Relocate to Wisconsin

   We recently became Keller Williams agents.....in the greater Milwaukee/Waukesha area....and we are one of the initial trail blazers in this market to start an office here with a different approach to real esatate than agents have found here traditionally.

   There is no brokerage here that is...or even tries to be Agent Centered...and that takes in just a bunch of different areas that go into making the business you love be reflected in:

•  The education you are offered
  
• The cutting edge technology you receive
• The listing "ownership and recognition' (see us for details)

• Profit beyond your commission (Call us for prosperous information)

    The list goes on.....the benefits continue....don't you owe it to yourself, your clients and customers and your career to spend some time listening to what other business models may work better than the one you are a part of currently ? 

   Talk is cheap....action is priceless...give us a call....we appreciate your need it keep your inquiry confidential...it was done for us...we'll do it for you....Find out how you can get 150% return on your career investment...do it now before you spend one more nickel on your brokers' monthly fees, your e & o insurance....it could be the call that not only saves you money....it takes your career in a new direction.

  Yesterday we had a specific request from a buyer for a short sale...anxious for a good value at a good price, didn't have a house to sell....was well qualified financially...so off we went to find a listing that would work for this anxious home buyer....

          WHOOPS !  The first listing we came across seemed to meet the criteria...short sale, good condition..price a little high but we can work with that....and then we studied it further...the agent listing the house was the seller.  That cannot happen...not because we say...not because very obviously the agent was not trained in short sales...but because no lender will allow it.  The seller cannot benefit from the sale, cannot be related to the seller, cannot appear in any way to have a "conflict of interest" in benefit supplied to the seller.  Every lender we have seen requires the seller to sign an arm's length statement.  The agent has an "arm's length" relationship from the seller...he is not the seller.

                If you a real estate agent and you are upside down for a reason of hardship...divorce, illness, financial, etc....You CANNOT list your own house, sell it and minimize or attempt to minimize your loss with the commission.

Shame on the agent for not learning about the rules...and a bigger blame goes to the broker who reviews or should review the contracts....and we know with other agents in the same company has had this called to their attention and chooses to ignore it...Know the rules...play by the rules of you may find the foreclosure bus running you over before you can say "closing table."

  We got an offer on one of our short sale listings...and of course, everyone is a realtor...This agent got our counter from the sellers...which she said we weren't "really supposed to do"...."Just submit it to the bank and the buyers will negotiate the sale."  Gee ...never thought of that...why submit a package. why supply all the documentation when you can really make it short and let the buyers shorten the distance between offer and acceptance and negotiate it themselves.

    If you haven't been to Short Sale School...a recognized school...CDPE...,,,this agent had never listed a short sale and doesn't want to....but she knows that her buyers could certainly close the sale...The agent has been licensed 10+ years....and the more you would try to explain...the more she knew more than we did...so there was no point.....Know what you don't know....Buyers are not negotiators...Short Sales that are listed by a competent short sale listing agent are not "Let's Make a Deal" and cutting the price another 50% is not what the lender has in mind.....the sellers want to be saved from foreclosure...not helped into it...

    If you don't understand Short Sales...don't practice writing them...don't practice listing them...If you are a potential short sale seller...list with an agent with significant education and successful short sale experience...the credit you risk will be your own.

  Reading thru some blogs with agents whining about short sales...banks that don't cooperate, mortgage insurance companies unwilling to take losses and don't understand the term "short",  listing agents with no training who thought they would "experiment" at the risk of someone's foreclosure, agents who try selling them but don't prepare their buyers that it can be a "hurry up and wait" game,  Soooo I thought it would be interesting wine/whine flavors that we could create revolving around this area of practice.

  Would the wine be red....for what sometimes seems like the blood that the banks and mortgage insurers want from sellers who have already given all they have to give ?

Would it be a blush color to reflect the embarrassment that agents who actively practice real estate in today's market find in their cheeks when they learn what they don't know?

  Or would it be white...to indicate the success of a short sale, a clean slate, a second

  chance...a new beginning....

            We have offically been Keller Williams agents 15 days according the paperwork....we say since the 4th of July because the fireworks that it has meant for the explosion in our business....and I we know the show has just started...is one of the most exciting things we have done in our real estate career....and we think, certainly among the best things we could do for us and the people we are honored to serve.

      The move feels like a shot of adrenallin for our business and at the same time, the comfort you only feel from your favorite tennis shoes...bathrobe....just the right amount of warmth....and a welcoming, inviting tingling that is renewed daily when agents from many different brokerages call ask us to tell them about where we are and how we got there and the benefits of being a Keller Williams agent.

