Friday, November 30, 2012

Great read about smart consumers

Opinion

Search Real Estate News

Smart consumers and the path of opportunity

Commentary: Agent reviews will be done by brokerages, or to them

By Inman News, Tuesday, November 27, 2012.

By MARC DAVISON
My wife typed the words "tire store" into Google. Boom -- results galore (see below).

Within 60 minutes she had of run every result through Yelp. Boom -- she had a crowdsourced dossier on every tire place within 20 miles of my home.
It was an hour well spent.

Article continues below

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How consumers roll today
She discovered, right off, a simple bait and switch game: tire stores lure consumers in with name brand tires at low prices that are somehow "no longer available", then suggest inferior options. This is kind of a big deal when replacing the only part of your car that touches the ground.
I wanted to use the local tire store three blocks away. The convenience of dropping the car off, walking home, and supporting a local business appealed to my sensibilities.
Lori showed me their reviews: Two stars. Overpriced. Poor service. Long wait times. Oh my.
Had it not been for the voluntary contributions of consumers like me, I never would have discovered...
Bob Brown
25 minutes away, Bob Brown's four out of five stars appealed to Lori. The few negative reviews seemed inconsequential amid the good ones. They sold Cooper Tires. American made. The model we needed also got great reviews.

I called regarding the availability of my specific tire. Upon my word that I'd be coming, they dispatched a van to pick the tires up from their warehouse to have them ready for my arrival.
My experience with Bob Brown fit the reviews. I was in and out in 30 minutes, exactly as advertised.
Smart consumers
The Web has birthed a new psychographic known as the Smart Consumer. These are people who dig deep into the data points, content, images, video, news and reviews - the things that drive decisions.
Five or even three years ago, you might write these folks off as "outliers", "power users" or even "kooks". Today, with more and better information available, they're darn near everybody.
What's even more important is precisely when during the process this happens:
First.
The unaware consumer is fast becoming an endangered species.
Endless path of opportunity
I want to sell my rental property in Nipomo, Calif. We'd like to find a great agent who won't bait and switch us with a wild estimate on what our property is worth or unrealistic time frames to sell it just to get the listing.
So Lori set out like she did in her hunt for tires, digging online.
A Google search for "real estate agent reviews" in Nipomo provided one solid result: Zillow.
Imagine that.
While the list on Zillow produced agents, we could see based on their profiles that most didn't actually practice in Nipomo. That's a bummer. But the real losers here are the brokerages and agents in Nipomo who were invisible to Lori because they don't participate in a review process.
If this were 2001, I'd understand. Maybe. But in 2012, that's just boneheaded.
This reality isn't unique to Nipomo. Your market may be no different. And trust this reality: if consumers like Lori are willing to spend 60 minutes researching the best tire to buy, you can bet your next commission check that they're digging deep for agents.
The opportunity
You want your brand to mean something. You want leads. You want to curtail the high cost of SEO. You want to reward agents in your company who perform. Who get referred.
Especially if you've been committed to recruiting and training the best agents you can.
The biggest debates in real estate business today focus on listings. These debates are important, but they tend limit the range of vision, especially for brokerages. For when it comes to the critical decision point for both buyers and sellers -- to that moment when one brokerage is chosen over others -- merchandizing your agents is at least as important as merchandizing your listings.
You want to be where the consumer is. First. At the moment they decide it's time to buy or sell.
Then be there with reviews. Proof points. Accurate information about market areas served and specializations. Data on past performance.
Perhaps you read about the launch of HomeLight last week. It's an agent review and data site launched by a Google-funded company that went out and got brokerage licenses, grabbed MLS data... but doesn't actually operate as a brokerage.
Brokers, this innovation is either going to be done by you or to you.
Don't let this opportunity go. Grab it. If you've got the chops, you can lead smart consumers right to your doorstep.
Just ask Bob Brown.
Marc Davison is with 1000watt, a marketing, design and strategy firm focused on real estate. Reposted with permission of 1000watt.

