East Bay Real Estate

Next Tuesday will culminate the most historic event in U.S. politics with either an African American as president, or a woman as Vice President!

Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin - I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted with the 20 month marathon of this campaign.  I can only imagine that the CNN reporters are in the same condition - exhausted, given they work very hard each day to come up with the “newest best thing”  to report on daily.  What in the world is CNN going to do after Tuesday for their daily entertainment?   Here are some of my suggestions to consider for the next Presidential election;

Anyone running for President who currently holds an elected political office must resign that office so someone else can be appointed who will serve their constituents during their campaign.  A person running for President is out of the Congress, Senate, or as Governor for 20+ months campaigning and it is not fair to those who elected her/him to be without representation.

The Republicans and the Democrats need to be provided equal Federal campaign funds to spend on their race for the White House.  NO  other campaign funds are allowed to be spent by either candidate.  Then a level playing field will be created so the Presidency will not be able to be “bought” by whomever has the most money.

NO  negative advertising will be permited; print, mailers, newspaper, or television.  The candidates will only be able to address the topics of their Presidency if they are elected.  The question addressed by each of them during their campaign will only be, “Why should I be elected President?”  Not,  “Why you should NOT vote for my opponent?”

All campaign promises made by a Presidential candidate will be logged into a website that will be managed by the Federal Election Committee.  This website of promises will be updated for the entire four years of the winning candidate’s Presidency.  The results of how they delivered on their promises will be posted monthly for all to see.  Accountability  seems to be a deadly word in Washington today.

I am sure you will have many more ideas that need to be considered, too, so leave a comment about how our next presidential election will be more beneficial for our entire country.  My next political observations are the State and local races, and issues that can boggle the minds of any voter.  Here are some of my observations…

Local city council elections can be as negative and mudslinging as any of the National elections.  Once a person becomes an incumbent they usually want to stay in their elected office.  Some incumbents do amazing things to make sure they stay in office.  There must be a “nasty campaign school” that is hidden from the public where candidates can learn how to sabotage opponents.  You may want to vote for the new person on the ticket and see if they bring  new ideas to local issues.  And, anyone running for office needs to checkout the California Campaign Fair Practices site.

Carefully consider initiatives that impact your personal pocketbook and determine if you really want to spend the money that the initiative is promoting.  Next support issues of human and civil rights.  Vote No  on issues that take away any rights of privacy, or civil rights.

Support initiatives that assist with education and roads.  We need more financial support of our schools in order to regain a world class position of our schools in California.  And, our roads are falling apart Statewide with little end in sight.  They need our help, too.

OK, enough of my political ramblings.  The bottom line is I am mentally worn out with this election year.  So, let’s turn off the TV,  stop the newspaper deliveries, and work on the local needs of our communities instead of believing the sky is falling and running for cover.  It is not,  and we will continue to create a magnificent local, State, and National experience.  But, we will all need to work on it together.  Until next time, let me know your thoughts…  

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Talk with your kids about what is going on in our crazy and scary economy.  They have fears, too.  They need to be addressed!

No matter if you think you are an empty nester or not, you are NOT! We have three kids in college at this time. Yikes!  ( You now know why we are so highly movitated to continue to evolve two very profitable real estate companies.)  Well, two of our three kids surprised us by showing up at home on Friday. They are both in college in Santa Barbara  so they carpooled home. We asked them why they came home for 48 hours? Their first answer was because they needed to do laundry and they were out of detergent. ( It is a six hour drive for them to get to the Bay Area so we know that was not the real reason.)

They ended up just hanging out with us for the two days. During our many conversation they asked a lot of questions about what is going on with our real estate business, because our success is important to funding their college costs. It was an amazing time of dealing with our kids’ concerns about the economy and their concern about us and our success. They wanted to check in and find out if we were OK. We let them know that not only are we OK, we are thriving, but it is taking seven days a week of intense lead generating and client services.

They asked the $64,000 question just before they left to drive back down to school about an hour ago. “Mom and Dad, what do you suggest WE do regarding our future plans for our careers?  Should we wait a bit and apply for corporate interviews after this economic crisis has subsided?”   I gave them an old quote from Napolean Hill  that has served us well. I hope you find it useful, too.

“Do not wait to take action! The time will never be “just right”. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command. Better tools will be found as you go along.”

