Real Estate Tips

Listening Strategically

By: Robert F. Abbott

Usually, we’re most interested in communicating outwardly; getting our
messages out to others. But finding ways to hear what’s going on around
us can be just as important.

Let’s start by identifying three different types of listening we do.
The first type - informal listening - comes naturally, as in listening
to another person. I take in what you have to say, and how you say it.

A second type, competitive intelligence, is a systematic process for
monitoring sources and gathering information. That information is
aggregated, processed to bring out the important points, and
distributed to others who can use it to make decisions.

In this article, we look at a third type, a less rigorous approach to
competitive intelligence, one that falls somewhere between simple
listening and formal competitive intelligence. Call it strategic
listening, a relatively simple way to stay on top of issues that affect
your organization.

Let’s start with objectives, which we normally do when looking at
something strategically. Ask two key questions, “Why are we doing
this?” and “What will we do with the information we gather?”

The first question focuses our efforts by putting them into the context
of our overall goals. The second question, “What will we do with the
information we gather?” relates to more immediate issues. It helps us
articulate how we will use the material, and that in turn, affects the
way we see our objectives.

Next, we need a process for gathering, managing, and storing the
information we gather. What sorts of sources? How will we get them?
What will we do with the material? How will we store it?

Once we’ve listened and gathered our information, we need to manage it.
All those mounds of paper and electronic files must be boiled down into
chunks of information that others can use easily.

This part of the process might involve the selection of excerpts or it
might involve writing summaries. It might require an argument or simply
a statement of facts that allows others to draw their own conclusions.

The final step in the strategic listening chain is to provide feedback
to those who provided raw information, and to get feedback from those
who used the processed information (or intelligence) we provided.

Giving feedback to those who provided raw information could be
considered a courtesy, and a way of encouraging them to keep supplying
us. Gathering feedback from those who used the processed information
will help us determine whether or not we met the objectives that got us
started.

In summary, one important form of listening is strategic; that is,
informally gathering and processing information that helps us stay on
top of issues that affect our organizations. The four key steps in this
process are: setting objectives, developing processes, managing the
information, and gathering and getting feedback.

Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott’s Communication Letter.
Learn how you can use communication to help achieve your goals, by
reading articles or subscribing to this ad-supported newsletter. An
excellent resource for leaders and managers, at:
http://www.communication-newsletter.com

The 6 Characteristics of Highly Creative People
By Michelle L. Casto

Thomas Moore said, ?We are all poets and artists as we
live our daily lives, whether or not we recognize our
role and whether or not we believe it.? Human beings
have an innate need to create. Even you! There is a
continuum of creativity, ranging from being slightly
creative to highly creative.
The good news is that you can learn to be more creative by observing creative
people and modeling yourself after them.
Artists, writers, and creative types seem to have
similar characteristics.
Some of the personalitytraits listed below may seem eccentric, odd, even ?
outthere?—but that is where creativity lies— in the
outreaches of our consciousness, in the depths of our
souls.
If you had the opportunity to speak to
Picasso, Walt Disney, or Jane Austen, you would
probably find out that they are ordinary people, much
like you and I. The difference is that they have
allowed more of their soul to come out and play and
have freed themselves of convention and restriction.

Creativity is essentially the art of discovery and an
act of faith. When you create something— a work of
art, book, software program, dance routine, or role
for a play, you discover parts of yourself that you
never knew existed.
Creative people have a strong need to express more of who you really are and
often have to fight for that right. The character Isabelle in the movie,
Fire and Ice, has a great outlook on
what it means to be creative, she says, ?To create, sometimes you must
rebel.?

1. Unconventional
Creative people do not feel the need to conform to
society?s standards. They often swim against the
current and flow with their own way of thinking and
living. They have original ideas that literally turn
the world upside down and right-side out.
Take for example, the 16th century Italian astronomer,
Galileo, who proved that the earth revolved around the
sun (instead of the other way around), which was
revolutionary in his time.

2. Individualistic
Creative people want to find out what the truth is,
and they have a strong need to decide for themselves
what works and what does not. Often they are ahead of
their time, and much of their work is
appreciated/acknowledged after they are dead and gone.
Many writers are famous for marching to the tune of
their own drum, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote
the book, Self-Reliance, and Robert Frost who penned,
?two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one
less-traveled.?

