RPE Beginner Lead Street, Design Center and Social Media

Every Thursday at 10:00 am in the upstairs small training room the beginner Lead Street, Design Center and Social Media classes are held. These classes are for those of you who are first time users wanting to get some hands on experience with the different applications or, maybe you have used the applications in the past but need a little refresher. Currently the class size has been no more than two; however there can be as many as five. The small class size allow for one-on-one interaction and attention.

When you come to the class be sure to have the following:
-Your username and password for RE/MAX.net
-Come ready to get some hands on experience

So far the classes have covered the following topics:
-Putting contacts in Lead Street
-Designing a Flyer in Design Center
-Designing a web commercial and hosting is on GLAR

Upcoming classes:
-Designing your LinkedIn account
-Designing Virtual Tours
-Designing Feature Sheets
-Designing postcard

If you have any questions regarding the classes or have a request for a class that you do not see on the schedule please contact Meagan Godfrey

What are you Thankful for this Year

This year at RPE we have so many things to be thankful for. The staff decided to display what we were thankful for by designing hand turkeys and hanging them in the kitchen, but we were wondering what some of you agents are thankful for this year. Here are what a few of you had to say…

“Peace on Earth, “ Freddie Brown
“Family,” Betty Radford
“Tony Tricase, no no I take that back and what I am really thankful  for is health,” Sam Stockard
“Grandchildren, relatively good health, and a long marriage,” Bill Meyers

From all the staff here at RPE have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for the Louisville Kentucky housing market!

As we all prepare to partake in Holiday festivities, one thing we may over look in our list of items to be thankful for is the Louisville Kentucky housing market!

With all the free government money in the form of tax credits and a relatively stable housing market in Louisville added to historically low interest rates, it’s a great time to be in Real Estate in Louisville.

I am so thankful to be here and to be working with the best of the best here at Properties East.

In a recent training session I attended with Loan Consultants from around the country, I quickly realized just how fortunate we are to be here in the Bluegrass state.  A Loan Officer from the greater Detroit area shared a story of how he watched an entire block of homes be auctioned off for $20,000!  Another from Florida said that he had a client who purchased in 2005 for $260,000 only to have his home appraise 3 years later for $30,000!  When I hear these stories I can’t help but think that,  no matter how bad we feel sometimes feel like we have it when we are having issues with a loan or closings are delayed,  we are truly blessed to still be earning a living in Real Estate in today’s world.

I am looking forward to working with you all in 2010.  It’s going to be a crazy year with all of the guideline changes and the challenges in the market, but I truly feel like if we work together and build a partnership, we will all prevail!

 Amanda M White Breslin
MLO
Bank of America Home Loans
502-216-9151 Direct
1-800-675-1718 Fax
10525 Timberwood Circle
Louisville KY  40223

WILL 2010 BE YOUR BEST YEAR?

We’ve all heard it’s not good to dwell on the past, nor spend too much time worrying about the future.  Living in the present is the best way to live healthy, happy lives.  We have also heard to everything there is a season.

 We are coming to a season where it is appropriate to briefly look back and see what we could have done better.  In the present world it is imperative to face the future with leading edge tools,  thinking, and training  which will keep us moving forward into the future. We must do this to provide services which are in the best interests of our clients, at a level that they deserve and to which they are entitled.  Equally important, a plan of growth  is absolutely necessary if we are to succeed in our careers.  We owe this, not only to our clients, but to our families and ourselves.

 Many of us have been doing quite well by doing much of the same things year after year without spending much time considering adjustments, whether major or minor, to what we do.  We have avoided the training opportunities which are available to us almost daily.  Today there is so much information and training available it’s hard to choose what to do. We are faced with so many directions and decisions from which to choose we become overwhelmed and find it far easier to just do what we’ve always done and hope for the best.  This is a luxury that we can no longer afford.  The increasing pace of change in the world around us will just not allow us to continue to do so.

 A good example: We have all seen the number of short sales recently and have been told these will increase in numbers and become an even larger segment of our industry.  Training is available in dealing with short sales, yet few agents have taken advantage of this opportunity.  The information obtained and the professional designations you will acquire will add an extra degree of success to your career, resulting in more income for you and your family.  There is no doubt that this will be true.  Our recent marketing affiliation with the Bank of America is going to provide additional listings to RE/MAX Properties East, but at present, these listings will only go to agents with either a CDPE or SFR designation. 

 No matter what your level of success in the past, I urge you to briefly look back and see what you could have done better, but of most importance look forward.  Most of you will have goals for 2010.  I urge you to take the time to have a specific written plan to reach those goals.  In writing this plan, be sure to include some time to learn something new which will help you to grow.  As is said,  “Anything that isn’t growing, is dying.”

 Within our organization we are fortunate to be surrounded with opportunities to support and help each of us develop and grow.  The hard way is to think you know it all and can do this alone.  During the coming months we should all make time to attend as many activities as we can where there are other agents present.  When you talk with another agent in this office you will always come away with an idea or a better feel for changes you may be considering to your plan.  This is not an opportunity other agents in Louisville will have.  Take advantage of it!