MY kick ass coach- hey Alan here are tips to crush my very own limiting beliefs

Six Steps To Crush Limiting Beliefs

by Vicki Garcia on November 30, 2012

Burning paper that says you are not good enough

“You see everything is about belief, whatever we believe rules our existence, rules our life.” Don Miguel Ruiz

In my last post I wrote about how to identify a limiting belief. If you haven’t read that one, you might want to pause here and go do that. You can’t eliminate a belief if you don’t know what it is!
Your beliefs deliver a direct command to your nervous system. So, beliefs that limit your thoughts and actions can be devastating. Conversely, empowering beliefs can open up your world.
As you continue to believe something, you start to integrate this belief into a truth. When you look at the world, you see what you think is truth. If your parents were abusive you probably interpreted the world as unsafe. Now, when you look at the world around you, it appears to be an unsafe place. Your actions will be reflective of this belief. They will be limited.
However, these beliefs (truths) are really just a story or a meaning we have given something. It is not a truth. It is not a fact. It is made up.
The great news is: if you can make up a bad story, you can make up a good one. This good story will affect your actions which will in turn affect the outcomes you get. I’m not suggesting you rewrite the facts. If you had abusive parents, then you did. If you were made fun of as a kid, it really happened. What I am suggesting is that you take a hard look at your interpretation of those facts. What meaning have you given them?

Commit to a weekly practice of identifying and eliminating one belief that isn’t serving you (holding you back from taking the actions you want to take):

Choose one limiting belief that you identified. I suggest choosing the one that holds you back the most or create the most pain for you.
Identify one or two other possibilities (meanings) for this belief. If you believe your parents didn’t love you, based on their behavior, think of at least two other reasons for their behavior. As a child you decided their actions meant they didn’t love you. What else could their actions mean? Have a friend help you with this if you can’t come up with anything.
Choose an uplifting, empowering belief to replace the painful one. Sometimes, choosing the exact opposite of your limiting belief will work, but not always. It has to be something that you can believe, even if right now you don’t believe it 100%.
Tell yourself (each time this belief shows up in your consciousness) that you no longer choose this belief and you will look for the evidence that would show that the contrary is true.
Look for this evidence daily, many times each day.
Do whatever you can to remind yourself to practice this several times each day. It only takes a few minutes a day to do this. Will you commit that to yourself?

A few more questions to help you create your new beliefs:

What words could I use to describe myself that make me feel good?
What evidence do I have that disproves my limiting belief?
What evidence can I find that actually proves the opposite of my limiting belief?
Who do I know that holds the opposite belief? What ways of thinking are working for them?
What do I wish I could truly believe?
Who do I know that has already achieved what I want? What attitudes or ways of thinking do they use to help them be successful?

This process is very simple AND it requires that you be present, slow down and pay attention to your thoughts and how you see the world. If you won’t take the time to interrupt the status quo, you’re stuck with the beliefs you have and the outcomes you get.
Share with me your questions, challenges and successes!

Get your Pink on people 3 great posts from Daniel Pink

To Sell Is Human:

November 30th, 2012

5 freebies for first movers

Tick, tick, tick. In just 30 days, I’ve got a new book coming out. It’s called To Sell is Human – and I think you’ll like it. (BTW, you can now read the 6-page Introduction here.)

Already several thousand people have pre-ordered the book. So to thank them — and everyone else who follows their excellent example – I’ve put together a great package of giveaways for people who order the book before publication date. (As many of you know, pre-orders have become crucial in building momentum for books and their ideas, which is why I’m so grateful to folks who step up early.)