3. Inventive
Creative people live in the world of ideas, and don?t
always have the best interpersonal skills. Because
they are so highly intelligent, and live in the realm
of possibility, they are constantly coming up with
bright ideas. They also take notice of what is
missing in the world and/or what could be improved.
Take for instance, Thomas Edison, who invented
hundreds of things in his time, his most famous
invention being the light bulb. He saw that there was
darkness and then created light.

4. Driven
Creative people cannot ?not do something??they are
almost compulsive until they can bring their internal
vision into fruition. They have that ?fire in their
belly?—a passion to contribute to the beauty and
betterment of the world. Because of their high drive,
they can produce a lot in a relative short amount of
time.
Talk about drive—the material girl herself, Madonna,
has not let public praise or criticism stop her from
being a super star. She is a modern day Diva,
multi-talented as a singer, dancer, and actress who
has released hundreds of songs, albums, videos,
movies, books— all the while reinventing herself as
someone new.

5.Visionary
Creative people have a guiding vision in their head,
heart, and soul that they are often called to bring to
life. Who else but Michelangelo could look at a large
piece of marble and ?chip away at everything that
wasn?t David?? According to him, ?I saw an angel in
the marble and carved until I set him free.?
One of his best-known works is the immense ceiling of
the Sistine Chapel, which took him three years to
complete, where he often had to work upside down for
hours at a time. If you ever have seen any of his
work, you can easily see that it is a vision to
behold.

6. Intuitive
Creative people are very in touch with their inner
selves. They pay attention to the signs,
synchronicities, symbols around them, and make use of
that information in their work. They often act as a
channel, where ideas and inspiration come from a
higher plane. They allow the work to guide them to
where it needs to go. The work clearly originates in
their soul, not from their ego.
Talk about ideas coming from out of the blue, remember
how the scientist, Isaac Newton ?discovered? gravity?
He was sitting under a tree and an apple fell on his
head! Had he not made a connection with his intuitive
nature, he would have missed a major theory about the
world we live in!

As you read this, do you find yourself relating to
some of these traits? If so, it is time to start
creating. Getting started can often be the hardest
part, because we often limit our creativity by
listening too closely to our negative inner voice.
But so did all of these examples of creators. Even
the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh struggled with
that, but he created a remedy for that, he said, ?If
you hear a voice within you saying, you are not a
painter, then by all means, paint, and that voice will
be silenced.?
Robert Henri says, „When the artist is alive in any
person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes
an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing
creature.‰
Once you have created, you now have to put
yourself out there for all to see. This is where your
faith comes in to support you. Remember that if you
are creating from your soul, it will not matter
whether other people accept your work or not. You are
simply doing what you are called to do as a human
being, create.

Online Home Equity Loans: A Basic Glossary

Home equity loans can be a great idea for individuals looking to
get out of debt or make necessary repairs on their homes.
During the process, you will come across a variety of terms and
acronyms. We have gathered together some of the basic terms that
you come across during your home equity loan. If you have any
questions about any of these terms, make sure to consult with
your mortgage lender.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): This type of mortgage has an
interest rate that will change over time. Typically the
interest rate will be lower than fixed mortgage products.

Amortization: Loan payments that will cover both principle and
interest in one payment. Your lender will likely give you an
amortization schedule outlining your payment schedule.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): This is the cost of credit on a
yearly basis.

Appraised Value: An appraiser will determine the value of your
home based on experience, market data, and other information.

Cap: This is the limit on how much an interest rate can increase
over the life of your loan.

Closing/Closing Costs: This is the final step in the real estate
transaction. This would include the delivery of the deed,
signing of the notes, and final disbursement of the funds.
There will be various fees associated with a closing, such as
attorney fees and taxes, that are called closing costs.

Depreciation: An overall loss on a property due to age, physical
deterioration, and economic factors.

Discount Point: A buyer can pay the lender a set fee for a lower
interest rate. This is usually a percentage of the loan itself.

Equity: This is the amount of money that you have vested in your
home. This can be determined by subtracting the lien amount
from the property’s value.

Equity Loan: A loan or line of credit that is based on the
amount of equity that you have in your home. Your home is
essentially used as collateral.

Fixed Interest Rate: An interest rate that remains constant
throughout the life of the loan. A fixed-rate mortgage will
have the same interest rate and payments for the length of the
loan.

Home Equity Line of Credit: Similar to a home equity loan, but
you receive a line of credit that you can draw upon at any time.

Home Equity Loan: A loan based on the amount of equity you have
in your home.

