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I always love to discover a new free tool that will help my business. Today I watched several videos on the new Microsoft Office Live Workspace and love it. I can think of many uses in my busy real estate business for such a robust program. According to the email I received the new program will help you
For Work
Access documents when away from your desk
Save documents and access them from any computer
Stay productive at home, an Internet café, library, airport, etc.
Share documents with others
Gather feedback on a document, report, or presentation
Share with people who can’t access your corporate network
Prepare for a meeting
Share the agenda, minutes, and action items
Post meeting handouts or presentations
For School
Organize a study group
Work together on assignments and share notes from class
Keep a shared schedule and task list for your group
Keep track of important school information
Manage schedules from sports to registration deadlines
Track your GPA and progress toward degree requirements
Coordinate with club or team members
Post and manage schedules (for sports, clubs, etc.)
Share lists of who brings what (no more e-mails back and forth)
For Home
Organize an event
Use for a party, camping trip, even a wedding
Share to-do lists, timelines, budgets, directions
Save your information and keep track of favorite things
Access important passwords, frequent flyer numbers, etc.
Create Top 10 lists of your favorite films, restaurants, books, etc.—and keep them private or share with friends and family
Prepare for a trip
Plan for the trip with travel budget and packing list templates
Share your itinerary, contact info, and important documents with colleagues or family
I invite you to review these videos and see how this free program can help you. Just click here
The housing industry has reason to smile. President Bush is expected to sign into law this week a bill that will help home buyers and sellers. For homeowners who are in trouble with their current home mortgage the bill would allow them to refinance into more affordable fixed-rate loans. This is great news for homeowners that until now could not get a new loan because of plummeting home value. Lenders would have to agree to take a substantial loss on the existing loans, and in return, they would walk away with at least some payoff and avoid the often-costly foreclosure process.
Another aspect of the bill will give First-time home buyers who close (d) on a home between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009 help. They will be eligible for a tax credit of up to $7500. That's a tax credit, not a deduction. For an example: if you owe $10,500 to the IRS and you have purchased a home during this time period, your tax liability is now just $3,000. Great savings!
The bill also allows people who don't itemize their taxes to claim a $500-$1,000 deduction on their 2008 property taxes. That chiefly benefits homeowners who have paid off their homes and can't claim a deduction for mortgage interest.
Although this bill has pros and cons we can clearly see that it will help many Americans who have had little to smile about lately.
The temperature outside said 99 and we were feeling a little uncomfortable but what can one do to cool off! A few friends thought going to the movies was a good idea. When we entered the theater the three of us meet one other patron. That was it! I wondered how the theater would make any money with such a little turn out. The movie was good and so was the popcorn but it felt strange with no audience. Is the economy hurting us this badly or is this normal? I haven't been to the movies in a long time but I think this was strange. With the housing market slow to improve, food prices going up and the gas prices reaching new heights perhaps people just don't have the extra $10.00 for the movies. It made me stop and think how blessed I am. We sometimes take little pleasures for granted and forget that all the things that make us happy are little blessings that we receive daily. Don't take your friendship or possessions for granted. Tell the people you love how much they mean to you and share your good fortunes with others.
Here are a few ideas to beat the heat:
- Go to a local mall and window shop
- Go to the library and enjoy the air conditioning and a good book
- Go for a swim
- Sit under a big Maple tree
- Seat still and enjoy the world around you
- Count your blessings
- Pray for others
Are you driving in the state of California after July 1st? If you are, be aware that a new law makes it illegal to drive while holding a cell phone to your ear. All drivers must now decide which device is the best for them. The choices are:
A cell phone's speakerphone.
A separate speakerphone, handy for those who use hearing aids.
Bluetooth-enabled calling from a newer vehicle's integrated phone system.
A headset or earpiece
The law also bans drivers under the age of 18 from using any kind of mobile device while driving.
Some of the other aspects of the law are:
- Emergencies calls are OK if made to police, health care providers, fire departments or emergency agencies.
- Passengers can use cell phones while in the car.
- There will be no points assessed if a ticket is received.
- Push-to-talk devices will be allowed for those with licenses to operate a truck tractor or motor truck. This exemption does not apply to drivers of pickups with commercial plates, even if the pickup is used for commercial purposes, such as by a contractor, landscaper or other business.
