Take action now to turn it around in 2012

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Recent economic upheaval has taken a hefty toll. Looking forward to 2012, it’s impossible to know what’s next and the kind of an impact that an upturn or a downturn at the national level stands to have on your family’s finances.

Regardless of what happens in Washington or on Wall Street, two things are very clear: you are not alone and now is the time to prepare for a new normal.

With a national epidemic of unemployment or underemployment, and 25 percent of the homeowners in the country owing more on their home than they could net for it in today’s market, homeownership for many has become a financial liability. Not       being able to make payments on a home that you can’t afford to sell feels like an awful trap, but the fact is, there are solutions—and foreclosing on your mortgage is not one of them.

Loan modification is an option for many and banks are increasingly willing to negotiate short sales. In many cases, they’re offering sizable financial incentives to help financially strapped homeowners to get a fresh start on their lives.

As real estate professional who has achieved the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, it is my mission to give homeowners the gift of a fresh start. 

Contact us TODAY and let’s get started.

www.elitecdpe.com

Justin Brown
Broker/Owner
RE/MAX ELITE
Direct Line: 321.863.7653

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Beware of Multitasking...

Multi_tasking
If you are anything like me, at this moment you are currently reading an email, returning a phone call, preparing your 2012 business plan, and scheduling a home inspection, all simultaneously. That's what we do as Realtors, right?  We have built our careers and our personal lives around our ability to do a hundred things all at once.  Well, you can just imagine what I was thinking when I came across this article I've shared below.  There may be something to this!  Multitasking may be harmful to your productivity. I can't say that I will give up multitasking cold turkey, but I will heed some of the good advice from below.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject if you have some time to share them.  As always, we enjoy watching your success.  Keep up the amazing work!

Break the multitasking habit
By Anita Bruzzese, Gannett
While you may know that studies have found multitasking hurts productivity, the truth is you really haven't stopped trying to do more than one thing at a time, have you?

After all, while some people may not be able to multitask well, that certainly doesn't include you.

Care to test that theory?

Here's how to test your multitasking abilities:
Have someone time you while you write the word "multitask" and then the numbers from 1 to 10. Record your time.
Have someone time you while you alternately write the letters of "multitask" and the numbers 1-10. For example, you will write "m" then "1" then "u" then "2" and so on. Record your time. After comparing the two times, chances are pretty good you'll no longer think you're a multitasking whiz.

Sanjeev Gupta uses the test when he arrives at companies that hire him to improve their productivity. His company, Realization, has worked with employers such as Delta Air Lines and Boeing, boosting project completion by as much as 50 percent.

But first, he has to prove to employees that their multitasking is causing more harm than good, so he uses the simple test to make his point.

"There are several reasons that people multitask," he says. "One of them is because people want to appear busy. Or, if they get stuck on something, they'll move onto something else instead of completing the task."

He says workers also multitask now more than ever because they feel pressured to get more done.

They're constantly moving from project to project depending on who is demanding their time at any given moment. The result is that they never complete something before moving on, causing a ripple effect that causes other workers to get off track and miss deadlines.

But experts contend that not only is multitasking harmful to your productivity at work, it can affect all areas of your life. An Emory University study earlier this year found that such behavior can sap your ability to control other impulses, causing you to be much more prone to losing your temper or cheating on your diet.

Gupta says he believes multitasking continues to grow as a problem in the workplace because of an increasing number of communication channels: The phone, email, instant messaging, Twitter and Facebook can lure away the attention of an employee who should be focused on a completing a task.

The employee then jumps back into work, only to be tempted to check Twitter updates or answer emails. The multitasking cycle continues, causing the employee to become less and less productive over time.

If you're looking for some ways to break the multitasking habit, consider these tips by Leo Babauta, author of The Power of Less:

• Set a disconnect time each day. Try to work up to about two hours every day that you aren't connected to the Internet, your email, phone or instant messaging. Let others know that this is a time you're off the grid. You may need to go somewhere without a connection to truly get away from temptation, or start in 20-minute increments and work your way up.

