The Face in the "Crow"ed

The other day, I had the opportunity to exchange business cards with a listing broker from Wakefield. I chose not the to glance at the card at that moment, but rather, showing due respect for the person's name and position, I tucked said card in my breast pocket where warmth from my heart would emanate and...stop me.

When I reached my office, I took the card out to enter the information into my database and lo, I received the real estate suprise...you know what I mean. How is it possible that the matronly gray haired old lady with the crows feet is the same person as the picture on the card -- you know -- the dark haired smooth skinned hotty that with a few drinks in me I could see as my "Mrs. Robinson"?

Now I do not use pictures on my cards. I leave that spot open and for good business reasons. That empty spot serves a purpose. When I leave a tip, I leave a card with a small note scribed in that spot -- yes it gets business. When I give my card, I give a piece of info beyond the name, "Oh wait!! here's something I want you to know", and I jot it down. MY cards are saved.

Don't get me wrong...MY mug appears on my lisitng sheets, in ads, internet and other places. But it comes with all the grease paint removed. You can see it all, the broken nose, crushed ear, fractured jaw. It gives me character and folks do recognize me on the street. Not that I look like Quasimodo, or anything, but mind you if I did, I'd subdivide the cathedral and go "condo" with it.

Retirement

One of the Venerables in my corner of the world is retiring. The word went out; her spot of the shopping carts is up for grabs. Now, mind you, I do not have a mind to retire myself, but it did put me in the frame of mind to think about retired folks. I see them, you see them. They walk in the malls, plan their days around their meals, drive big cars, make quick stops and turns use a lot of washroom facilities, make a point to know the names of kids and grandchildren.

They go out for coffee, read the obituaries, make a point to know the score last night, know which neighbor is scoring with which widow - or at least creating the illusion of scoring. They wash their cars, when they work they do so when they want to work. They go to town meetings and actually read the local weekly rag.

I look over the above litany and make note that those items are NOT retirement...that "is" Real Estate Agents. I begin to wonder...who retires from Real Estate? It IS retirement. What other gainful employment has so much chock full kibitzing and noshing and just all around social buitterflying. Maybe being a Mayor, but there is only one per city of those, so the waiting list is too long. I would stick to the Real Estate and not wait for the mayor spot...afterall after retirement comes the final real estate deal, and I CAN wait on that.

And Now a Word from Jim Brown of First Investors (Belmont)

Mortgage rates have remained relatively stable with a slight bump yesterday due to the increase in the T-Bills. Jumbo pricing has gotten alot better so that should
bring the Jumbo market back into play somewhat. Keep an eye on the adjustables as there is starting to be a big spread on the conventional adjustables versus the fixed
rates. Yesterday we had 5.25% with no points on a 5/1 year ARM. These adjustments
should make purchasing more attractive to borrowers. Be aware of the lenders who are adjusting for declining markets as we have lenders who are going solely on DU
conditions which does not require an adjustment. We can do 95% financing on purchases for singles even in a declining market.

Just wanted to tell everyone to keep the community homebuyer program in minds which
provides a lower downpayment and easier loan qualifications. We have a program
For:
1 Unit 97% LTV
2 Unit 97% LTV
3 Unit 95% LTV
4 Unit 90% LTV
The max combined income is $108,000.00. This is a great program for first time homebuyers.
CONFORMING
30 YEAR FIXED
6.000% 0 Point
5.500 % 2 Points
15 YEAR FIXED
5.625% 0 Point
5.125% 2 Points

Conventional 5/1 ARM
5.375% 0 Points
4.500% 2 Points
JUMBO
30 YEAR FIXED
6.375% 0 Points
7/1 YEAR ARM
5.875% 0 Points
5.375% 1 Point
5/1 YEAR ARM
5.625% 0 Points
5.125% 2 Points
GIVE JIM a call with questions, scenerios, or pre-approvals
Jim Brown
President
First Investors Mortgage Inc.
MB0063
24 Trapelo Road
Belmont, Ma. 02478
Work # 617-484-8383
Fax# 617-489-4976
Email: jimbrown@firstinvestorsmortgage.net

Pass the Puck

Summer is coming, and I intend to be on the ice. If you are a parent with a skating kid, a parent who wants his kid to play hockey, a parent who lives in Belmont or Arlington, come join us on the ice this summer. Yes I HAVE ICE, lots of it for hockey kids. Hockey Summer '07 is now Hockey Summer '08. For an hour each week I won't be talking homes and plot lines, but rather zones and blue lines - actually I'll be shouting it. Contact me if you want your kid in (boys AND girls). Oh, by the way...beware, I use the Suzuki method here...parents will be forced to come out onto the ice and make fools of themselves.

