When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Veteran's Day Free Meals: Free eats: One way restaurants are saying ‘thanks’ this Veterans Day - Army Off Duty, army leave, health, fitness, gear, gadgets, sports, travel - Army Times http://ping.fm/Tx12h

Great article from Coach Maya Bailey http://ping.fm/KwUsQ

At Visioning Session at Charlotte Regional Realtor Association continuing discussions about adapting to big shifts in the industry.

Multi family construction on the rise as rental demand continues to increase. That trend will last at least a few years in most markets. http://ping.fm/23Ij4

Multi-Family Construction on the rise as rental demand increases -- expect that trend to last at least a few years in most markets http://ping.fm/NsalR

Happy to see Army beatin' somebody's ass for a change.

232 Maple St, Statesville, NC | Powered by Postlets http://ping.fm/rWKbo

Not sure that I agree that there is a "dramatic shift" just yet but this is a good article on the current state of short sales vs foreclosures http://ping.fm/7zKjl

How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. ~Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. ~Robert Byrne

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. ~e.e. cummings

Mortgage rates up on better than expected jobs report. Good news! http://ping.fm/Z5rSe

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble. ~Samuel Johnson

"Fix bayonets." -- COL Joshua Chamberlain

232 Maple St, Statesville, NC | Powered by Postlets http://ping.fm/cHmPr

http://ping.fm/oyfct

232 Maple St, Statesville, NC | Powered by Postlets http://ping.fm/SfsBq

232 Maple St, Statesville, NC | Powered by Postlets http://ping.fm/umztz

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz,

Use caution agents!
http://ping.fm/p3M0x

Survey shows first-time homebuyers growing weary of short sales--In my estimation it would be worth about 15% or more in price for the lender who cna figure out how to get a short sale approved in 30 days or less. http://www.housingwire.com/2011/09/26/survey-shows-first-time-homebuyers-growing-weary-of-short-sales

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. ~Winston Churchill

So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key. ~The Eagles, "Already Gone"

There are times in everyone's life when something constructive is born out of adversity... when things seem so bad that you've got to grab your fate by the shoulders and shake it. ~Author Unknown

Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them. ~Brendan Francis

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.
~John Dickinson

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~George Bernard Shaw

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men,undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice we give to others. ~Author Unknown

Some people like my advice so much that they frame it upon the wall instead of using it. ~Gordon R. Dickson

An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied. ~Arnold Glasow

...Let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out ~ Theodore Roosevelt

I believe half the unhappiness in life comes from people being afraid to go straight at things. ~William J. Lock

Test

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What Makes a Top Realtor?

What makes a top real estate agent/REALTOR®?

People ask us all the time, “How do I find a top real estate agent?” It’s an excellent question to which there is no simple answer. You can’t say that real estate agents affiliated with a certain firm are top real estate agents – like “all real estate agents with XYZ Company are top real estate agents.” Nor can you say that a particular designation would guarantee a top real estate agent, like “so and so is CRS GRI CCIM ABR SRES so she’s a top real estate agent.” Just because an agent has designations doesn’t mean she is applying what she has learned. You can’t say that years of experience is the key as some have years of experience doing things ineffectively.

A top real estate agent is a rare combination of people skills, relationship building, tough negotiation skills, attention to detail, and perseverance, to name a few qualities. He’s willing and able to take one call where he needs to be firm in negotiations with another real estate professional and her client, hang up and immediately take the next call and be patient with a first time homebuyer who can’t understand why she needs a home inspection.

A top real estate agent understands how to price your home to sell and how to ensure that you don’t pay too much for your new home. She stays on top of current industry trends, local developments, and legal issues that affect you and your ability to buy or sell successfully. She is your one stop shop for all things real estate. With her, your real estate transaction will not be without issue, but she will guide you through these issues with skill, care, and diligence. When you are finished with the transaction, you wonder how you ever considered going it alone and you have made a life-long friend and business partner.

These are just a few of the skills that top real estate agents possess, but how does one become this rare combination? There is no magic formula, but there are certain activities which we have found to be universal among real estate agents who are the best in their field:

1. A top real estate agent is constantly educating himself. In addition to required annual courses (continuing education), he seeks out education on current trends, how to perform tasks such as list your home, assist first time homebuyers, negotiate, do short sales, work with foreclosures, and a myriad of other topics. This education sometimes results in designations like CRS® (Certified Residential Specialist), GRIsm (Graduate REALTOR® Institute), ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) and the new Green designation. It can also result in certifications like At Home With Diversity/AWHD®, e-PRO®, and Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource/SFR. For more information on designations and certifications, see http://www.real estate agent.org/education/real estate agent_university/designation. The top real estate agent’s motive in completing this type of education is not so he can have a bunch of alphabet soup after his name, but so he can learn the skills needed to be your top real estate professional. The letters after the name are simply a bonus.

2. Top real estate agents network with other top real estate agents. The old adage is certainly true -- you become like the people you associate with. Top real estate agents understand this and find ways to hang around other top real estate agents. Methods include attending state, regional, and local conferences, joining online groups where they network with other top real estate agents, seeking leadership positions within local associations, and developing relationships after completing transactions.

3. A top real estate agent treats her business like a business. Among other things, this means she manages her time effectively. Don’t expect her to stop what she is doing and come running out to meet you at a listing. She has laser-like focus on the activity she is conducting right now, especially if she is serving one of her clients. So, she’s probably not going to stop what she’s doing to come meet you. In fact, she’s probably already arranged for you to get all the information you need about her listings either online or via text message and she understands that you are probably not ready to be out looking at houses yet anyway. Expect her to attempt to schedule a meeting with you at her office to discuss you hiring her as your buyer’s agent. This will most likely start with an explanation of her business process to ensure you find a great home successfully. She will school you on the home buying process from A to Z, tell you what steps to take next, carefully listen to your wants and needs, and provide you with potential homes that meet your criteria to ensure you don’t waste your time doing things like driving around the city blindly calling listing agents to try to get them to show you a house. While you are working with her, she will have the same laser-like focus on assisting you with your transaction.



These are just a few of the common characteristics of top real estate agents. Our network spans across the country and we are adding new top agents daily. Contact us for details.