• Break bad habits. If you check your email first thing in the morning, don't open up your browser for a set amount of time and instead use the time to do something else.
If you find you break your rule, immediately call and report yourself to a supportive friend or family member.

• Break your day into sections. Use a set period to write, another period to answer email and another period to think creatively.
Set limits and don't let yourself stray into other territory until time is up.

• Cleanse your social networking habit. Start with 20 minutes, then a half day, then two to three days where you don't connect with Twitter, Facebook or any other social-media site.

Use the time to read books or long essays that interest you or watch thought-provoking films.
Anita Bruzzese is author of "45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy ... and How to Avoid Them," www.45things.com. Find an index of On the Job columns . Write to her in care of Gannett ContentOne, 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22107. For a reply, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

RE/MAX Elite raises $6,525 for Brevard's Children in Need!

Our agents stepped up after watching a 60 Minutes episode about Brevard County! 

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Did you know that there are 964+ homeless school age children in Brevard county?  And that number is expected to increase this school year.

Here are some of the stats according to the Brevard County School Board:

There are approx 31 children living in cars, parks, campgrounds, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, buses, train stations or similar settings.

There are approx 67 children living in emergency or transitional shelters, FEMA Trailers and abandoned in hospitals.

There are approx 789 children sharing housing "doubled up" of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship.

There are approx 74 children living in hotels or motels due to economic hardship.

And there are approx 3 children awaiting foster care.

THANK YOU RE/MAX ELITE AGENTS FOR STEPPING UP TO HELP OUR LOCAL FAMILIES AND THANK YOU PRESTIGE TITLE FOR YOUR $2,000 DONATION! 

Together we can make a difference!

May Your Holiday Be Out of This World!

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Because the goodwill of those we serve is the foundation of our success, it is a pleasure at this Holiday time to say "Thank You" as we wish you a New Year of Happiness and Prosperity. The Most Beautiful Holiday Card - a message from the International Space Station. 

At this Holiday Season let us remember and honor those who are no longer with us and cherish those who are.

Happy Holidays To All

 

Making Miracle Happen in 2011!

We are very excited to reach our fundraising goal of $20,000 this year for the Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network. This is a great cause and one that we are very proud to be affiliated with. As leaders in the real estate industry, RE/MAX Elite agents have once again stepped up to the challenge of making a positive impact on the lives of so many others. Our commitment towards giving back to the community by supporting multiple charities throughout the year has never been stronger. We look forward to raising the bar in 2012!

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What's your plan for 2012?

 
What's your plan for 2012?  Do you have one?  Either you are running your business or your business is running you.  If you feel like your business is running you, all that you really need to gain back control of your life and your career is to work on a plan of action, a business plan.  With two weeks left until the end of another year, this is the time to spend on planning for a better New Year.  Forget about New Year resolutions and instead, work on a detailed, well prepared, plan as to what your goals are for 2012 and action steps to achieve them.  We will be hosting two upcoming business planning workshops before the end of the year and I encourage you to attend.  I saved an article from the beginning of this year that talks about critical steps to preparing a business plan.  If you are ready to set the course for an amazing 2012, plan your work and work your plan.  As always, keep up the amazing work!  We enjoy watching your success.

Links To Business Planning Workshops:

5 Critical Steps for Your Business Plan

Despite the simplicity and importance of a business plan to a real estate professional's success, few practitioners are taught how to successfully implement one. Here's how you can get started.

January 2011 | By Rich Levin

Plan your work, and work your plan. Both of these are necessary for a successful real estate career. Yet most practitioners suffer because they don't have a plan, or never finished their plan, or don't know how to implement their plan. As a result, their business, relationships, quality of life, and even health may suffer.

There are five critical steps that ensure you implement and follow through on your business plan.

1. Complete a simple plan
A simple plan answers these questions:
a. What do you want your real estate career to do for your life in 2011?
b. Why is that important to you?
c. What conservative, one-year, measurable goal would indicate that you are well on your way?
d. How will you measure it: weekly? Monthly?
e. What is the simplest action plan to accomplish your measurable goals? List three key projects; then figure out how you can either start doing them or do them more consistently.
f. What regular time and date each week can you set aside to assess your progress toward you overall goal and your key projects?

