This was not a task for the faint hearted or the inexperienced.  Launching into the deep at night, their modest fishing trawler jerked away from the peer, laden with heavy nets jammed in between the middle racks.  The men shifted to maintain balance, piercing the stillness of the water with the rhythmic movement of their oars.  Their silhouettes merged gracefully into the inky black sky as they silently set out for the task ahead. 

They would row several miles into the deep waters.  As a  team who had weathered much together, they knew each other deeply, with an intimacy that needed few spoken words to communicate.  They settled into sync. In a way that only men can, they vocalized grunts sometimes interspersed with a jocular jest to pass the time until they reached the deep water of the lake.  With the exquisite coordination forged by a lengthy partnership, they lowered the gangly net overboard, making sure that it did not entangle as it disappeared below the surface. 

It was then the hardest work began...the waiting for the fish.  Each man merged deeply into his own private muse, adjusting to find the most comfortable position...this would be another long night.  This did not disguise the alertness to even the smallest tug; they knew their nets in the way most people know a favorite tool or familiar keepsake.  The net had survived many plunges below the surface & had been carefully mended when larger catches had strained it's capacity to hold the days' catch. 

Hours passed, the stillness settling around them like the shroud of a damp,heavy blanket.  Occasionally a ripple of wind would grace the surface but all in all it was a quite night, an ordinary night.  As dawn began to stretch it's tentacled finger of light across the eastern sky, the strain & weariness was apparent as the light began to reveal the  faint & then clearer images of the men's faces.  Startled by the sound that carried & jolted their revere, they heard a voice.  Squinting to see across the horizon, they could see him, just faintly.  But his voice rang clear across the vastness of the lake's expanse.  Gentlemen he called, "Any luck catching anything last tonight?" 

They didn't know who he was, but the disappointment of the wasted night without any success in their fishing endeavor suffused only enough energy to respond with simple honesty.  Pete, the burliest of the fisherman, ever eager to be first on the draw shouted back "Nope, we've been fishing all night...No luck."  They expected him to continue on his way or with whatever he was doing, but he had something else to say.  "Hey guys, why don't you cast the net on the other side of the boat?"  An incredulous look passed between them.  Who was this guy? 

But maybe it was the way he said it, or maybe that they were so tired that as ridiculous as the suggestion was there was no power to resist.  Or maybe, the power of the suggestion had a force of it's own which was beyond the ability of their tired minds to fathom or comprehend.  Nevertheless, the menbegan to synchronize the difficult process of pulling a heavy,soggy net out of the water & taking it 5 feet over the bow of the boat to the other side of the boat... on the same lake where their boat had remained all night.  They didn't understand why they felt compelled to follow the directions of this stranger, but they did. 

As the net sank deeply, finding it's landing, they felt it.  The startled disbelief registering instantly on their weather beaten, tired faces. The drag was unmistakable, something was happening down there.  They struggled to balance the boat as the lurching below continued; the pull on the net indicating that either they'd caught their first whale or the biggest catch in the history of their long careers.  Time rattled to a stop.

A squint into the glare of the rising sun, a question, an excited statement from John..."It must be him!"  Pete got it; it hit him like a thunderbolt of white lightening. The guy whose voice they had heard,  the guy on the shore...could it be, was it...him?  As the others struggled to bring the boat to dock, he left them,thrusting on his cloak to cover the nakedness of his body, he hurtled himself into the water; swimming frantically to shore, shaken & jubilant at the same time. 

You see, a fisherman had discovered that there was more to fishing than he understood.  His years on the waters suddenly paled as he gazed at the man who must know something about the mysteries of the making of waters...to have given such a powerful suggestion.

Perhaps, you too have been fishing on your sea of experience for a long time.  Like these men, you're not new at this.  You've graduated from the school of hard knocks and earned your stripes & even a multitude of accolades.  Million Dollar Producer, Platinum Producer, #1 Agent & a host of other accolades behind your name to prove you know what you're doing. 

But recently, things have changed...there is an uncertainty underfoot that underlies everything you are doing.  All the tricks of the trade, the skills you'd honed through the years have brought less return value for your investment as you spent more & more time, effort and money.  Many of the activities which had never failed to guarantee results have became marginal or stopped yielding altogether.  In the moments of quiet you wondered...Is this how it was all going to go down...all this effort , all these years.