WHAT YOU GET

Anybody who orders the book — hardcover or e-book, from any bookseller — before December 30, 2012, will receive the following:

A free 20-page PDF workbook, based on To Sell is Human, giving you a two-week plan to get better at selling and a head start on those who won’t have the book until January.
A free New Year’s Day webinar – with an exclusive look at the ideas, people, and publications I’ll be watching in 2013 along with a chance to ask me questions. (We did this for the launch of Johnny Bunko a few years ago – and it was one of the best-received events I’ve ever done.)
A free customized Field Notes memo book – my favorite notebook of all time, printed in a (very) limited edition batch commemorating publication of the book.
A free To Sell is Human bookplate, signed and numbered, to slap inside your book.
A free audio download of a one-hour special edition of Office Hours (which won’t be available anywhere else) featuring exclusive interviews with Robert Cialdini, author of the classic book, Influence, and Adam Grant, the Wharton professor whose not-yet-published study is one of the biggest pieces of news in To Sell is Human.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Once you pre-order the book, or if you’ve done so already, just forward your receipt in any form to danpinkpreorder@gmail.com. We’ll verify it and then send you instructions on how to access your goodies when they’re ready.

That’s it.

SOME LINKS FOR PRE-ORDERING

Pre-order from Amazon.com (38% off)

Pre-order from BN.com (37% off)

Pre-order from IndieBound

Pre-order from iBooks

Pre-order from 8CR

* * *
Thanks, thanks, thanks for your early support.

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November 28th, 2012

Emotionally intelligent signage: Coffee, poop, and vintage biker chicks

Folks, it never stops. Each week brings more emotionally intelligent signage from readers around the world. One of these days I’m gonna set up a Tumblr dedicated to this topic. Until then, here are four diverse signs we thought you’d enjoy:
Eileen Can shows how one coffee joint guards against seared laps and eager plaintiffs’ lawyers:

Brad Waters sends this example of how the city of Chicago tries to keep its beaches clean:

And Michael Edelstone offers two traffic signs — one a modern response to road rage from Jed Rogers Design Studio:

The other a nice vintage example:

3 Comments »

November 27th, 2012

Genius vs. Talent

The latest issue of Scientific American Mind, which I read during a vacation last week (yes, I’m an exciting guy), takes on the subject of genius.
“Genius” is one of those freighted words, something we consider exceedingly rare and overwhelming innate. But after reading SciAm’s package of articles, one of my takeaways is that genius in a less grandiose sense is as much about mindset as it is about ability or talent or gifts.
Two quotations in the stories stuck with me. The first comes from Mihaly Csikszentmilhalyi, who wrote:

“The unifying similarity among geniuses and innovators is not cognitive or affective but motivational. What is common among them is the unwillingness or inability to strive for goals everyone else accepts.”

The other is from Arthur Schopenhauer:

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.”

Worth pondering.

9 Comments »

Case Shiller Map showing what areas grew in real estate values

Featured Chart for Friday, November 30

September Case Shiller Home Price Index

Home prices in the September Case Shiller 20-city composite increased 3.0% from September 2011. From August to September, the 20-city composite was also up, posting a gain of 0.3%. The national composite was up 3.6% in the third quarter from 2011 and was up 2.2% from the second quarter of 2012.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are published on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 am ET. They are constructed to accurately track the price path of typical single-family homes located in each metropolitan area provided. Each index combines matched price pairs for thousands of individual houses from the available universe of arms-length sales data.

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Todays market update with a joke at the end who is smarter?

Lenders and Realtors know that relationships can sometimes complicate things, and the Census Bureau tells us that about 18% of people 18 and older lived in someone else's household, up from 16% in 2007, prior to the start of the economic recession. Specifically, 41 million adults in 2011 lived in a household in which they were neither the householder, the householder's spouse, nor the householder's cohabiting partner. Between 2010 and 2011, the number of these additional adults increased by almost 2 million.

The fabled conforming loan amounts were announced by "Frannie" yesterday, with both agencies leaving them unchanged. But if you want proof, here is the site from their conservator, the FHFA.