2. Reduce your key projects
Make sure you've identified benchmarks each week and month to ensure you're making progress against your key projects. Benchmarks are simply the evidence of success. For example, if your project is to build your own Web site, then benchmarks would be:
a. Create a list of all the features and elements you want on your site.
b. Create a marketing plan for driving traffic to your site.
c. Interview and hire Web companies.
d. Have beta site complete.
e. Launch live site.

3. Create a schedule
This ensures you will complete the action steps. There are two parts to this schedule: The first is the schedule of benchmarks in the step above. The second is to choose one day of the week, the same day each week, at the same time, in the same place to work on each particular project. This step is the reason you choose a maximum of three priority projects.

4. Schedule a time to review progress
Each week, choose a day to evaluate the progress of each project (making decisions to keep going, complete, stop, or alter your work) and look at the progress of your measurable goals. Evaluating both your projects and your performance at this point is extremely important because you are then weighing the value and progress of your projects against the real measures of sales and income.

5. Instill a "numbers consciousness"
What gets measured gets done. An example of numbers consciousness for weight loss would be to set a target weight. Then, record what you eat and get on the scale every day until you get there. If you keep getting on the scale and adjusting what you eat, you are very likely to achieve your goal.

As a real estate professional, "numbers consciousness" means having sales and listing targets each month that add up to your annual goal. More importantly, it involves looking at them every week so that you always know where you stand for the month and the year. And you can make continual adjustments based on those numbers.

As you complete each step and as you review your progress each week, you gain tremendous insight into your business. Your business intelligence and motivation grow in a very natural way. I provide a daily reinforcement of this process in my coaching programs because success with this business plan is dependent on a modest level of self-discipline. Every real estate professional is capable of it.

Justin Brown
Broker/Owner
RE/MAX ELITE
Direct Line: 321.863.7653
Search Local MLS Listings:  www.BrevardTigerTeam.com

Foreclosure Prevention Team:  www.EliteCDPE.com

Agent Resource Center:  www.EliteResourceCenter.com
Company Website:  www.BrevardElite.com

#1 RE/MAX in Brevard County, Florida (2009-2011)

TOP 2% out of all 6,265 RE/MAX companies in the USA (2010)

There's No Sweeter Sound...

Success
Do you know the two most important words in the human language? When people hear these two words they listen intently. When they see these two words in a newspaper they run out and buy multiple copies.  They are the two words that can change your business forever!  Watch the video below and in five minutes you'll have discovered one of the secrets to making 2012 your most amazing year ever.  If you are anything like me, you are already devising new and better ways to incorporate these two important words into your social networking, websites, and customer care campaigns.  As always, keep up the great work!  We enjoy watching your success.

 

 

RE/MAX Elite's Monday Morning Message 12.12.11

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

Welcome to this edition of RE/MAX Elite's Monday Morning Message!  I hope that everyone had a fantastic weekend. The year is almost over and we all need to finish strong and prepare for our best year yet. The past year has certainly had its challenges for all of us. We have and we always will figure out ways to get past the hurdles and stay focused on what is important. We need to bring all of our experiences and knowledge with us into this new upcoming year. We need to build upon all the great successes we have had. We need to keep in mind why it is that we do what we do. I wake up every single day thinking that today is a day of opportunity. Today is a day that I can either grow and become better or stay the same. Today is a day that I can help others become better or I don't. Challenges will constantly come our way and we all need to be prepared and deal with them. It is not the challenge that holds people back it is their response. I hope that you always focus on your response and not the challenges that life throws your way. We are always here to help in any way we can. Have some fun this week and don't forget Prestige Title's Christmas Party this Thursday at River Rocks in Suntree from 5:30-8:30 :-)

ENCOURAGEMENT CORNER...

Rule One - You will receive a body. Whether you love it or hate it, it's yours for life, so accept it. What counts is what's inside.

Rule Two - You will be presented with lessons. Life is a constant learning experience, which every day provides opportunities for you to learn more. These lessons specific to you, and learning them 'is the key to discovering and fulfilling the meaning and relevance of your own life'.

