Want to be Extremely, Wildly, Radically Successful?

"Whichever adjective you select for the success you’re seeking – extreme, wild, radical – is it really possible that a few tweaks could be all you need to reach these new heights? Last week I read a popular LinkedIn post in which the author, Alex Banayan, promised to disclose “The 5 Traits of Wildly Successful People”. This sounded like a bargain: just 5 steps to wild success. With such straightforward tips – be persistent, ignore convention, be a problem-solver, cut back on sleep, build good relationships – taking life to the next level sounded downright easy. Indeed, countless blog posts list success-ensuring traits, the kinds of virtues or habits everyone should cultivate. Some recipes for success include as few as five ingredients, as did Mr. Banayan’s, or as many as 50. (See the list at the end of this post if you need a “quick success” reading list.). But here’s the thing: Fun as it may be to peruse these lists, simply reading through grab bags of traits and attitudes won’t ensure success in work and life. The very reason success is elusive is that it still requires a lot of hard and often tedious work. Not just daily work at the office, but the constant work of making ourselves into more effective, more adaptable, more thoughtful people. That’s what it means to build character. No secrets here. Just hours, days, months, and years of persistence in doing what matters most, honoring commitments, and working well with others. For over twenty years, I worked closely with Stephen R. Covey, author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” – one of the best-selling business books of all time, with 15 million copies sold in 38 languages. Many of today’s list-like blog headlines are derivative of his famous title and insightful suggestions for building a principle-centered life. Stephen – who passed away last year – might have been distressed at how his approach to building habits for successful living has morphed into a cottage industry of those peddling lists of secrets to wild financial windfalls and potent influence. Stephen was not about these ‘ends.’ Instead, he was about being mindful of the person you become on the way there. He celebrated the idea of finding one’s “true north,” the guiding set of ethics and habits through which people develop character. He liked to quote Aristotle on the subject: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act – but a habit.” Covey wasn’t talking low-level habits like brushing your teeth, washing the dishes or showing up early for meetings. His “habits” were ones of character – the kind that take time and repetition to build. Some were about thinking, some were about doing, some were about treating others with respect – but they were all about building character, about doing the right things over and over until they become ingrained -- what Aristotle called the “stable equilibrium of the soul.” Aristotle's notion – the one Covey also espoused – is a profound one. Success in life is rooted in aligning our actions with our values, until our choices flow naturally, and without calculation, from our character. Like everything else worth doing, this is a matter of consistent, determined practice – as unromantic, familiar, and headline-unfriendly a secret as that may be. So, nothing against lists, and nothing against anything that can inspire or help you become more successful. But, in my experience, there are no shortcuts to success." By Joel Peterson Chairman, JetBlue Airways. Stanford Business School! (Article published in LinkedIn.)

About Credit Scores.....

"Your credit score is the single most important factor in determining your mortgage interest rate and monthly payment," said Erin Lantz, director of mortgages at Zillow. "To avoid any surprises when buying a home, check your credit score and report at least six months before you intend to buy to see if there are any costly inaccuracies, pay down high-balance lines of credit and make sure your bills are always paid on time." After doing, all that, try to save more every month to make a bigger down payment. The smaller your loan compared with the home's value, the better your chances of approval. Of course, you can look for a less expensive home as well. But what if you can get approval, but for now would be stuck with a higher rate? Would it make sense to postpone your purchase or refinance until you can nudge your credit score higher? That could be risky. It would be annoying to pay 5% instead of 4.5%, but if you wait six months or a year you might find that those bottom-level rates have gone up. You might end up paying 5% or more even with a score over 740. No one knows for sure, but most experts agree rates will drift up. They're already up quite substantially since spring, when you could get a 30-year fixed loan for 3.5%. Also, home prices will probably continue to rise, though perhaps not as fast as during the past year or so. So even if waiting did get you a lower rate than you'd pay today, that saving might be wiped out by a higher purchase price". Ready to Sell or Purchase? Contact a Real Estate Professional ! Call US ! We are Selling Miami Estates 305-283-5868 Espie Franky