Touch base with me for details... 617.470.8085

Living Quarters

I saw a "Utah" quarter this morning. It sends the mind in motion to that day a long time ago when, getting what turned out to be a "Delaware" quarter in my change, I complained to the clerk that the said coin was not United States and must be from some foreign clime -- say Cambridge. The clerk, nun-plussed, explained to me that the coin is from a new series, "Coins depicting the states in the order that they joined the Union," she said. "Delaware is the first one. I'm going to collect them."

I asked her how to get them and she said, "In change. Over the next NINE years. They will do this until 2008".

2008 sounded so high-tech and space age. So far into the future that is was "un-fathomable". Yet it turns out it was all a "nonce", the flick of a hummingbird's wing: it was no time at all.

What it IS, is nearly 1/3 of the way through a thirty year mortgage. And to that end, I contemplated the financial implications of two souls over these last years --a renter and a buyer. The renter has paid $1,000 a month (let us be generous and not factor rent increases) for those 9 years or $108,000 to "the Man". The "newby" buyer in 1999 paid 150,000 for his modest home. He pays 800 a month in a mortgage and 200 in taxes and insurance. He has paid $71,000 in interest and $21,000 in taxes. That is $13,000 in tax savings (money not given to Uncle Sam). He has paid himself! (yes!) $15,000 in the form of the principle on the loan. And -- his property is worth about 25% more, or, conservatively, $35,000 more.

The numbers speak for themselves. I invite you to speculate in YOUR corner of the world. In my corner, The renter has spent 108k; the owner has lived in the home and is -- balance "sheetwise" -- $63,000 wealthier for the same cash out efforts.

That's 252,000 quarters. Now, if you can find a "Hawaii" in there, I'll be happy to trade you a "Utah".

Active Interests

It seems, from the time I came to New England (I am not native to these grey climes), folks have ever taken an overly active interest in my life. This has not has the best of impacts on me, and, in fact, has caused the loss of many things most dear to me.

So it is that with great trepidation that I responded to the following inquiry:

“Didn’t I see you at the Skating Club of Boston?”

Now seeing me there is no great achievement. I am a member of that old club. I am a regular visitor there, and can be seen there every Monday night throughout the year (yes, summer too) refereeing the Monday Night Learn to Skate Programs for the little ones. I also may be seen there on summer Saturdays coaching the hockey. On other occasions, I am there watching my investment scar the hard ice with cold steel. So I was watching when the inquiry targeting that investment brought out and scotched up my defensive “cockles”.

“ I saw you talking to Hanako. What do you know about her?”

Other than the fact that she is 7th grade age? Other than the fact that she costs me $2,000 A WEEK to keep in her training? Other than the fact that I DO believe she will be the next great figure skater to come out of these United States? Other than the fact that she has an outer “worldiness” decades beyond her pre-teen years, I know nothing about her.

So came the litany of familiar questions: how long has she been skating, howmanyhoursdoessheskate is shehomeschooled and blahblahblah and how did they find her for the HBO thing and the NBC thing and …

To all of it, I am, evasive – protective of my investment -- but I did answer 2 questions. Her name means little flower in some Asian flavor and she plays the violin, and yes, to ramble on, I bought her the violins from 1/8 size up to full.

What does this all have to do with Real Estate? Well, perhaps it is the REAL part. Life goes on for someone – a chance I never had, or perhaps a reflection of things taken away, and I am grateful she is allowing me to come along for the ride even if I must pay the very expensive million dollar ticket.

I Remember You -- Redux

Agents will do just about anything to get a listing, and I am pretty much the same. I will stop, however, at illegal activities, of course. So too, will I stop at owner supplied selling prices. I pick the price.

So it is that a request has come from an prospective lister that meets my criteria of "just about anything".

Here goes:

November 12, 1994. In the dark trunks, Junior Vasquez at 128 pounds. In the whites, with " C K " on the right hip, Mickey "the Lawman" Gutterman at 126 pounds.