It was a very inspiring time to spend time with our kids who our the future leaders of our country’s economic success. They thanked us for spending time with them.  And…as they were walking out the door they turned and said, “Could you loan us about $100 for gas money?”  ( Have you EVER had your kid pay you back for the LOANS that you gave them for gas money? And, yes, I gave them five $20. )   We loved to see them and can’t wait for our next time with our kids. The condition of being empty nesters is really fun, but we have to admit we miss the “joyful noise” that is in our home when they are home. Until next time…DON”T WAIT! Take action now in ALL aspects of your lives.  Contact me anytime for your real estate needs!

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Last night Keller Williams Realty - Danville and The Bay Area Team celebrated the grand opening of their brand new office at the Rose Garden Center!

What a night!!!  The East Bay community was out in mass last night celebrating the grand opening of Keller Williams - Danville’s  new expanded location at The Rose Garden Center  The Bay Area Team,  owned by Jim Walberg and Ann Marie Nugent,  has been a part of Keller Williams Realty for almost four years as they continue to expand their real estate resource center.  They have been serving the real estate needs of the East Bay community for over 30 years.  It felt like the Academy Awards last night because of the excitement of all those who attended.

Keller Williams Realty has only been in the local real estate scene in the East Bay for about seven years - a relative new kid on the block.  However, since they arrived, they have evolved into one the preeminent real estate brands in the Bay Area.  Keller Williams is the fastest growing real estate company in North America ranking fourth among the national brokerages.  They have over 76,000 Realtors at 665+ market centers.  The growth of Keller Williams in the East Bay has been nothing but extraordinary!  Since their Danville office came to town five years ago they out grew their location at the corner of El Cerro and freeway 680, with almost 200 Realtors as part of their Market Center!

The impact they have had in serving the real estate needs of the East Bay has been so dramatic that the East Bay Business Times last year awarded the company “East Bay’s Real Estate Company Of The Year!”  This honor is reserved for company who has demonstrated the significant market share in the region, an extraordinary customer service model, and a commitment to serving the greater needs of the local community.

Jim and Ann Marie have distinguished themselves within their industry and are leaders in their various business disciplines;  Fine Homes & Estates;  Relocation - local,  national and international;   “Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate”;   “Baby Boomer” - Second & Third Homes - locally and internationally;  Fractional Deeded Ownership real estate - United States, Caribbean, Southeast Asia;  Empty Nesters & Seniors;  International Investors;  First Time Home Buyers;  and, For Sale By Owners.   They have also received many industry awards acknowledging their commitment to their community, some of which are,  Realtor Of The Year  three times, Top Team - Keller Williams Realty- Danville  Rotarian Of The Year, and Northern California’s Community Service Award.

There is great excitement at Keller Williams Realty and The Bay Area Team as they have opened a new chapter of the expansion of their real estate services to the East Bay.  During these stormy economic times they are constantly focused on being the local “lighthouse” for their clients -  remembering that real estate markets are ALWAYS local no matter what the doom and gloom the National media may be printing.  In the midst of this moment of celebration, the mantra of the day is, “Do not be fearful!”   Jim and Ann Marie are so grateful for the support of the army of “raving fan” clients and friends who continue to seek out their real estate services.  Until next time…contact me today  with any of your real estate needs or questions.

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Once you get on the Slipper Slide Of Fear, it is difficult to get off!  Please stay off that slippery slide!

So, I picked up USA Today  last Saturday on my flight to the Luxury Real Estate  Fall Conference in Philadelphia where I was a presenter. The USA Today headline was, “FEAR is a slippery slide!” In some of my past comments I have used the sailor’s mantra, “Do not be fearful!”   It still applies today,  in spite of an almost 900 point recovery on the Dow Jones the past two days.  Don’t forget…once one steps on the “slippery slide” of fear,  the momentum carries you away very quickly.

The voice of experience, the voice of the local authority, and the voice of credibility can still prevail.  And, we are the ones that need to be that voice. I just completed a walk from the Philadelphia Ritz Carlton  to Constitution Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other reminders of the work our founding farthers did on our behalf 230+ years ago. What an inspiring day!  ( You may recall this is the organization who is the acknowledged authority of luxury real estate!  It was founded by Brian Losh with a vision of connecting the best luxury Realtors in the world - 1,900 members from 63 countries.)