Interest: This is the cost for borrowing money.

Interest Rate: This is the percentage of the loan amount that
you must add to your principle, for the privilege of borrowing
money.

Loan-To-Value Ratio: This is the ratio between the amount of the
loan and the actual value of the home. Some loans can give you
up to a 125% Loan-To-Value Ratio.

Market Value: This is the price that buyers would be willing to
pay for your home, at the present time. This can vary from the
actual sale price of the home.

PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance): This is the
usual breakdown for mortgage payments.

Principal: The amount of your original loan before interest was
added.

John Ross is a freelance author who writes articles about
financial loans including: http://www.loanchbox.com/ ,
http://www.loanchbox.com/online-home-equity-loans.html , and
http://www.loanchbox.com/home-equity-loans-fixed.html The
Loanchbox is a user friendly website designed to inform
beginners about home equity loans.

Focus
by Catherine Pulsifer

To have a goal is like having a road map. It shows you where to go,
and where not to go. Would you begin a trip to an unknown city
without first looking at a map? Probably not.

Amazingly though, many people conduct their lives without any
personal road map to success. Goals are like a map. They help us
determine where we want to end up, and give us personal direction on
which to focus our energy.

Once you decide what it is you want, set your sights and start taking
action to achieve it. This “action” is the commitment on your part.
And, once you are committed to a goal, really committed, problems are
short term. With your entire “focus” on your goal, you will reach
levels of achievement that you never thought possible.

Without goals, you will end up going nowhere, or, you will end up
following someone else’s map!
Develop your map today - set your goals and focus!

To quote Alan Pariser: “The sun’s energy warms the world. But when
you focus it through a magnifying glass it can start a fire. Focus is
so powerful!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Catherine Pulsifer is one of the editors of Words of Wisdom 4 U,
http://www.wow4u.com. You will find a collection of motivational
thoughts, stories, quotes, poems, smiles, proverbs, and more at Words
of Wisdom 4 U!

Breakfast of Failures
by Sharif Khan

“If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.”
–Thomas Watson, Sr. Founder of IBM

Before the Breakfast of Champions - there was the Breakfast of Failures:

. C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) had over 800 rejections before
he sold even one piece of writing.

. Oprah Winfrey was not deterred when she got fired from her television
reporter’s job being told, “You’re not fit for TV.”

. Og Mandino (The Greatest Salesman in the World) had lost his family to
drink and became a homeless person before becoming an inspirational
bestselling author selling over 30 million books.

. Marie Curie, recipient of two Nobel Prizes once said, “I tried out
various experiments.and the results were sometimes unexpected. At times
I would be encouraged by a little unhoped-for success, at others I would
be in the deepest despair because of accidents and failures resulting
from my inexperience.I was taught that the way of progress is neither
swift nor easy.”

. Bill Gates and Michael Dell were college drop-outs.

. Babe Ruth had more strike-outs then any other baseball player of his
time. He also had the most home runs.

. Ann Bancroft, the first woman to travel across the ice to the North
Pole, reminisced later about not reaching a goal to cover 2,300 miles
across Antarctica (bad weather forced them to be airlifted off) on an
expedition with her sister: “Once again this [expedition] is another
successful failure.”

. After auditioning for his band, musician Eddie Bond told a young Elvis
Presley to “Stick to driving a truck, because you’ll never make it as a
singer.”

. Abe Lincoln lost his job and his sweetheart, failed miserably in
business, was defeated for state legislature, had a nervous breakdown,
was defeated for nomination for congress, lost the renomination, was
defeated for US Senate, defeated for nomination of Vice President, and
again defeated for US Senate, before being elected as the sixteenth
President of the United States.

Forget about living a ‘comfortable’ life. I’m not interested in the
items you’ve crossed off your to-do list today. I want to know: have you
failed - I mean really FAILED lately?

Sharif Khan is a professional speaker, writer, coach, and author of
Psychology of the Hero Soul, an inspirational book on awakening the hero
within and developing people’s leadership potential. For more
information, visit http://www.herosoul.com Email: sharif@herosoul.com
Tel:(416) 417-1259. Copyright C 2005 by Sharif Khan.

How To Speak Up When You Don´t Know What To Say
by Peter Murphy

We all get tongue tied at times when we really don´t know
what to say next. Maybe you get stuck when talking to
authority figures such as your boss or bank manager. For
someone else certain situations might bring on that
self-conscious tongue-tied moment.

