Dear Ace Agents, Shall we get in line at the 'bailout' trough? Yep! I think I am going to send a 5 gallon bucket and just tell our august leaders in D.C.to just step into the vaults of the Treasury Dept. and start scooping up buckets of cash to bail out MSI! After all, why shouldn't I? It seems like they're trying to bail out everybody else. No doubt this is an economic storm like we have never seen before. Many people have gotten themselves in trouble because of over-spending, under-saving and irresponsible fiscal behavior. However, there are a lot of people out there who are suffering, due to no fault of their own. I know it's hard but this is the time of the year that we need to step back and count our blessings. I heard a saying many years ago "Write your blessings in marble and your problems in dust". Good advice! As we approach the Thanksgiving Season we need to make ourselves focus on those, many times intangible, blessings for which we need to give thanks. We are still in the right industry. There are still a lot of people planning on buying real estate when things settle down. They'll buy now, if motivated in the right way. So, maintain your long term perspective. Credit will start loosening up. Money will start flowing again. People's dreams will be coming true and you will be the perfect person to help that happen. After all, you are a "Dream Weaver!" For the time being just be determined to have that attitude of gratitude and go out and do something unexpected and kind for someone else. It'll do your heart good. My Thanks,
Terry L. Weaver, President MARKETING & SALES INSTITUTE
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” -Thomas Jefferson
(Submitted by Mark Mooney, Crescent Moon Pictures, Bluffton, SC)
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Community Good News Echota ----> Hitting the Target! Mark Harrill, talented developer of Echota and Echota on the Ridge, a couple of beautiful condominium and single family residence communities between Banner Elk and Blowing Rock has always had a clear understanding of his target market. Years ago, when everybody seemed to be trying to knock the prices out of the park, Mark zeroed in on fine quality $200-300,000 cottages and condominiums aimed at the Raleigh/Winston Salem/Greensboro/Charlotte area. People came flocking to his door and still are. Jami Mullikin with Hill Mullikin Marketing and Will Sears, Director of Sales for Echota, shared with me that they just had a fantastic event-filled weekend with $1,460,045 in sales! Don’t tell me people aren’t out there buying! It’s just a matter of offering the right product to the right persons at the right price and this is indeed the right time! Congratulations to the Echota team. Keep on leading the charge!
"DREAMWEAVER, THANKS FOR YOUR INSPIRATIONAL GOOD NEWS LETTER. OUR COMPANY HAS JUST SIGNED A LISTING WITH A LOCAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER TO MARKET AND SELL 12 LUXURIOUS NEW WATERFRONT VILLAS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND. NOT SINCE 1995 HAS ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION OF SHORT TERM RENTAL VILLAS ON THE WATER BEEN BUILT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.WE HAVE 10 MONIED PEOPLE WHO WE ARE GOING TO DO OFF-SITE SALES PRESENTATIONS TOO.I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED". ROD
(Submitted by Rod Engard, Engard Real Estate) "I see many signs that things are getting better. Our most expensive lot went under contract this past weekend".
(Submitted by John Hyatt, The Bluffs overlooking Weiss Lake)
 Reynolds Plantation….Moving Forward! Thanks to Dave Robertson with RPI Media and Lee Arberg, VP of Sales at Reynolds Plantation, I was made aware of some good news happening at this stellar community. For many years Reynolds has shone brightly as one of the best examples of high quality environmentally sensitive developments in our wonderful industry. Their commitment to excellence and over-delivering what they have promised has positioned them to provide the confidence that prospective buyers are needing today. 2007 was their third best year in sales since it began and in the first half of ’08 alone, they closed 118 real estate transactions. Mercer Reynolds and his fine development team have always strived to take the uncertainty out of the prospect’s mind by delivering on the amenities before they had to. Now they continue. A three million dollar renovation of Gaby’s at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge. They just announced the sixth golf course, an adult only infinity pool, and of course these upcoming amenities create even more value to the three marinas, four club houses, seven restaurants, 26,000 square foot spa, five existing golf courses and more that the members and homeowners are enjoying. Keep up the excellent work and be thankful that you have the capital to do what needs to be done to position yourself for this recovery that we will experience in the near future.
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Links for the Heart and Soul (Submitted by Mike Notartomaso, The Hilton Head Group, Hilton Head Island , SC) (Posted by Paige, RIS Media, on November 4th, 2008 - Today's Top Story) Buy American I Am Warren Buffet's Op-Ed that appeared in the NY Times Oct.17th, 2008. (Submitted by Johnny Ussery, Hampton Lake, Hilton Head Island, SC)
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Your body...the universal language Studies have shown that the vast majority of communication takes place through unconscious perception based on how the body is being used. For example, we have always been taught to "have eye to eye" contact when speaking to someone. That does demonstrate confidence and is good when used in a balanced way. However, if you lock into another person's eyes too much when you are speaking to them, it can almost feel overbearing. Better to make the point that you are making, glance away, look down or over to the side and then reconnect with the listener's eyes to conclude your question or statement. On the other hand, when someone is speaking to you, you want to zero in on them and give them undivided attention. This is the time you lock into their eyes completely, hanging onto every word and thought. I believe that we hear with our ears but we listen with our eyes. Give an occasional nod with your head when the client (or spouse, or child, or whomever you are listening to) is making a point. Now, not the type of nod that is steady and regular like you're a ceramic dog in the back window of a '57 Chevy. You may just put them to sleep. This type of nodding helps to punctuate what is being said and acknowledges "I am getting what you are saying to me". Let your face be a good mirror to the message you receiving. Occasionally raise your eyebrows, when appropriate, when something interesting is being said. A slight frown or concerned look when a sad or negative type of emotional message is being related. In other words, your facial expression needs to reflect the emotion you are hearing. Well that's enough assignment this week. Next Newsletter we'll pick up where we left off and discuss four points that will help you be a far more effective communicator. Now go practice some of these at Thanksgiving gatherings, on your spouse, your kids or hopefully even a prospective buyer!
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Chuckle Corner
These are supposedly actual classified ads that have appeared in various papers across the world.
WHIRLPOOL BUILT IN OVEN -- FROST FREE!
FROZEN SOFT & GENTLE BATH TISSUE - 4 ROLLS 99 CENTS
AMERICAN FLAG - 60 STARS - POLE INCLUDED - $100
TIRED OF WORKING FOR ONLY $9.75 PER HOUR? WE OFFER PROFIT SHARING AND FLEXIBLE HOURS. STARTING PAY: $7 - $9 PER HOUR.
NOTICE: TO PERSON OR PERSONS WHO TOOK THE LARGE PUMPKIN ON HIGHWAY 87 NEAR SOUTHRIDGE STORAGE. PLEASE RETURN THE PUMPKIN AND BE CHECKED. PUMPKIN MAY BE RADIOACTIVE. ALL OTHER PLANTS IN VINCINITY ARE DEAD.
OUR SOFA SEATS THE WHOLE MOB - AND IT'S MADE OF 100% ITALIAN LEATHER.
JOINING NUDIST COLONY, MUST SELL WASHER & DRYER - $300.
FOUND: DIRTY WHITE DOG...LOOKS LIKE A RAT...BEEN OUT AWHILE... BETTER BE A REWARD.
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