Stable or rising property values are key to secondary marketing confidence by investors in residential (or commercial) loans. For years the press has talked about the housing crisis, about how property values are falling, and about how countless borrowers are underwater on their homes, owing more than the house is worth. But is this cycle coming to an end? The Wall Street Journal recently reported that new household formulation is also the highest it has been for six years. Not only do we have immigration, but the children are finally moving out! These new households will increase demand for rentals and home purchases for years to come, which will increase the tax base of state and local governments. Here is the link.

We've also seen a number of house price indicators (we seem to receive a handful every darned week!) increasing. The FHFA reported that U.S. house prices included in its study rose 1.1% in the third quarter. "With significant growth in home prices during the quarter and a modest inventory of homes available for sale, house price movements in the third quarter were similar to what we observed in the spring," said FHFA Principal Economist Andrew Leventis. "The past year has seen consistent price increases, but a number of factors continue to affect the recovery in home prices such as stagnant income growth, high unemployment levels, lingering uncertainty about the macroeconomy, and the large number of homes in the foreclosure pipeline." And we had this headline: "Home Prices Rise for the Sixth Straight Month According to the S&P/Case-Shiller," with the 10 and 20 City Home Price Indexes both climbed 3% in September, marking the sixth consecutive month of growth. The national composite was up 3.6% in the third quarter of 2012.

In October, home prices and sales increased compared to 2011 levels, while inventory remained a concern, RE/MAX revealed in a recent report. The company's housing data is based on a survey of multiple listing service data in 52 metropolitan areas. The median sales price in October 2012 stood at $158,900, a 3.7 percent decrease from September but a 2.1 percent increase from October 2011. The year-over-year increase is the ninth straight month of annual gains. And out of the 52 metro areas surveyed, RE/MAX reported 48 experienced yearly price gains and 18 posted double-digit increases.

Zillow's October Real Estate Market Reports show that national home values rose 1.1% from September to October to $155,400. This is the largest monthly increase since August 2005 when home values rose 1.2% month-over-month. October 2012 marks the 12th consecutive month of home value appreciation, further evidence of a durable housing market recovery. On a year-over-year basis, home values were up by 4.7% in October 2012 - a rate of annual appreciation we haven't seen since September of 2006, before the peak of the housing bubble. Not that any and all forecasts are "spot on," but the Zillow Home Value Forecast calls for 1.5% appreciation nationally from October 2012 to October 2013. Most markets have already hit a bottom and 40 out of the 256 markets covered are forecasted to experience home value appreciation of 3% or higher, per Zillow's prediction.

Granted, not all areas of the nation, nor areas of every state, are seeing this. But then again, others are seeing even stronger appreciation, and fewer listings. Perhaps, for the housing market, the worst is over. And even "the smartest guys in the room" are getting into the game: "Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which survived the U.S. real estate collapse five years ago with the help of derivative bets against subprime mortgages, is promoting the opposite trade to clients as housing recovers. The firm, which teamed with four other dealers to create the ABX indexes, benchmark contracts that offered investors a way to protect against the risks of a crash, said in a Nov. 28 report on its top 10 market themes for 2013 that clients should buy some of the derivatives. Here's the URL, well written by Bloomberg.

Turning to the markets, no one is complaining about rates. Anyone who is should remember that a dragging economy is something that can push rates lower - and do we really want that? Probably not, and besides the fiscal cliff something to look for in the coming weeks is Federal Reserve officials facing critical decisions at their next policy meeting (December 11-12). Analysts are pointing out that one of the main discussion points is whether or not to continue the bond-buying programs where the Fed has been purchasing mortgages backed securities (MBS) and treasury bonds. In September the Fed committed to buying $40 billion a month in MBS and that looks to continue into 2013 (hence the great rates for home loans). The more pressing issue could be the $45 billion a month program called Operation Twist (Fed buys long term treasuries and sells short term treasuries) which is scheduled to end in December. The Fed is running out of supply of current short term treasuries and in order to continue the program would need to create new bank reserves (i.e. print new money - something it is already doing by buying MBS). Critics think that this could be inflationary while Fed officials believe they can manage the new reserves without inflation.