Somehow, you must garner the strength to do just one more thing.  One more thing that seems the same, but is also strangely different.  Although, you don't know it yet, it's not about moving anywhere or doing something dramatic or bizarre. It's about discovering a new face, a different place. Like the men in the boat, it's about recognizing another side of the space that you've occupied all this time.  Just like there are 2 sides to a coin, and 2 sides to a story, there is another side of discovery which will only reveal itself when you have exhausted all the other reliable resources that have been your mainstay. 

The call  that hails the arrival of the "catch of a lifetime" arises most clearly out of the mist of disillusionment where the silence of the heart asks a question which has no ordinary answer.  It is there the Master's voice resonates deeply with clarity & honesty forcing us to answer questions we would rather not.  Are you going to continue alone, or will you be willing to change the things you have always had faith would yield results for you?

 Will you be willing to cast the net on the other side and lend another the gate keys  of your fate?  You will not fail to hear it. There will always be an instruction...not a map...just an instruction about the next step.  This is not a task for the faint at heart or a time to be swayed by anything outside the clear dictates of your soul. There will only be just  enough light for the next step on your path.  You will recognize it & know it resonates truth.  But, the challenge we must all face is this...will we obey it?

Story adapted from "The appearance beside the sea"  John 21: 1-14

© 2007 Audu Real Estate  All rights reserved

Today, the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors  (GRAR)  launched it's Local Ad Campaign encouraging home buyers to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities offered in today's market.  The ad campaign utilizes a clever mix of  nostalgic news tidbits in tandem with current unique opportunities to highlight and illustrate why it makes sense to invest in a home NOW.  The campaign features a re-design of the Associations' website and provides opportunities for local brokers to take advantage of the well designed advertising campaign in their local offices. This effort, the first of it's kind, launched by the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors also mirrors a historic first time $40 Million Network campaign  by the National Association of Realtors now headed by Grand Rapids Broker Associate & President of NAR, Pat Vredevoogd Combs. 

This campaign comes at a particularly opportune moment in the associations 100+ year history. GRAR has always been a progressive leader in the rights of the home owner & has fought hard to redress historic injustices in the Grand Rapids area.  A quote from the Association website on its Mission Statement & history indicates the wide variety of areas in which GRAR has been outspoken in issues which propelled it into the national scene as a progressive leader:

• "For over a century, the Association has addressed itself to questions of millage, public housing, zoning, planning, and bond issues. In every case, the basic consideration was the protection of property rights and values. These considerations were evident during the years around 1965 when property rights and human rights seemed to come into conflict. It was 1965 when the Association adopted a position that established the right of a free housing market without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, and sex. Later, in 1988, the Association further adopted handicap and familial status as protected classes. This landmark position of the Association was considered a forerunner in establishing equal rights policies, and Boards all across the country adopted these policies."  (Quote from Grand Rapids Association of Realtors Mission Statement)

Great Inventory Level:  Listings are up slightly this year BUT so are Sales!  January & February Sales figures were within 3% of last years sales & March's numbers though not completely tabulated are looking strong. Year to date the Board records indicate that listings within the 1st quarter are approximately 23 % of last year's totals so far & 21% of last years sales.  Homes are Selling because they are priced more realistically than 3 or 4 years ago. 

Great Interest Rates: Interest rates are actually trending downward during the 1st quarter of this year.  The average 30 year interest rate as of March 14th was 5.86. 

Great Location:  An increasingly sophisticated city with a burgeoning downtown entertainment district, Grand Rapids, Michigan combines the best of city life with the benefits of a small town community and values.   It has also become a leader in innovative health-care facilities such as the Meijer Heart Center & the DeVos Children's Hospital.

Now is the time to take advantage of some great bargains. In the best world possible for a home-buyer, the following conditions would apply:  Great House, Low Price, Low Mortgage Rates & Desperate Seller. While most Seller's are not Desperate, they are Realistic.  So Home Buyer 3.5 out of 4 is Not Bad.  Don't miss this opportunity!

The RendezVous in Black & White Series

This is a Catalog of the RendezVous Series.

Please feel free to browse & get to know the members of the group better.  It is our goal to continually breathe "Fraiche Aire" into Active Rain.  The RendezVous in Black & White is the official Newsletter of the Fraiche Aire Group on Active Rain.

"Welcome, You're a Breath of Fraiche Aire" - This post highlights the Group's Vision & Goals.  Please read this to understand how to post to Fraiche Aire.  We're an ecclectic group of individuals & a wide variety of entries will find a warm welcome here.