     Yesterday I learned that TODAY is Gary Keller's birthday....golly gee whiz...it's mine too so there's one more reason to feel good about where you moved....I don't have any fantasies that he will call with birthday wishes....we could alternate years ...he calls one year and I call the next...and toast each other 's success across the country....I know what we would be like for a present....and I know that our friends everywhere who read this blog would want us both to have a great birthday...give us a call....drop us an e-mail....you may find out that Keller Williams feels like your comfortable shoes...and at the same time energizes you to run faster, jump higher and hit the heights in your career you have thought about but not yet achieved. We promise not to preach...just a little introduction....and if all that happens is that we know each other a little better...enjoyed some time together and toasted each other's success....that's a good thing.

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY KELLER  we look forward to growing the southeastern Wisconsin office one agent at a time and helping each other be the best we can be ! Thank you for creating a company where agents come first...education is important....and the income and life lessons last a lifetime !

  Money Magazine Just listed New Berlin, WI as No. 34 of the best small towns to live in in the Whole country...we aren't surprised....we did our home work before we elected to build here...it's an outstanding location...great park system....a small town feel but close to the "big city" and everything you need to have the best of all world's...it's a little bit country....and a great place to live. At just 50 years old....New Berlin is a Babe in terms of suburb age.

Statistics for New Berlin....You'll  Want to Call it Home !

     Courtesey of Money Magazine 2009 - Best Small Towns in America

Have some good old fashioned family fun courtesey of the New Berlin Historical Society....No admission...good weather has been ordered...all you have to do is enjoy  !

  Anyone out there that can help this gal.....? Let's send her healing thoughts and a new kidney !

  Old shoes are comfortable...maybe not fashionable but comfortable...so the question becomes, what do you need to not just survive but thrive whether it is in this market OR any market...if you are a Realtor, Lender or in another allied profession.

   There is a coaching school that tells you if you do things the same way, you get the same result...and that, can be a good thing or a bad thing...or maybe just not AS good as you would like it to be...the sales figures, loans closed, etc. just appear out of reach.

    No one kind of shoe fits everyone....for a variety of reasons...some are tooo tight...some cost tooooo much, some just are out of fashion...comfortable but not really what you want to wear to look your best, be your best....run faster and jump higher or make the best possible professional impression you can on your referral sources, clients and customers.

        Cleaning closets is hard work....what to throw out....give away.....what may be comfortable but not really useful....It's like having clothes that breath made of microfibers instead of polyester,....huge difference in comfort.....progress from companies who knew there was a better way. Still no wrinkles and now the feeling of cooler comfort.....so you can feel better...work better and live better.

         When we changed brokers this week....we thought long and hard.  We were working hard...we were climbing to the top of our game...but we needed to trade those sneakers in for a more progressive, "more fashionable" (albeit...more education and advanced technology) that would make every effort that we made, count for more....not just more for us...but for our clients and customers who receive the benefits of a national brand...the wealth of technology...We knew that people were doing business with US not the color of the sign or the name of the broker...We are the Brand...the world of real estate to our clients, customers and sphere...It wasn't the renewed top of mind awareness that the song "We are the World"  that made us think...how can we..."make a brighter day" for our clients, our customers and our career....though that seems to be a timely theme for our decision to make this change to Black and Red at Keller Williams.

  You may be thinking...what can I do to make it a brighter day for everyone's lives you touch professionally.....and your own. You may want to find out what cleaning your closet will do for your career. I must be hung up on song titles today...."We've Only Just Begun" and it feels like a whole new life.....new beginning....powered with positive energy.  I wouldn't have thought these fashionable spikey heels would work for me a while ago...and now I know that they will literally propel me, my career....my whole appearance publicly and professionally to new heights !

   Just like the short sale practice of our business, we are happy to talk with you no matter where you are in the country....find out what a fashion statement you can make for your career.

   A great place with room to roam...inside and out - 3 beds, 2.5 baths, Hot tub on a great deck...kitchen with all the appliances.

    The finished lower level is a family friendly bonus for relaxation and entertainment...we'll even throw in the couch for your relaxation/entertainment enjoyment !  It just doesn't get better than all this house and location has to offer.  If you  aren't available on Sunday at noon...we can't promise this house will be available.. you can try by calling us for a private showing at: 414-525-0563 if it's still there !

Entertainment friendly dining room...great room with natural fireplace...this place has it all !

You will have to get in line...and tour this wonderful house...cleaned with a toothbrush (sure looks that way) and ready for you to enjoy. Over an acre of yard surrounds this home that has been exceptionally well maintained.