Whether it is extending flood insurance or dealing with the fiscal cliff, recently Congress seems to always drag its feet. Word comes out today that there is no progress on fiscal cliff talks. The markets will certainly let congress know the severity of falling off. If they are successful and can come together with a plan, don't look for this to happen until the last moment. One thing related to residential MBS: gross supply in November has surged to $196 billion from $132 billion in October. This is the highest level since the spring of 2009 when refinancing activity was spurred by lower mortgage rates resulting from the Fed's $1.2 trillion in MBS purchases through QE1, as well as, programs enacted by Congress following President Obama's election to help borrowers refinance in the early stage of the housing/finance crisis. As Thomson Reuters points out, the motivating factor in this month's supply surge was the rush by servicers to close loans before a 10 basis points increase in guarantee fees takes effect on Dec. 1. It took place, however, when refinance applications surged in late September as mortgage rates fell to new lows in response to the Fed's QE3 program. "While November issuance was well above normal, which is roughly $130 billion currently, issuance in December is expected to be below normal as a result."

So yesterday MBS prices were unchanged while 10-year notes were marked lower by 1 tick (1/32) and closed at 1.62%. And today, the last day of November, we've had Personal Income which was unchanged for October, and Personal Consumption (Spending) which was -.2%, pretty much in line with expectations. Later we have the Chicago PMI (Nov) at 9:45AM EST. In the early going the 10-yr is down to 1.60% and MBS prices are maybe .125 better.

The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, only a little while.
The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish.
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."
The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
To which the American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then?"
The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions...Then what?"
The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

Thursday, November 29, 2012

New or used what is your choice in homes?

Should You Buy a New or Used Home?

While this isn’t as controversial as who will win the superbowl or if you should put nuts in stuffing (or if it’s called dressing), people are passionate about whether they should buy a new home or an established one.
We think both are awesome.

Benefits of Buying New

You can build your dream. If you buy while the house is still being designed, or in progress, you have input as to the light fixtures, paint, counters, carpeting, etc. This home will practically be exactly what you want at this point in time. And you can purchase the furniture and decorations while it’s being built allowing you to time sales better.
The home is under warranty for free. You can purchase a warranty on a used home, but it will cost you money, and there are usually deductibles. The builder of a new home is responsible for appliances, structural defects, roofing, plumbing, etc for a set period of time after you take possession.
You save money as everything is new, and you won’t have to budget replacing appliances and roofs for a number of years.
You’ll get a more efficient home as the new house will be using the latest technology and design. A home using newer construction could last longer than remodeling an older home.
Your electronics will work better with new wiring. Never again will you have to run outside to the fusebox when you’re trying to run three computers, air conditioning, and the dishwasher at the same time.

Benefits of buying used

Some older homes have superior craftsmanship especially with cabinets.
Established homes usually have larger lot sizes. So not only do you have room to expand, but you’ll also have more privacy since your neighbors aren’t hand shaking distance.
You don’t have to pay to landscape, and you have established trees which increase the beauty as well as the shade.
Some older homes have basements and attics that newer homes wouldn’t.
You know the home can withstand the elements. If you live in earthquake country, and it’s older than the last large quake, you can see where it would have cracked. You know exactly how it’s going to protect you from blizzards or heavy storms.

Did you ever purchase a new home? Or do you go new-to-you?

Biggest rise in 2-years on home values!!

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Home prices: Biggest rise in more than 2 years

By Chris Isidore @CNNMoney November 27, 2012: 10:07 AM ET

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Home prices are up for the 2nd straight quarter, the biggest year-over-year increase in more than two years.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- In another sign of a housing market rebound, home prices posted the biggest percentage gain in more than two years in the third quarter, according to the closely followed S&P/Case-Shiller index.