It is the third round. At 2:52 I take a cross on the right eye brow that opens up a stream of blood. At 2:58 I take a hit in the left rib cage that makes breathing hard.
Between rounds, my trainer the staunches the blood flow and into the 4th I go. Breathing hurts, and my trainer tells me to circle to my left and lead with left uppercuts. This will keep my right eye "away" from Junior, but it will open my sore rib cage to his body shots. It is hoped my left elbow (in uppercut position) will offer some protection for my ribs.
I circle; he throws a right jab to my left eye and connects, but I uppercut underneath his punch and hit his chin.
He steps back, then comes up for another right jab, but I quickly step right and cross with a right. I hit him on the back of the ear and he falls forward. I go to a neutral corner, and he takes the count to 8.
He comes out and tries to right jab the body again, and this time I right cross him again and hit the cheekbone. He trips on his own foot but he is up before the count starts. He is hopping mad. He is bleeding from inside his mouth. I can tell because he is swallowing something.
He is up, I left cross him and he body shots me in my open rib cage. My breath seizes, but I have one chance to cross him and I hit his cheekbone, again. He goes flat down. I move to the neutral and the count begins, but at 5, I, too melt down, hanging on the rails. The ref is double counting, "Junior 6, Al 1, Junior 7, Al 2, Junior 8..." and I know I will not be getting up. I cannot breath. Junior is trying to move, to roll over and lift up to stop his count. It is a long three seconds. But he cannot do it. His count ends at 10. And my count stopped before 5.

There it is. And now for the one final piece -- real estate is my business. It is the business I will share with you. Why I wore " C K " on my trunks for those 51 fights, is also my business...and will remain my business. Now let's do an open house, shall we?

I remember you

I am usually wary of that pentameter up top. Usually the "good is oft interred with the bones" as Shakespeare wrote, so when someone "remembers" you, it cannot be for the good.

The other day, a woman comes up to me and says that. I try to rehash through ancient wild party visions to see if I can conjure my half of the memory, but there is nothing.

"Glad to see you, again," I say,-- buying time. "Hope all is well."

"Not again," she says, "There is no again, because you've never seen me before."

My prurient interests are piqued! We must have "done it" with the lights off.

But no. "You beat the crap out of my husband. We needed the cash and he tried his hand at prize fighting at Wonderland. You beat the crap out of him. We didn't get the money. You did. You're the boxer, right?"

Relieved, I drop my gloves, so to speak and begin the speech, how are you glad things are well after all where are you living and, of course, if you know anyone who is thinking about changing their living arrangements, let me know -- I will be glad to help them...

I hope she remembers me.

Disguise

"Dis guy's an idiot," so says the selling broker, "What does he tink, we're givin' dis away for free?"

He's talking about my buyer, or actually he's talking about me, or perhaps he's just generally referring to any happanstance that befell since I delivered my offer to him.

Too low, I should surmise.

Yes, I did the competitive analysis of what the home would cost, yes so did he, yes I looked at the road traffic, so did he and yes my number on paper would seem low.

Ahh, but did one care to look at the family situation? There is an issue, an element that rests in disguise -- shall we say. Something wrought out only by hanging out in the local Dunkin Donuts.

The sellers take my offer. They need to get out. Many times, there is just something beyond the cold numbers, something in the make-up that is hidden below the grease paint of life. Numbers tell a lot, but they do not tell all.

Maybe I am an idiot, but I do have another deal.

April Fool

The guy calls me up and tells me he's thinking of selling his home. Wants to know what it is worth. So, "natch" I'm up for the listing and off I go to see the house. This was a few days ago. I take the run through, pull my numbers do my thing, and on Monday, yesterday, I jingle him to tell him I've got a number for him.

"Natch", he's not at home so I leave a message. "I have number for you," I say, give me a call. My number is 6 1 7 -...." and so on and so on.

Nothing that day. Today, on April Fools he calls.

"Ah," I say, "Glad you called, "I've got a number for you. I'd like to get together and discuss how it came about and share with you how I will maximize your..." blah, blah...blah...

And he says, "No need. I like the number, I think we should go with it. I'm surprised...I thought this was a dead market but wow..."

And I am thinking he's got the wrong agent on the line. So says I, "This is Al. over at..."

And he says, "I know I like your number..."

"But," I retort, "I have not given it to you, yet"

"Yes you did on the phone...It was 'six-one-seven'"

Knowing now that my land-line-correspondent is not playing with the full 52, I carefully tread. Delicate, Gentle as a summer wind. "That is my AREA CODE and phone number! Not the dollar number."

To wit, I forward to him the factoid of his home's value. He is crushed. He is deflated. He's decided to wait out the storm and see what next season will bring. In the meantime, I suggested to him he should call me in my Winchester office. My number there is 7-8-1... He can make a quick 160 grand!