What can you do to avoid getting stuck for words?

1. Trust yourself more

Forget about being perfect and don´t demand that you say
the right thing at the right moment all of the time. It
really is okay to make little mistakes and to learn from
them.

Do forget about perfection because it does not exist in the
known world. Doing what you can with what you´ve got in any
moment is all anyone can reasonably demand of you.

And usually, the more you trust yourself and get on with
it, the more often you will be surprised at how well you
will do. If you pay attention every experience will be an
opportunity for you to get better, much better.

2. Learn like a child

When you were a child you were a highly advanced learning
machine! You learned new skills and understandings at a
phenomenal pace. You were unstoppable in your quest for new
experiences and new learnings.

As adults we need to remember to tap into this fascination
for life. Kids learn by observing AND doing. Adults often
forget the doing part!

In terms of making great conversation, allow yourself to
learn by doing. Make mistakes, learn what does not work and
improve one conversation after another. You will move ahead
much, much faster when you live in this way.

3. Apply the knowledge you already have

It is very likely you already know how to start a
conversation, how to keep a conversation alive and how to
engage the interest of another person.

However, knowing what to do and using what you know are two
very different things. Here is a useful guideline you might
like to keep in mind — you only know what you can do.

Unless you are getting good results with a technique or
approach that you understand - you really have not learned
and integrated it into your life.

The best way to take on board and use what you think you
already know is to spend a little time each day reviewing
solid material on communication skills. Review it and then
use it during your day when you deal with people.

Before you know it those tongue-tied moments will be a
distant memory of how you used to be.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to
Developing Communication Confidence. This report reveals
the secret strategies all high achievers use to communicate
with charm and impact. Apply now because it is available
for a limited time only at:
http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

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Refinance Benefits - Refinancing Could Save You Money

The most common reason most people refinance is to save money, but
many people refinance for various other reasons.

1. Refinancing to Lower Your Monthly Payment for an Existing Loan.
You can refinance your existing loan at a lower interest rate thus
reducing your monthly loan payments. With interest rates at their
lowest for years, you can find some excellent rates - sometimes far
much lower than what you’re paying for your current loan or
mortgage. Refinancing your mortgage or loan when rates are down
could save you hundreds of pounds every month and thousands over the
life of your loan.

2. Refinancing to Consolidate Debts.
You may choose to refinance in order to consolidate debts and
replace high-interest loans with a low-rate loan. The loans being
consolidated may include higher purchase loans, student loans and
credit cards. You can clear all your existing credit cards, loans
and other debts and replace them all with one low cost cheaper
monthly payment. On a £12,000 loan some homeowners can save in
excess of £250 a month which is a considerable saving. A debt
consolidation loan is a smart solution for anyone who has many
outgoing monthly payments. A Refinance loan allows you to repay
existing loans from the proceeds of a new loan - the loan is usually
secured on property or your home.

3. Refinancing to Reduce the Term of the Loan.
Reducing the term of your loan can help you save money over the life
of the loan. For example, refinancing from a 7-year loan to a 3-year
loan might result in higher monthly payments, but the total of the
payments (or total cost of the loan) made during the life of the
loan can be reduced significantly. You’ll also be able to build up
your equity faster. Use this free loan calculator (
http://www.commercial-mortgage-guide.org.uk/calculator/ ) to see how
the total cost of the loan reduces when the repayment period is
shortened. A refinance loan can save you thousands in interest
charges over the life of your loan.

4. Refinancing to Switch From Variable to Fixed Rates.
You can also refinance in order to switch from a variable rate loan
to a fixed rate loan. The main reason behind this type of refinance
is to obtain the stability and the security of a fixed loan. Fixed
loans are very popular when interest rates are low, whereas variable
rate loans tend to be more popular when rates are higher. When rates
are low, you can refinance to lock in low rates. When rates are
high, you may prefer the short term discounted variable rate loans
to obtain lower payments. A major benefit to refinance is the
ability to lock in a low interest rate for the duration of your
loan.

5. Refinancing to Switch from One Lender to Another.
Some lenders offer better mortgage or loan deals than others. They
may offer better customer support services, more flexible loan
repayment terms or just a service that is more suitable for your
needs. Refinancing your loan can allow you to drop your current
lender and switch to a new one with a better loan or mortgage
package.

You should carefully consider the savings you can make by
refinancing against the costs and penalties. Any homeowner can
refinance, but the point is to find a deal that will improve on your
existing mortgage or loan.