Rule Three - There are no mistakes, only lessons. Your development towards wisdom is a process of experimentation, trial and error, so it's inevitable things will not always go to plan or turn out how you'd want. Compassion is the remedy for harsh judgement - of ourselves and others. Forgiveness is not only divine - it's also 'the act of erasing an emotional debt'. Behaving ethically, with integrity, and with humour - especially the ability to laugh at yourself and your own mishaps - are central to the perspective that 'mistakes' are simply lessons we must learn.

Rule Four - The lesson is repeated until learned. Lessons repeat until learned. What manifest as problems and challenges, irritations and frustrations are more lessons - they will repeat until you see them as such and learn from them. Your own awareness and your ability to change are requisites of executing this rule. Also fundamental is the acceptance that you are not a victim of fate or circumstance - 'causality' must be acknowledged; that is to say: things happen to you because of how you are and what you do. To blame anyone or anything else for your misfortunes is an escape and a denial; you yourself are responsible for you, and what happens to you. Patience is required - change doesn't happen overnight, so give change time to happen.

Rule Five - Learning does not end. While you are alive there are always lessons to be learned. Surrender to the 'rhythm of life', don't struggle against it. Commit to the process of constant learning and change - be humble enough to always acknowledge your own weaknesses, and be flexible enough to adapt from what you may be accustomed to, because rigidity will deny you the freedom of new possibilities.

Rule Six - "There" is no better than "here". The other side of the hill may be greener than your own, but being there is not the key to endless happiness. Be grateful for and enjoy what you have, and where you are on your journey. Appreciate the abundance of what's good in your life, rather than measure and amass things that do not actually lead to happiness. Living in the present helps you attain peace.

Rule Seven - Others are only mirrors of you. You love or hate something about another person according to what love or hate about yourself. Be tolerant; accept others as they are, and strive for clarity of self-awareness; strive to truly understand and have an objective perception of your own self, your thoughts and feelings. Negative experiences are opportunities to heal the wounds that you carry. Support others, and by doing so you support yourself. Where you are unable to support others it is a sign that you are not adequately attending to your own needs.

Rule Eight - What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. Take responsibility for yourself. Learn to let go when you cannot change things. Don't get angry about things - bitter memories clutter your mind. Courage resides in all of us - use it when you need to do what's right for you. We all possess a strong natural power and adventurous spirit, which you should draw on to embrace what lies ahead.

Rule Nine - Your answers lie inside of you. Trust your instincts and your innermost feelings, whether you hear them as a little voice or a flash of inspiration. Listen to feelings as well as sounds. Look, listen, and trust. Draw on your natural inspiration.

Rule Ten - You will forget all this at birth. We are all born with all of these capabilities - our early experiences lead us into a physical world, away from our spiritual selves, so that we become doubtful, cynical and lacking belief and confidence. The ten Rules are not commandments, they are universal truths that apply to us all. When you lose your way, call upon them. Have faith in the strength of your spirit. Aspire to be wise - wisdom the ultimate path of your life, and it knows no limits other than those you impose on yourself.
By: Cherie Carter-Scott's book 'If Life Is A Game, These Are The Rules'

WORDS TO LIVE BY...

A river that flows naturally is beautiful, a river that is forced to take another path is destructive.
Nate Patterson

The price of greatness is responsibility.
Winston Churchill

In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail.
Anonymous

It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect It's successful outcome.
William James

I believe life is to be lived, not worked, enjoyed, not agonized, loved, not hated.
Leland Bartlett

There is only one success - to spend your life in your own way.
Christopher Morley

I'm so optimistic I'd go after Moby Dick in a row boat and take the tartar sauce with me.
Zig Ziglar

The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.
Dale Carnegie

LET'S MAKE THIS THE BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR!!!

Are You "HAFA" Smart as You Think You Are?

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Prestige Title of Brevard came out and gave us the full scoop on the HAFA Program! 

 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HAFA?

HOW TO APPLY FOR HAFA?

We will definetly have them back for another session in February / March 2012 so be on the lookout on our Office Calendar! 

 

Here is the Presentation!

Posterous theme by Cory Watilo