RendezVous in Black & White - This was the First Blog Post of the Fraiche Aire Newsletter.

RendezVous in Black & White 2nd Edition - This post features the winners of the "Contest"  & the Launching of the popular Friache Aire Reading Room.

RendezVous in Black & Whtie 3rd Edition- Celebrating the Faces of Fraiche Aire - In this Blog Post, the Faces of the members of the Group which is now 30 days old are revealed.  A fun look at who was there at the start!

RendezVous In Black & White 4th Edition - Focuses on Green - This post highlights  The Green is Hot Contest with a focus on Environmental issues which are impacting our society.  Great articles about innovative ways that members of the real estate community are addressing these issues.

RendezVous in Black & White 5th Edition - Focuses on Relationships - This RendezVous posts Celebrates 2 Special Member Moments & explores the power of relationships personally & professionally.

Why "Just Looking" Can Cost You Your Dream Home!

I seriously dislike being hounded by sales people when I'm shopping...especially clothes shopping.  It's my time to zone out, relax and beam my precision guided "great deals" antenna to lead me to the best bargains.  I'm pretty good at it.  So much so that friends & family have sometimes consulted with me prior to planned shopping excursions about the best place shop for a good deal.  But, I would have missed an extraordinary opportunity if I had not lowered my dogged "leave me alone, I'm just looking" attitude down on a recent visit to the mall. 

I had planned to just browse the racks quickly to see if there were any decent sales.  There didn't seem to be much going on and I was preparing to head out of the store when I heard a delighted chuckle behind me. 

There stood 2 ladies next to a rack of clothing. One, who held a clothing item grinned at me & said, "You've got to see this" and the other lady, the obvious source of this contagious delight was holding a price ticker  preparing to bring more happiness to the few lucky patrons nearby via price massive price reductions!  

I swiftly retraced my steps just in time.   The ticker lady was marking price reductions DOWN to $1.97 on items which moments prior had been $30 - $40!  I walked out of the store an hour later with 7 pieces of clothing purchased for $25 not including the tax!  If I had not been open to receiving the opportunity, I would have missed out on some incredible deals!

Being prepared to receive is  important.  There are a number of reasons why we may hesitate to move forward on things which we want.  I have found that this can be particularly evident when I assist home buyers during the search for a new home. There are many reasons  home buyers hesitate to move forward.  Unfortunately,  these often hidden, underlying issues may hinder your ultimate progress towards recognizing a great opportunity.  Here are 3 important areas to examine.

1.  Have You Done Your Homework?

Getting a great deal is dependent on knowing what one looks like.  You must do your homework.  In the experience I related at the beginning of this article, the good deal was absolutely obvious.  But not all my great deals have been that easy to spot.  To find good deals, you must be willing to invest time in understanding the market before you go shopping for a home.  Look at homes on-line and in magazines, visit Open Houses, attend the Parade of Homes to get perspective on new homes vs. existing homes, and meet with a good Real Estate agent well before you plan to purchase.  This is what research looks like when you're in the market for a new home.

2.  Are You Doubting Your Instincts?

Have you ever had a gut level feeling about something and then found that you were right on target?  Or perhaps, the reverse has occurred & you moved on anyway and headed straight into the disaster zone.  Learning to trust our instincts is difficult for most of us because we are so concerned about what others may think.  We spend so much of our time worrying about other people's opinions or trying to impress & keep up with the Jones's that we loose the guidance of our inner compass.  This can be very, very costly.  The fact is this...no one else can determine with complete accuracy what is best for you.  You are an original, with a particular destiny & purpose which only you can fulfill.  Expecting anyone to decipher your code for what will suit you best is courting trouble at best and can have disastrous implications.

3.  Are You Giving In to Fear?

A poplular acronym for Fear is:  False Expectations Appearing Real.  Often the Door of Opportunity requires us to cross over the threshold of Doubt & Apprehension.  Taking hold of any opportunity will require courage & determination.  It is important to examine the unique way in which fear plays itself out in your life.  Have you found that before many important moments, you are racked with the pain of indecision?  Perhaps, you deal with fear by running away and not facing the prospect of success.  Fear has so many variations & forms in which it manifests.  Learn to recognize the way it makes its appearance in your life.  Fear, unchecked is a thief.  It robs you of life's highest potential and possibilities.  To combat fear, it may be helpful to focus on the following:

• Recognizehow it manifests in your life and the patterns by which you tend to respond to it's influence.
• Verbalize the fact that you are fearful.  Bringing Fear into the light tends to dissolve a lot of its power
• Turn Fear on it's head by determining that if it's working this much over-time to dissuade you from a proposed course of action, there may be a very compelling reason for you to STOP & Reassess benefits which you may have missed.  Learn to use fear to your benefit rather than allowing it to take inappropriate control of your life & important decisions.

