and regulator guidelines. If a homeowner becomes re-employed in that time, the forbearance period will end and the homeowner will be evaluated for a mortgage modification under the Making Home Affordable Program. Unemployment benefits will no longer qualify as income for the mortgage modification program.

During the forbearance period, a homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment must be reduced to no more than 31 percent (or less) of their gross monthly income. The service provider can decide to temporarily suspend payments in full. The payment amount and due dates will be decided by the service provider depending on investor and regulator guidelines.

To qualify, a homeowner must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• The mortgage must be a first lien mortgage, originated on or before January 1, 2009, and the unpaid principal balance must be equal to or less than $729,750 for a one-unit property.
• The property must be the homeowner’s principal residence.
• The mortgage has not been previously modified through a Home Affordable Modification.
• The homeowner was ineligible for a Home Affordable Modification.
• The homeowner is either behind on payments (but not by more than three consecutive months) or it is reasonably foreseeable that the homeowner will fall behind.
• The total monthly mortgage payment is greater than 31 percent of the homeowner’s gross monthly income. If the payment is less, it is up to the service provider’s discretion if they will offer the program to the homeowner.
• The homeowner will be unemployed at the start of the forbearance period, and is able to document this because they will be receiving unemployment benefits in the month the forbearance period begins (even if the benefits expire before the forbearance period ends).

A mortgage service provider may require that, based on investor and regulator guidelines, homeowners have received at least three months of unemployment benefits before they begin a forbearance period.

There is no cost to apply to the Unemployment Program, although late charges may accrue while the homeowner is being evaluated for the program or in the program. A mortgage service may not collect late charges from the homeowner while they are still in the forbearance period.

Services may not initiate foreclosure proceedings or conduct a foreclosure sale while a homeowner is being evaluated for the Unemployment Program or in the forbearance period.
To determine if you qualify for the Unemployment Program, contact your mortgage sservice provider. You should learn your eligibility within ten days of submitting complete documentation to your service.
If you have any questions after speaking with your service provider, or need assistance applying to the program, call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor for free.

It may seem unusual to report state tax refunds as income on your federal tax return, but it’s important if you itemize deductions. Because state taxes are deductible on federal returns, a prior-year refund changes your overall liability retroactively. So, paying tax on a refund may seem a tad odd, but it corrects an “over-deduction from the previous year,” the National Association of Enrolled Agents says.

401(k)s

Workplace 401(k) plans offer a solid tax incentive for participants, allowing them to exclude contributions from current taxes and to enjoy tax-sheltered growth of investments.

Fidelity Investments says the average balance among 401(k) accounts it oversees rose to a record $71,500 in 2010. For investors who participated throughout the decade, average balances vaulted to $183,100, from $59,100 in 2000.

1. No photos. “One red flag in many buyers’ eyes is the lack of photos for a listing,” says Don Tepper with Long & Foster in Burke, Va. “There can be some legitimate reasons for few (or no) photos in a listing: The sellers want privacy, or they have valuables they don’t want in the photos. But many would-be buyers–rightly or wrongly–assume that there’s something wrong.” Tepper recommends about a dozen photos for listings and photos that match the home’s description and showcases its best features.

2. Outlandish claims. Referring to the listing as the best property on the market might not be a good idea, says Ziad Najm, a broker at Cedar Real Estate in Mission Viejo, Calif. ”Some buyers may be turned off to begin with and some will inevitably be disappointed if the claim doesn’t live up to their expectations,” Najm says. Instead, Najm recommends focusing on adjectives that are flattering to the property but leave some room for interpretation.

3. Priced too low. You want to price the property competitively but pricing too low may make some buyers suspicious or attract unqualified buyers. “Typically, multiple buyers will be attracted to the low asking price and eventually the sales price will climb close to market value as competing offers bid up the price,” Najm says. “However, the strategy is not without risk in that some buyers will be alienated by a potential bidding war.”

4. Listing a property “as is” in the description. That’s not a deal breaker but when you see “as is” in a listing, buyers might be cautious, says Diane Conaway, a San Diego broker with RE/MAX United. Some buyers take the “as is” phrase as the “previous owners stole everything including the kitchen and bathrooms,” Conaway says. “Our contract states ‘as is’ anyway, but some agents restate that in the listing, which is a disservice to their sellers.”

Overall, household net worth increased to $56.8 trillion last quarter, despite a drop of 1.6 percent in real estate holdings, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday. Net worth–which is the value of assets such as homes, checking accounts, and investments, but minus debts such as mortgages and credit cards–has increased two consecutive quarters after dropping last spring.

More gains in wealth could prompt Americans to spend more and strengthen the overall economy, experts say.

Meanwhile, companies are also starting to feel a little more rich. The boost to companies’ cash-flow is expected to bring about a boost to job hiring in the coming months.