2-5-million-homes-gained-positive-equity-Q2

The number of mortgaged homes where homeowners owed more on their loan than the home was worth dropped by 2.5 million in the second quarter from the the first quarter, to 7.1 million, according to a second-quarter home equity report from CoreLogic. As of the second quarter, 14.5 percent of all residential properties with a loan were underwater — the homeowners owed more on it than it’s worth – down from 19.7 percent in the first quarter. Negative equity nationwide also dropped $148 billion from the first quarter to $428 billion. Of the 41.5 million properties that now have positive equity at the end of the second quarter, 10.3 million were “under-equitied” — had less than 20 percent equity. Some 1.7 million homes had less than 5 percent equity. “Price appreciation obviously had a positive impact on home equity over the first half of 2013, especially the second quarter,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, in a statement. The states that had the highest percentage of homes with negative equity in the second quarter were: Nevada (36.4 percent), Florida (31.5 percent), Arizona (24.7 percent), Michigan (22.5 percent) and Georgia (20.7 percent). **Source: CoreLogic Thinking on Buying or Selling Real Estate in South Florida? Contact us, we are Your Best source with confidentiality and professionalism at your service!

How to rebuild loyalty ...in Business!

"If you aspire to be successful as an entrepreneur, manager, business owner, or any kind of leader, others must feel loyal to you. Although money is often seen as a prime motivator, ultimately the bonds that hold an enterprise together are psychological. Important data gathered by the indicate that loyalty is one of the top three things that make workers feel satisfied. Loyalty balances self-interest. It is the willingness to look out for "us" and not just "me." It's no secret that the bond of loyalty has frayed at a time of layoffs and the loss of pensions and benefits in the economy. A public image has been built of opposition between management and labor - there is nothing new here - where the advantage has shifted overwhelmingly to management. As long as profits continue to roll in, loyalty is ignored. The assumption is that workers are too desperate for a job to complain or protest. You have a choice to make in the face of this sad situation. Are you going to join the trend and forget loyalty or are you going to try and rebuild it? The question doesn't apply simply to managers. Companies develop an atmosphere and a culture. No one works in a vacuum, and your attitude affects the environment you work in, no matter where you fit into the overall scheme. If you choose to help rebuild loyalty, here are some suggestions: 1. Abstain from disloyalty, which shows up in small but telling ways. Office gossip, back-biting, and spreading rumors show disloyalty, because they degrade the sense of bonding and cooperation. 2. Work on bonding and cooperation. Be sympathetic and open to the people you work with. Support projects that are good for everyone, even if you don't gain immediate material rewards. 3. Honor the difference between rivals and competitors. The fact that you are competing against others at work doesn't make them your rivals. Rivalry is hostile; it implies that only one person can win. Competition raises the bar for everyone, so that the whole team can win. 4. Pay attention to personal details. Loyalty runs deep when a person feels cared for and understood. Be alert to these needs. Make an effort to include everyone. When ideas and suggestions are being discussed, make it clear that every suggestion is welcome. If someone's pet idea is rejected, take time to go to them afterwards and listen respectfully to what lies behind the idea. 5. Share your success. Include your team in the praise and appreciation that comes your way. If possible, make a tangible gesture, as appropriate - throw a party, or other form of celebration, offer bonuses, present a gift as a token of recognition. 6. Don't keep secrets. As much as possible, make the decision-making process transparent. Open up financial details. In the economic downturn of 2008, some small businesses shared their finances with their workers and thereby won real loyalty. Seeing that the company was strapped, the workers felt an incentive to be part of the solution. This is just one way to close the gap that makes management and workers adversaries, a stance that severely erodes loyalty. 7. Remind yourself every day that there is no "I" without "we." This allows you to be humble in your successes and provides a community to get through crises." **taken from Debak Chopra notes

Dream Big....start small!

"Your greatest fear is your biggest enemy. It keeps you small, blocks your progress and limits your achievement. Perhaps you picked it up along the way? Someone taught it you? The good news is, it’s not who you truly are. Here are some steps to put that beast out of its misery once and for all: Decide. Do something. Anything. Fear feeds on inaction Look for the truth. Look for the facts. Fear feeds on lies. What’s the worst that can happen? The biggest way to reduce risk is increase knowledge. Fear feeds on the unknown. ‘Get perfect later.’ Fear feeds on perfectionism. Don’t wait to run the marathon. Take the first step today. Fear feeds on waiting for the ‘right time’. “Fears are educated into us and can, if we wish, be educated out.” So “educate them out”. Beginning today. You’re smart. A go-getter. A person of excellence–and vision Inspire others by your bigness. Dream big but start small. Act now. Don’t stop. Change the world." - Rob Moore ** article from LinkedIn We are Here to help achieve your Real Estate Goal. Contact us for a confidential market analysis. Espie Franky