 Set a goal, develop a plan, and have a positive attitude. You cannot help but be successful in 2010.

 Dedicated to your success,  Harrell

 A footnote to the above:  We are all extremely fortunate to lead the lives we lead.  I would encourage each of you have a 2^nd goal and plan.  Touch someone else in this world that is less fortunate.  Whether it is money or just a kind word, take time to give something back to this world with no expectation of a benefit to you.  Just doing this may be your biggest benefit and success of 2010. 

Continuing Education Classes

Attention agents: It is that time of the year again….Everybody loves this time of the season as the calendar ticks closer to the end of the year and you have not yet attended your continuing education classes. However, RPE has made it easier than ever to get in your continuing education classes as all classes will be held in our office and, as an added bonus some of the classes will even be taught by our very own Kathy McGann!

Please be sure to review the schedule below and sign up for your classes before the year is over. If you have any questions regarding the classes be sure to contact Kathy McGann.

 Agent Education Services
Schedule

November 10, 2009
9:00 to 4:00
Kentucky Core Class
Credit: 6 Hrs. Law
Instructor: Doug Myers

November 20, 2009
9:00 to 12:00
You Before Me — Course #3
Instructor: Doug Myers

November 20, 2009
1:00 to 4:00
Ethics & RE — Course #1
Instructor: Kathy McGann

November 30, 2009
9:00 to 12:00
Agency — Course #700
Instructor: Kathy McGann

December 1, 2009
9:00 to 4:00
Kentucky Core Course
Credit: 6 Hrs. Law
Instructor: Doug Myers

December 12, 2009
9:00 to 12:00
Predatory Lending — Course #2
Instructor: Kathy McGann

December 28, 2009
9:00 to 12:00
Agency — Course #700
Instructor: Kathy McGann

December 28, 2009
1:00 to 4:00
Ethics & RE — Course #1
Instructor: Doug Myers

December 29, 2009
1:00 to 4:00
Ethics & RE — Course #1
Instructor: Doug Myers

Class Location:
10525 Timberwood Circle
Suite 213
Louisville, KY 40223

Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD)

As many of you know, Congress enacted the CARD Act…  The goal was to make things better for cardholders by outlawing certain consumer unfriendly practices in the credit card business.  But the law in some cases has made things worse in the short term.

 The law requires that credit card companies give you 45 days notice before raising interest rates.  Many companies are raising your rates even if you have paid your card off monthly and on time!  Mine went up 4% and I pay mine off monthly !!!  After talking to Roger (in India) for 30 minutes, he felt I didn’t have a problem since the increased interest rate would never be a problem for me.  WRONG ROGER…

 So what’s a person to do?  Call your credit card company and see if your rate has been increased, your credit line reduced or advances denied.  If you are not happy with the answer then investigate other credit cards such as:

 www.CardRatings.com
www.CardHub.com
www.CreditCards.com

 Each site will help you find a care off that matches your particular needs such as cash back, miles or hotel points.   

 Another option is to get a credit card thru a credit union which may offer more favorable terms.

 Last but not least.   If none of these options work you can always have the option to stop using your credit card.   A borrower can become a Lender’s Slave so take control of your financial future.

Top 10 Holiday Technology / Marketing To Do’s

Here are a few quick things to do during the Christmas season to maximize your cheer for the rest of the year! Here we go….

1. Call up folks in your sphere and GET their EMAIL address! There is no better time than now, and no better excuse to get back in touch….
2. Check your photos to make sure they are the same on REMAX.net, HomesinLouisville.com and other places on the web. A consistent marketing message is key.
3. Get on Facebook and other social media. Now is a great time to reconnect with old friends and the Holiday season gives you a great excuse to catch up with them.
4. Check antivirus software and make sure that it is up to date. (We will have a Tech Session in December about this and other updates)
5. Review your phone / internet / cable bills and call your provider and ask them if there are special deals that would save you money right now…hint, hint…you may save some extra green for the Christmas season and beyond!
6. Christmas deals on computers have never been better. If you need to upgrade, now is the time.
7. Review your cell phone bill and call your provide and ask for possible savings…often you can change your plan and save some quick money.
8. Put the folks from your sphere on REMAX.net and protect them as YOUR clients so that you can get business from them this next year. If you are unsure how to do this, see us at Agent Services. We are happy to help.
9. Set your Campaigns Plus emails up during the times of the year that are less busy so that they are taken care of all year long. It is FREE and EASY!
10. Update your website / microsite from REMAX.com. We will have a Tech Session on this in December as well.

That’s about it!

Round Table photos

Holiday Dinner Dance

The holiday season is never really complete without the Holiday Dinner Dance. This year the dance will be held on December 12th. Click on the link to find out more details! Holiday Dinner Dance 2009 no rsvp

Trim the Tree Party

Thursday December 3 will host the very anticipated Trim the Tree Party! Click on the link and find out all the details!Trim-the-Tree invite

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