Do you think they were afraid? Of course they were. But, the consequences of letting fear paralyze them from action was not an acceptable option. Instead of the “slippery slide” of fear taking them away from the liberty and freedom they so dearly wanted for our country, they discovered - step by step, the actions needed to create the most incredible democracy in our world’s history.  It was very hard.  Thousands of lives were lost as part of that payment for liberty.  And, the founding fathers never lost site of end result that was required - FREEDOM!

There is a book I have enjoyed reading several times - “The Tipping Point”. They have a very insightful analysis of Paul Revere’s ride in Boston a few days before the Revolutionary War was officially declared.  His ride was so effective that it mobilized the citizens along his route in a manner that called them to action in stopping the British from confiscating their arms stored in Concord. Did you know there was a second rider who was sent in a different direction to alert another section of Massachusetts immediately prepare to defend Concord. Does anyone remember his name? In fact, I had never heard of him before I read “The Tipping Piont”. He was totally and utterly ineffective to a call to arms.

What was the difference between these two men with similar intentions? Paul Revere was one of the most respected local authorities on what was happening within the colonies which he believed required a liberation movement to break away from British Rule - even if it meant war. I would like to be as effective as Paul Revere during these uncertain economic times. We are the local citizens calling our “citizens” to action in order to work through the financial crisis we are in.  Will you join me as we serve our clients and communities, and help them off the “Slipper Slide Of Fear?” ( You get bonus points if you email me with the other freedom rider’s name whose ride was a waste of time. )  Contact me with your thoughts.  Until next time…

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No matter how positive and resilient one is, we are in stormy economic times!  However, opportunities abound in the midst of economic hurricane!

I was chatting with my friend, Bob Waun - president of Vacation Finance which headquartered in Michigan,  as we talked about the financial meltdown going on in the credit markets and the stock markets.  He asked if I was afraid for what is next for our real estate businesses in the Bay Area and the Caribbean.  I told him, “Nah…we are still having the time of our life!”  The mantra of a sailor is…, “Do not be fearful!”   And, the definition of FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real!  If you didn’t know, my favorite condition in sailing is with the gunnels ( side rails on each side of the boat )  in the water and salt water spraying all over me.  You can’t imagine the big grin on my face while I am sailing in those conditions.  However, it is not the time for the faint of heart if you are sailor in stormy seas.  It is the time when experience shows up. 

Both our Bay Area  and Caribbean  real estate businesses are thriving…however it is taking all hands on deck to pull it off.  We are blessed with a great team who only look at the glass half full,  and are committed to creating a GREAT experience for our customers.  Many of our competitors are running down to Starbucks talking about how the sky is falling.  The vacuum they are leaving within our real estate community is amazing, and whoever fills that void today will have a larger market share when the market shifts again - which it will.  In order to make it through these financial times we all need to work together, side by side, realizing storms don’t last forever.  At the end of Bob’s and my conversation he left me with these thoughts.

Faith, beliefs and conviction can be fickle friends when they are tested by panicked masses. “The end is near!”,  seems to be the chant of the crowd across the world today.  But what of substance has changed within our global economy.  Did a world of Fathers change their commitment to feed and clothe their children?  Did Mothers decide that the generic brand cereal would be fine in mass?  Did we stop wanting nice things and suddenly over the weekend decide to settle for less?   What is the shift that causes such a panicked response?  What fundamental changes are causing us to doubt the future?   Purely fear of what “MIGHT” change.  Does that sound rational to you?  

Historians and economists can attest that humans don’t always act rationally in mass,  but as individuals we can still choose to be rational - to act out of faith and conviction not panic.  ”Looking back on it, I was a trader in the pits of the S&P in 1987.  It was the most exciting and profitable stock market opportunity of my lifetime.”,  a friend told me today… Did he notice it at the time?  No.  He said he was scared to death, but he kept at his work of trading stocks in the best way he could.   Life is clearer in the rear view mirror.  Regret is more painful than overcoming fear….

In a storm, it is not time for people to jump ship and swim to safety.  A storm is the time for experienced sailors to do their work and sail through it.  It doesn’t mean we are not afraid.  However, it does require us to not panic - which could cause our ship to go down.  I promise we will all will make it through this economic mess.  We may get wet and a bit wind blown, but working together, we will get to a safe harbor, and live to see another day when we will look back and tell the stories of how we made it through the storms of 2008 and 2009.  Contact me today if you would like some help through your storm.  Until next time…fair winds!!!

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