What Every 1st-Time Homebuyer Needs to know

"If you're a first-time home buyer, you're probably thrilled to take the plunge into the real estate market. After all, you've probably been envisioning this moment for many years. It's a time when you should be ecstatic for what's coming. However, there's a caveat. Buying a house is a massive decision, particularly if you've never embarked on the process before. There are certain things you must consider as a prospective buyer in order to have a successful purchasing journey. These ideas are listed below for your benefit. 1. Properly assess your credit standing Credit is one of the main issues you need to focus on before buying a one-way ticket to the real estate world. For one, it can really help you financially if you have solid credit. Secondly, if you have a less than ideal credit report, buying a property may be a decision to re-think or put aside for several months. Every situation is relative to the individual person directly involved, but the principle is the same: credit matters and it will continue to matter. You need credit to qualify for a loan. While the exact influence could vary greatly between a Native American applying for a HUD 184 home loan and a recent college graduate applying to take over a condominium, the numbers need to add up. If you have three credit cards and most of the allowance is used up on all three, you may not receive a very pretty score. Take this advice and run with it: Good credit standing often translates to lower interest rates for your mortgage agreement. This benefits you. Also, if your credit isn't ideal, think about considering a six month hiatus from the housing search to try and raise it. You can do this with consistent payments on whatever you've committed to within your life. 2. Gauge monthly cash flow Part of owning a home is being extremely stable financially. This doesn't mean having an abundance of extra money to throw around, but rather the concept of understanding how much money you do have and how you spend it. If you're considering buying a house, you want to specifically focus on your monthly cash flow. Some questions to ask: How much do you earn? How much are you able to put aside each month? How's your individual job security? What about your employer's stability within the market? Can you reasonably cut back on spending without compromising your way of life? Your monthly flow needs to be understood for the simple reason that you need to know exactly how a mortgage agreement will affect you financially. For instance, the commitment is more than simply paying the monthly portion of the loan. You will have homeowner obligations that you didn't have before. You will have property taxes, maintenance and many other situations to consider. Take this advice and run with it: You're going to be fine owning your own property, but it can really help to properly assess your monthly cash flow. There needs to be more coming in than going out. You're the only one that can truly understand where your balance is at and if there's ever a time to think about it, it's now. 3. Carefully consider the location Oftentimes, those people buying real estate for the first time underestimate the commitment that ensues after the closing date. While you can surely sell your house before it's paid off, it's a bigger commitment than it seems to be looking at what is often a loan of 25-30 years. Due to the inherent longevity of these agreements, it's imperative that you analyze not only the property you're deciding on but the location it's in. Some questions to ask: Do you really, really like the city or town? What school district zone does your property fall within? This could shape your child's or children's education Is it close enough to your job? What about your spouse's, if you have one? Is it near hobbies you enjoy? Take this advice and run with it: The location that your house sits within will make or break your general happiness with the situation. This seems obvious, but it still needs to be carefully analyzed with a long-term focus. Do you see yourself feeling the same about it in a few years? What about 20? These are thoughts to toss around your inner circle of family and friends before settling on a decision. Part of enjoying your first home buying experience is being prepared. Properly assessing your credit standing, gauging monthly cash flow and carefully considering the location of your proposed investment are strong starting points. From there, it's up to you." ** info from REALITY TIMES Magazine Thinking on Buying Your First Home in South Florida? Give me a call, I'm ready to parter up with you In search of the place to call your New Home! Espie