About the Author: © Copyright 2005, Bwalya Mwaba writes for the The
Commercial Mortgage Guide. Visit our website for mortgage related
news, articles, tools and more: http://www.commercial-mortgage-
guide.org.uk/. This article may be reprinted as long as all the
above links are active and clickable and this author box (byline) is
not edited.

Real Estate Buyers Beware: Get Representation… You Need Representation by Elaine VonCannon

It is the buyer’s right to seek an agent, and it is in their best interest to do so.

For Sale by Owner
When a potential buyer sees a For Sale by Owner property he or she should contact their realtor before contacting the For Sale by Owner. And when the buyer makes an offer on the For Sale by Owner Property he or she needs representation on the sale. The buyer always needs representation for many reasons.

Home Inspections
Most buyers do not know to ask for home inspections, what they cost, or who to call to do one. If there is work to be done on an inspection report, a buyer should negotiate, and a REALTOR has skill and experience at this.

New Home Sites
New home site buyers need to hire a REALTOR to look out for their interests, too. Remember, the site agent is there to protect the builder’s interest and therefore everything will be geared towards what benefits the builder, not the buyer. When registering at a new home site, be sure to include your agent’s phone number, name, and company.

Dual Agency: The Listing Agency
When a REALTOR chooses to represent the seller AND the buyer, this is considered dual agency. A buyer’s rights are not emphasized in these circumstances. Bringing a REALTOR onto the buyer’s side equalizes the sale, and gives the buyer much needed experience and professional advice.

Earnest Money Deposit
When the buyer makes an offer on a For Sale by Owner – who makes the Earnest Money deposit? How does a buyer obtain the deposit back if the contract falls through? A REALTOR will place the money in an escrow account.

Buyer’s Broker Agreement
A buyer’s broker protects the buyer’s interest in the transaction. In Virginia, the seller pays the commission, so by law the listing agent and the selling agent have to protect the seller’s interest. So, if you select a buyer’s broker to work with you on the home purchase, you will be represented in the sale.

Cost Analysis
In order to prevent overpaying for a home, a REALTOR will do a cost analysis for a buyer, to determine if the home is priced correctly. This is the same kind of analysis an appraiser would do, using comparable sales which have closed in the last three months in the area.

Escalation Clauses
Escalation clauses are applicable in markets where there is very little inventory and it is a fast selling market. The escalation clause will give you a competitive edge in procuring the home that you want when multiple offers are presented on a property. An escalation clause is not a standard feature on contractual sales.

Home Owners Association
The buyer needs to know the time frame for the Home Owners Association (HOA) packet. A buyer may be caught in buying into an HOA with high hidden fees if the timeframe is missed when he or she can exercise their right to void the contract. This will vary from state to state.

Disclosures & Disclaimers
If there has been any structural damage to the home or adverse environmental problems with the home they must be disclosed. An example of this would be asbestos wrapped pipes. If not, then a disclaimer will accompany contract. Laws on disclosure/disclaimer vary from state to state.

Well and Septic
In rural areas, where well and septic are used instead of city water, they are applicable as conditions of the contract. There are time frames for these inspections also, which vary from state to state.

Termite and Moisture
Clean termite and moister letters vary from state to state and from the timeframe that needs to be adhered to in the contract. The majority of lenders require a clean termite and moister letter prior to closing. The REALTOR in your area would know these timelines.

Referrals
If you are moving into an unfamiliar geographic location, ask your real estate agent if he or she can refer you to an agent in the area you are moving to. A REALTOR obtained through referral will help in relocating and purchasing your new home.

Select an Agent Carefully
Each For Sale by Owner buyer needs to interview a REALTOR and select one who is comfortable approaching For Sale by Owners and working with them. Do not let For Sale by Owners or new home site agents dissuade you from using an agent. He or she may say that you will pay less for the home purchase. In reality, a REALTOR’s professional advice may save you from taking a property that could become a nightmare, or help uncover a hidden jewel. Remember, if you’re searching for a home you still need a realtor, to look out for your end of the sale. Get representation on your side.

About the Author

Elaine VonCannon is a REALTOR with RE/Max Capital in Williamsburg, Virginia, and she manages investment property as part of her business. Elaine is also an Accredited Buyer’s Representative as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist. She has helped numerous clients invest in and make money on property in Southeastern Virginia.