The 3.6% increase from a year earlier is more than three times the rise in the previous quarter and was the biggest jump in prices since the second quarter of 2010. But that 2010 rise was much more of a temporary blip caused by a homebuyer's tax credit of up to $8,000 on homes purchased in late 2009 and early 2010.

This latest rise comes as the housing market has shown numerous other signs of recovery in recent months. The rebound is spurred by a combination of record low mortgage rates, an improving jobs market and a drop in foreclosures to a five-year low, reducing the supply of distressed homes available. There is also a tighter supply of both new and previously owned homes on the market.

The improvement in housing market fundamentals have helped to lift the pace of both home sales and home building.

Dean Baker, the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research who was one of the earliest economists to warn about the housing bubble and the trouble that lay ahead, said this recovery in the housing market should lead to some sustained housing price increases in the coming years.
"I've been an optimist as of late," he said. "Some think it'll get back to bubble prices and that's crazy. But we'll probably do better than inflation for the next few years, and people who have been underwater on their mortgage will get out from that, and build some equity."

The latest rise in the Case-Shiller index was the second straight quarter of year-over-year improvement, while the monthly annual reading has climbed for four months in a row, with six straight month-over-month increases.
"With six months of consistently rising home prices, it is safe to say that we are now in the midst of a recovery in the housing market," said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The increases are widespread, with only two of the 20 cities tracked by index -- Chicago and New York -- showing modest price declines from a year earlier. The biggest rise was in Phoenix, one of the cities hardest hit when the housing bubble burst. Prices there in September were 20.4% higher than a year ago.

"Home price gains are becoming more widespread across cities, and some of the largest rebounds have been in areas that were most heavily affected during the initial housing slump," said Cooper Howes, an economist with Barclays Capital. "We expect this trend to persist into next year as part of a broad-based housing recovery that includes starts, sales and prices"

Home prices are now back to where they were in early 2003, before the housing bubble inflated over the next three years before bursting. Even with the recent gain, the national index is down 28.6% from the peak level reached the first quarter of 2006.

Find homes for sale

Cyber Monday real estate?

There Are Holiday Discounts On Real Estate Too

Meredith Galante | Nov. 26, 2012, 8:13 AM | 3,475 | 3

Whether you're shopping for the hottest holiday toys or a new home, this season you're going to find a ton of price cuts.

Most people aren't looking to move during the holidays, but the average home that's on the market during this time will slash its price somewhere between $2,000 to $10,000, according to Graham Wood of AOL Real Estate.

Homebuyer traffic is very low in the winter, so usually only the most serious sellers having their homes for sale during the holidays.
Buying in the off-season can have many benefits for buyers.
To entice buyers further, sellers will throw in extra "gifts" in the light of the holiday season, such as washer, dryers, refrigerators, even sometimes flat screen TV's at no extra coast, real estate agents told AOL.

The competition among buyers is also low during this time, making the bidding process easier. Real Estate agents and mortgage lenders also have a lighter load, so they are more likely to concentrate on you more or process your deals quicker.

The Daily Motivator moved me today simple but a direct hit

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Jump on it

+++++++++++++++++++

When you have an idea, jump on it and make it happen. The reason you have the idea is because you're the person who can bring it to life.

When there's something that must be done, get busy and do it. Waiting until later will just make it more difficult, so be easy on yourself and get it over with.

When there's something you would really love to do, start working on making it happen. If you put it off until someday, that someday will never come.

Don't just know it or see it or feel it or plan it or wish for it. Act on it.

You can make things happen right here and now, so do. Every situation presents you with an opportunity to add to life's substance.

The longer you wait, the more opportunities you miss. Jump in, jump on it, and make the most of your awesome possibilities right now.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Latest on mortgage interest deduction

Are We Losing the Mortgage Interest Deduction?

Are We Losing the Mortgage Interest Deduction?