Miami Home Sales, Prices Continue to Surge

Miami, FL (PRWEB) August 21, 2013 In July, number of sales and prices of Miami properties continued to surge amid tight supply, generating rapid sales and offers close to asking price, according to the 29,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system. Single-family home sales again surged in July, up 27.3 percent from 964 a year earlier to 1,227 this July. This is the highest monthly number of sales for single-family homes in Miami-Dade since the height of the boom in 2005. Condominium sales increased 13.4 percent, up from 1,356 in July 2012 compared to 1,538 last month. “The Miami real estate market continues to thrive as demand for housing intensifies and increasing inventory remains insufficient,” said 2013 Chairman of the Board of the MIAMI Association of REALTORS Natascha Tello. “Miami is a global city that is not surprisingly attracting worldwide attention on many fronts. Residents, visitors, tourists and business enterprises want to be in Miami and experience all that our unique and vibrant city and market offer. This attention is driving our real estate market and our economy.” Nationally, sales of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops increased 6.5 percent from June and were 17.2 percent higher than they were in July 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors. Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 20,632 in July, up 17.5 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Miami Double-Digit Price Appreciation July’s figures mark 20 consecutive months of appreciation for both single-family homes and condominiums in Miami. The median sales price of single-family homes spiked 25.7 percent to $230,000 year-over-year and remained the same compared to the previous month. The median sales price of condominiums, which has significantly increased each of the last 25 months, jumped 33.3 percent to $180,500 compared to a year earlier but declined 2.7 percent compared to the previous month. Compared to July 2012, the average sales price for single-family homes in Miami-Dade County increased 24.9 percent to $406,532, while the average sales price for condominiums increased 20.9 percent to $323,338. U.S., Florida Median Sales Prices The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $213,500 in July, a 13.7 percent increase from July 2013, according to NAR. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $179,500, up 20 percent from the previous year, while that of townhouse-condo properties was $129,000, up 22.9 percent over the previous year. Properties Selling Fast, Close to Asking Price Miami properties that are priced right are selling very quickly and yielding very high percentage of asking price. In July, the median days on the market for single-family homes and condominiums were 35 and 45 respectively, reflecting sales at a very rapid pace. The average percent of original list price received was 96.1 percent for single-family homes and 97.1 percent for condominiums. “It’s an exciting time for Miami real estate,” said 2013 MIAMI Association of REALTORS Residential President Fernando I. Martinez. “Miami has matured into a global, urban city that offers a very attractive lifestyle with endless opportunities for work, leisure, and cultural activities, adding great value to our market. Buyers and investors realize Miami will continue to generate housing demand and are taking advantage of the local affordability and the potential for profitability.” Inventory Remains Tight Active listings at the end of July increased 0.8 percent, from 12,547 to 13,583, compared to July 2012. Despite the slight increase in inventory, current active inventory remains insufficient to satisfy intense demand for Miami properties. Inventory of single-family homes increased 0.6 percent to 5,125 active listings, while that of condominiums increased 13.5 percent to 8,458 active listings. At the current sales pace, there is 4.9 months of supply of single-family homes and 6.0 months of supply of condominiums in Miami-Dade, representing a decrease of 14.2 percent and an increase of 5.6 percent respectively compared to year-ago levels. Total housing inventory nationally increased 5.6 percent at the end of July but remains 5.0 percent below year-ago levels, representing a 5.1-month supply. Distressed Sales Continue to Decline while Prices Rise Sales of distressed properties continue to sharply decline in Miami-Dade County, particularly for short sales. In July, only 35.4 percent of all closed residential sales in Miami-Dade County were distressed, including REOs (bank-owned properties) and short sales, compared to 47.3 percent in June 2012. Nationally, distressed homes again accounted for 15 percent of July sales. The median sales price of single-family home and condominium foreclosures in Miami-Dade increased 9.3 percent to $147,000 and 27.8 percent to $115,000 respectively. Cash Sales Account for 60% of Transactions In Miami-Dade County, 60 percent of total closed sales in July were all-cash sales compared to 63.5 percent in July 2012. All-cash sales accounted for 43.3 percent of single-family home and 73.6 percent of condominium closings, compared to a year ago when cash sales were 44 percent and 77.4 percent of closed sales respectively. Since nearly 90 percent of foreign buyers in Florida purchase properties all cash, this reflects the much stronger presence of international buyers in the Miami real estate market. By comparison all-cash sales nationally accounted for 31 percent of transactions in July, down from 33 percent the previous month and 29 percent in July 2012. July 2013 - Miami-Dade Statistical Reports Single-Family Homes http://www.miamire.com/docs/monthly-market-reports/miami-dade-county_single-family-homes_2013-07_summary.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Condos http://www.miamire.com/docs/monthly-market-reports/miami-dade-county_townhouses-and-condos_2013-07_summary.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Note: Statistics in this news release may vary depending on reporting dates. Statistics reported by MIAMI are not impacted by NAR’s rebenchmarking efforts. MIAMI reports exact statistics directly from its MLS system. About the MIAMI Association of REALTORS The MIAMI Association of REALTORS was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 93 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of four organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward County Board of Governors, and the International Council, it represents more than 29,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S., and has partnerships with more than 100 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is http://www.miamire.com/. **** information from Miami Association of Realtors Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1426303#ixzz2cjwV74nJ