- Speaker Phones can not be held by the driver.
Although I understand the concept of the new law I wonder why eating, applying makeup or shaving were not included in this new law! Be safe and drive carefully!
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
A great quote I heard recently and it is what I am thinking today since I have just changed my job. For the last two years I have worked for the association of REALTORS® in Corona, CA and now I am moving on to renew my real estate salesperson career. I learned a lot being on the opposite side of the real estate business. Working to help agents succeed and creating educational opportunity for them was exciting and rewarding. Being laid off can be scary but I had been in real estate sales for 27 years before working for the association and am looking forward to this new beginning. I plan to take the classes I taught at the association directly to the agents at their offices or association plus develop my real estate career and educational company. Lots to do and I am excited about the road ahead.
8:35 AM - Jun. 25, 2008 - {0} -
View more entries tagged with: Change, New Beginnings, Career
Every few months I learn of a new technology that blows me away! My new favorite website is Jott.com . Jott converts your voice into emails, text messages, reminders, lists and appointments. Now I can use the time in my car or waiting for an appointment to jott myself a "To DO" list or send a voice mail to my office asking staff to followup on some assignment. How often have you been driving when you get an "A HA" moment and can't wait to tell someone or perhaps you have been following a car when the driver decides that he must text message something and almost runs you off the road! Solution for me was to get a Jott account. Now I can place an item on my calendar, text a message hands free or send an email to a group without taking my eyes off the road. I simply turn on my cell phone and announce "Call Jott". I then hear a voice that says what do you what to do? I then decide to:
Jott to Self
Send emails to yourself
Jott Reminders
Get text message and email reminders
Jott to List
Add items to your to-do list
Jott to Someone Else
Send emails and texts to your contacts
Jott to Group
Email and text a group of contacts
Jott to Link
Send messages to web services
Jott to Calendar
Place an appointment on your calendar
This is a site you must check out. Go to http://jott.com/jott/how-to-jott.html
Have you though of an Auction Option?
While many may still view auctions as a way to dispose of distressed property, the California Association of REALTORS®, wants consumers to know that auctions actually are a popular and proven way to sell land, commercial, and healthy upscale properties. With rising inventories of homes on the market the challenge of attracting buyers is alive and well. In some cases, it can take months to figure out what price and which combination of concessions will attract an offer. Some sellers can’t wait that long.
Our state association believes that auctions can result in faster sales and prices that more accurately reflect today’s market. The whole auction process can take as little as 30 days to sell a property. I believe that an auction format offers buyers and sellers opportunities that differ from traditional real estate transactions. For buyers, an auction is quick-paced and exciting, and keeps participants engaged with the anticipation that the property of their dreams may actually be just one bid away. For sellers, a real estate auction may be more appealing than a conventional sale, especially in cases where the seller needs an immediate sale – for example, during a divorce, clearing of estates or when health issues arise. The numbers prove that auctions are becoming more popular in the real estate market. The value of residential and commercial properties sold at auctions grew more than 46 percent from 2004 to 2007. In 2007, the real estate auction market as a whole generated more than $58.4 billion in sales, according to the National Auctioneers Association. Auctions are often divided into two categories – absolute and reserve. An absolute auction means that a property will sell the day of the auction to the highest qualified bidder. A reserve implies that a property has a low-end limit, or minimum set price. NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) and its members at the national, state and local levels continue to endorse auction marketing as a viable sales and purchase option. We are seeing more and more auction here in The Inland Empire and many homeowners are happy they have another option.
This is my first attempt at blogging so I hope you will give me a few weeks to get this blog to be a useful tool for you. I have been a REALTOR® for 29 years and I love to share my excitement of this great career with new agents and clients I meet. The last few months have been a challenge for many homeowners and I try to help as many as I can. The media is having a great time spreading all the negative aspects of our marketplace but I see many reasons to smile and to say we are doing OK. Many areas of The Inland Empire have had tremendous equity growth in the last few years. Now that we are returning to a more normal market homeowners will have to adjust to the normal cycle of the real estate industry. My husband and I bought a new home 4 years ago and were amazed at the high equity we gain in just a few years. Sure I have lost some of that equity this year but this home is still the best investment we have made. We have lived in many states and many homes many of which gained us no or little equity after years of home ownership. Coming from Michigan we still love the California marketplace.
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