From the formal dining room to the family room with natural fireplace and patio doors to the deck overlooking the spacious backyard...mmmm....at a fantastic price $259,986. Our sellers have loved the neighborhood and the house for over a decade and this job transfer means a move...this loss in your gain...you'll have to Mooove quickly !

S77W23625 W Southwoods Ln Vernon, WI

This is a truly outstanding property at an exceptional price !

   Three bedrooms, three full baths and an attached 3.5 car garage on a large lot...well manicured with fresh landscaping. Every bedroom has a walk-in closet...located in the sought after Brook Park Estates sub-division.

895 Timber Pass - Brook  Park Estates Sub  Division - West of Barker Road, North of Bluemound.

   Seeing is believing....and you can believe that all of this house and this location and lot are offered at just $289.900 !  The large lot has a swing set all ready for play...the landscaping is fresh with blooms of every color everywhere.  Spacious great room with gas fireplace  has a window wall overlooking the backyard and adjoins the kitchen that has stove and built in microwave.  First floor laundry room for your convenience. The bedrooms each have a walk in closet and the master suite includes a whirlpool.  This entertainment and family friendly home also has another fireplace and a wet bar in the family room.  Everything you ever wanted to call home is here with air conditoned comfort and a deck to take advantage of the sunny summer days.

   Soooo much house on a great lot...exceptional location...all for a price that will please any budget....stand in line with your checkbook ready...we'll even give you the pen...Welcome home to Timber Pass in Brookfield.

   If you can't get to the Open House...sorry we have no showings before then...we can't promise it will still be available for a private showing...call us...414-525-0563 and we'll be happy to help you!

         Another Quality Listing from Sally K. & David L. Hanson, Keller Williams

  You are going to love this 3 bedroom squeaky clean ranch....updated kitchen and bath...3 season room, rec room with wet bar and half bath....a man cave if there ever was one....OR....play area...OR....you name it...you'll want it....BUT you have to come to the open with your pre-approval letter and checkbook in hand or you'll be toooooooo late !

       Another Quality Listing from David & Sally Hanson - For more information: 414-525-0563 -

                                                               MLS 1089371

I was going to say it, do it, shout it, spell it, blog it, e-mail it, snail mail it a hundred different ways.  In reality...there was sooo much to do an sooo little time to do it...getting everything in place and finding the absolute "right time" to make the switch...there just wasn't one "right time."  Sometimes you have just have to jump in with both feet and move as fast as you can....and that is what we did.

    Last night David met with our now former manager...turned in keys....thanked him for the past years we had been agents.....and it was a very professional end to one chapter in our career and an "off and running" start to another. We presented an organized list of listings with MLS numbers, addresses, contacts, status and buyers names, mls numbers, status and contact information.

   In the spirit of "hitting the ground running" I have to lace up my track shoes....KW is new to this part of the state...and we are ohhhh soooo happy to discuss our new brokerage with you...the lemonade is chilled...the bar stool at our rec room bar reserved, the place at the kitchen or dining room table reserved....the great room love seat has the pillows plumped....sit down....relax....enjoy.  You may not know much about Keller Williams if you are in southeastern Wisconsin...there is no brick and mortar just yet...it's a pioneering effort...and we welcome th opportunity to share our enthusiasm and excitement.  Every broker is not for every agent...it's like a pair of shoes...track shoes....in this case...we believe it is the best way for us to literally...RUN our business....We look forward to learning, growing and embracing the Keller Williams family as they have us making this transition a comfortable one....Give us a call....if we are out of breath....it's the track shoe thing....we believe this is the best move to answer the call of the future for our clients, our customers and our career.

  We have a secret....and it has been a planned secret that has taken some time....and this week especially in the next few to come....it is a wonderful, exciting, life changing and energizing secret.  It is the kind of thing that wakes you at 3 in the morning with a smile and sometimes you don't go back to sleep...but you don't care.

   It is the kind of secet that makes you feel warm and good and positive and you stand a little straighter and you step has a little more "spring" in it as you hurry to accomplish all you need to do.

    It's not news everyone will applaud....it's not something that everyone should or even CAN do...everything is not for every one.  You have to know what works and what does not...what feels good and feels progressive....and comfortable...what welcomes one does not another.

    Tomorrow we will tell our secret...To everyone in Active Rain....to all our Short Sale
 referral sources...to our blog subscribers, readers, friends in the Rain...tomorrow is just a day away and THE SECRET (we like that secret too) will be revealed...we have been sooo busy this week, not too much blogging time....and tomorrow you will know why.  It probably isn't why you think....even our "inner circle" has guessed incorrectly...you will know tomorrow....it't the best thing that has happened to us in a very, very long time...in some respects...ever...and tomorrow we will share it.  Ciao for Now !