There’s a lot of talk in the news about the financial cliff, and the expectation of both sides giving in. One item that some want to be on the table is the mortgage interest deduction. Actually, this has been brought up for quite a number of years and was brought up in 2010 as well.

What is the mortgage interest deduction

When filing out your taxes, you can deduct the amount you paid for your mortgage interest against your gross income. It’s especially loved in areas where the cost of housing is high. It’s also a way that home investors can provide savings back to their renters.

How much would I lose?

The San Jose Mercury News published an article with some charts using the 2010 rates and income levels. For Santa Clara County, the median price was $610,500, and the first full year’s interest is $16,945. This would yield a tax savings of $5,084 which could be a nice vacation.
If you’re a renter, your rent may go up if your landlord loses their deduction. These costs usually get passed along down the line.

Is there anything good about the phaseout?

Some believe that a tax deduction is inefficient and a tax credit would be a better way to help more people. This blog post at HSH.com explains in greater detail about how the mortgage interest deduction was created, and their opinion as to how it’s not helping those it should.
SFGate also explains the history and the effectiveness of the mortgage interest deduction. Their conclusion is that it may change form, but it will always be a part of our tax structure.
So, if you’re concerned, find a professional tax advisor and review your current mortgage and taxes, then you will know a firmer number. Contact your representatives and let them know how it will impact you.
Do you think the federal government will phase out mortgage interest deductions?

Can I change the way I think? is it really possible?

Can I Really Change The Way I Think?

by Vicki Garcia on November 16, 2012

I recently asked my clients to help me come up with some blog post ideas. I asked them to post questions that they would like answered in a blog post. One client asked me if it’s really possible to change how we think.
Let me ask you a question. Do you think as an adult, the same way you did when you were a child? I’m guessing not. Well, I hope not. Do you think today, exactly as you did even a year ago? Chances are, because of people you come into contact with and things you learn, you have changed some of your opinions and thoughts.
Part of the way we grow and mature into adults is by taking in information and processing it. We decide if it fits in with our idea of the world, our values and our desires. You get to choose. This means, YES, you can change the way you think.
However, changing a pattern of thinking (beliefs) is not as simple as flipping on a light switch. When we think a given thought over and over again, it becomes a belief. At this point, we aren’t even conscious of it.
To choose new thoughts, we must be conscious of how we are thinking. We must be present. We must not be caught up in the day to day minutia of our lives. This is why it can be challenging to change thoughts.
A few tips for changing the way you think:

Pay attention to how you think now. This means, be present, be conscious and take note of the thoughts that run through your head during the day. You may be surprised at what you find.
Once you are aware of the typical thoughts you have, ask yourself which are working for you and which are not. How would you know if a thought isn’t working for you? If you think something and it makes you feel bad or stresses you out, it isn’t working for you.
Choose one thought that isn’t working for you and decide to change it.
When you find yourself thinking this thought, stop and ask yourself what you would rather think. Choose a thought to replace it that is realistic and makes you feel slightly better.
Practice! This is just like any other thing you want to learn. You must practice this daily until the new thought permanently replaces the old thought.
Take small steps. Choose only one new thought to practice until you get the hang of it and then add more.

I guarantee it works if you practice. I am proof of that. If you want specific examples of how I have changed my thinking and what the results have been, let me know. I am happy to share my experiences with you.
As Mike Dooley would say, “Thoughts become things…choose good ones”.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Opinion

Search Real Estate News

Smart consumers and the path of opportunity

Commentary: Agent reviews will be done by brokerages, or to them

To Sell Is Human:

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Should You Buy a New or Used Home?

Benefits of Buying New

Benefits of buying used

Home prices: Biggest rise in more than 2 years

Email Sent!

There Are Holiday Discounts On Real Estate Too

See Also

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Are We Losing the Mortgage Interest Deduction?

What is the mortgage interest deduction

How much would I lose?

Is there anything good about the phaseout?

Can I Really Change The Way I Think?