 To Maximize the Effectiveness of your home search, decide to look for your Next Home in a New Way.  Instead of "Just Looking", why not determine to "Expect A Deal"!  There is no better time than now to buy a home in Grand Rapids, Michigan!  With thousands of great houses & in the market inventory, Tons of Spring Open Houses and interest rates dropping to their lowest levels since January, don't allow "Just Looking" to rob you of the Dream of "Going Beyond Your Wildest Dreams & Expectations".  I tell you,...this is entirely possible...but you must set out with the expectation that you will receive! Now, is the Time to Buy...A great Deal can & Will be Yours!

This series was inspired by an blog post by the realestatetomato

 © 2007 Audu Real Estate All rights Reserved

How Will You Know When You're Ready to Seriously Consider Making A Move?

 Driving home from work, you notice that your next door neighbors did it last night.  You're sure it wasn't there when you left for work early this morning, but now it...the For Sale sign...is boldly strutting it's stuff on their front lawn daring you to pull over & surreptitiously swipe a flyer from the over-stuffed information box.  They've  put their home on the market!  You find the urge irresistible...Your must know what price they are asking for their home!

You may have been mulling over the idea of putting your house on the market for some time. Or, perhaps, it's a sudden turn of events like a job transition or change in life circumstances which propels this topic front & center.  Maybe, it's the unrelenting curiosity of wondering just how much money can currently be drawn off the piggy bank of home equity by a sale this spring.  All these reasons still beg an answer to the question...Am I ready to seriously consider making a Move?

Here are Some Simple Questions to ask Yourself to Determine if Now is the Time & if You are in a Position to Make A Move.

1.  Can I Afford to Move?

• This question has increasingly become the cornerstone of the decision for many home owners.  Property values in many locations have dropped within the last couple of years eroding the home equity in many homes.  An accurate appraisal of the value of your home is a necessity. You may want to consider ordering a professional appraisal and obtaining a Comparative Market Analysis from a real estate broker to assist you in determine the market price of your home & the costs associated with selling.

2.  Do I Have the Motivation to Move?

• Wanting a nicer, more expensive house is a desire...a wish.  Being unable to navigate a 2 story residence where all the bedrooms are in the upper level is more of a need...unless you are OK with sleeping in make-shift bedroom quarters in the living room.  Write down your motivations to move.  Then really look at them.  Are they wants, wishes or needs.  Then re-consider Question #1.

3.  Do I Have the Time to Move?

• This may seem at first glance to be a ridiculous question.  But this is a very serious question as getting a house ready for sale and going through the process of showings & Open Houses and then finally moving and packing is very time consuming.  A decision like this is best made with the input of all family members.  Children or spouses who fail to buy into the effort to keep a home in showing condition can seriously compromise the successful sale of a home.

4.  Do I have the Money to Move?

• Moving is costly.  Assuming that you will have a profit on the sale of your home, count the costs before you place your home on the market.  Will you need money towards a down-payment for your next home?  Are there bills that should be paid off so that you do not experience undue financial stress if your house payment increases?  Will you want to purchase new furnishings or appliances? 

Considering these simple questions prior to placing your home on the market will bring focus and a higher likelihood of success. These questions are not all inclusive of all the criteria which should be considered when making a determination of if the time is right for you to move.  They are more like the boundaries of a fence which provide a framework of issues to resolve or work on.   If you would like a detailed analysis of the value of your home in the current market and additional tips to ensure your home is properly prepared for sale, please contact Audu Real Estate or call 616-791-0511

Staging Your Home for Memorable Showings!

E-Neighborhood Reports Offer Valuable, Well Researched Data For Homeowners

Worrying, Wanting & Waiting...Overcoming Emotional Hurdles During a Home Sale.

How to Loose 2 Million Dollars in On-Line Home Equity!

Spring Time Open House Search for West Michigan.

This series was inspired by an blog post by the realestatetomato.