Relocate to Wisconsin : July 2010

  Working for the greater good of getting a transaction closed...short or traditional should be the goal of every agent no matter who they represent. Professionally executed compromise is a better negotiation tool than demands that are threatening to everyone involved in the transaction.

  Today when Wisconsin residents pass a flag, it will be at less than full mast....and the world will have been diminished by the loss of a great man, a father, a husband, brother, uncle....and a friend.

  Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of Agriculture for the state of Wisconsin drowned in Lake Superior on July 21st while on an outing with his church working for Habitat for Humanity. Working for a cause that he believed in to Rod meant giving it his all....his all far more than most people could imagine giving.....he did it to causes he loved, the family he cherished, the job he dedicated his time to in serving the state.

    Rod is one of the people that you have in your life that is so much more than a memory....and the kind of person no matter how much time had passed, you knew you could pick up the phone...or see him for coffee, lunch...and it would be as though you just talked yesterday even though years may have passed....we had that experience a couple years ago when he came to New Berlin and spoke at the library.  He never aged...the gray blended well with the wavy platinum locks and quick wit paired with the twinkle in his eye and easy laugh....I can hear it as the tears flow now and know that I won't hear it again.....

   Rod grew up in Arcadia,Wisconsin...just outside of LaCrosse...a farming community...I know his brothers Randy and Kent who now farm the land that their father before them farmed for decades.  He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin River Falls...past President of the Student Senate, a valued member of Theta Chi Fraternity and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.

   His career expanded when he was appointed as the Secretary of Agriculture by Governor Jim Doyle in 2003...the political party probably would not have mattered...to Rod or the people he worked with ...his relaxed style had long ago made friends on both sides of the aisle...and so it continued all his life...a life cut too short...a life well lived...friends and associates pouring in their condolences from around the globe.

  He led initiatives to explore how to protect Wisconsin’s working lands, build the state’s renewable energy and biofuels sectors, and strengthen dairy farming. He provided encouragement and support to the state’s organic farming sector and local foods movement.
  Before being named ag secretary, he was President & CEO of the former Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives from 1978-2002--building WFC into a statewide association for more than 700 rural and urban co-ops throughout Wisconsin. Under his leadership, WFC has become an organization which plays a significant role in both state affairs and in national cooperative circles.

  Bill Berry is a newspaper columnist and was a student at River Falls when Rod was President of the Student Senate and said his good byes better than I ever could:

Rod Nilsestuen had an impact on many lives. I was a most unworldly freshman at UW-River Falls when he first touched mine. Rod was the straight-laced president of the student body. In the spring of 1970, he called a student meeting in response to the Kent State massacre. The gymnasium was packed that day at “Moo U.” We voted to go on strike in response to Kent State. At that very moment, I was transformed into an activist, thanks in no small part to Rod Nilsestuen.

The sky is crying today, as yet another drenching rain falls on the land Rod Nilsestuen loved. Those of us who knew him are drenched in memories. I know what Rod would say. He’d tell us to get on with our work, because time is short and there is much to be done. We’ll do that, Rod, but not before we pause to remember a great man.

   It sounds empty and feels emptier and insufficient and so lacking to say that he will be deeply missed by many people in the whole world that he helped to make a better place...i know that this is not the kind of blog many people will read start to finish....or many people will know how whether you live in Wisconsin or not, the work that Rod did nationally and internationally may have impacted your life.  It doesn't matter...I know....and in this very, very small way....this blog is how I am choosing to honor his memory and will share it with the family that will miss him all the days of their lives.

     When you see that flag today....take a minute....say thank you Rod....for the time you shared with us all to make the world a better place.

  The bank won't mind, "reasoned" the seller....if he would sell his present home for less...after all the mortgage for his imagined new house would be much more and then the bank would more than make up their losses.....the "Rob Peter to pay Paul" scenario.  It made perfect sense to him.

   Every agent who includes short sales as a part of their practice makes every effort to help every homeowner avoid foreclosure and begin a new life free of the ties that bind to a mortgage that is no longer affordable.

    Hardship is not 20 minutes longer to drive to work.....it may be divorce, death of a wage earner, unemployment, under employment..a combination of circumstances that make paying the mortgage an upside down scenario...too much debt and not enough income.

   Short sales are not a convenience. Some people may argue that "THEY" should have planned ahead...nothing brings my blood boiling faster, my lip bit harder than thoughtless remarks from critics who have not seen the devastation of loss of income through no fault of  the homeowner. Who ever gets married to get divorced...imagines that an illness will take them out of the job market....that a primary wage earner loses life too early....the list goes on and we share the heartbreak of the losses and do everything we can to lessen the pain, find alternatives, help where we can to make the transition to the next part of life a little bit smoother....finding some sunshine where there has been none....helping to rebuild a life or lives that have been shattered by hardship.

    We will help anyone...anywhere with a local expert figure out the very best way to survive a difficult situation....call us...we're here to help: 414-525-0563.

   Driving 20 more minutes to work...hmmm....buy a car you can well afford that gets better mileage and donate the money you save on gas to the food pantry for those less fortunate who are short on all the things that matter most in life.

 14705 Fleetwood Lane, New Berlin, WI

   Open Sunday, July 25 1:30 - 3pm

  Your own spa getaway in a separate building...how cool....or hot is that ? Steps away from the sculptured concrete patio...And for every toy storage on earth...5.5 garage spaces ...all situated on a gorgeous lot at the base of a culdesac...with a natural treed fence in the backyard.

   This house has a lifetime basement warranty....renewable for just $25 a year....and is always dry...a real perk these days in the land of torrential rain !

   Main floor bedroom or den/office...large family room with fieldstone fireplace, bright living room...formal dining room for your entertainment pleasure. Upstairs...four more bedrooms and 2 full baths including a master with whirlpool and separate shower !

   This is a short sale....at a super price....$365,555 ....3/4 acre lot....outstanding location....

$365,555
14705 W Fleetwood Ln, New Berlin

                                         OPEN SUNDAY  1:30 - 3 pm

              13730 Prairie Lane. 6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3.5 car attached garage  $369,995 !

  Outstanding room sizes...formal dining room...walk in pantry...granite counters, stainless appliances, master suite with walk in closet, separate shower and whirlpool.  Unique second floor laundry. Tons of closet space, Open concept....everything you wanted with room to spare inside and out at a price you can't resist ! If the open house time is not convenient, just call the Hansons  414-525-0563 and a time for a private showing can be easily arranged for you.  Add a home warranty...WOW...it doesn't get better !

  Today is someone's birthday ....maybe someone you know...and now many of the social media sites enable you to know who and when....and you can send an e-card at no charge and with little effort....and make the birthday person feel remembered, special, cherished, loved.

   Today is Gary Keller's birthday...I am not sure now who told me that a year or so ago....the date stucck with me...a year and a half ago we were researching brokerages...with an open mind always to what was new...different...how we might better serve our clients... and we began to investigate, learn and talk with agents from Keller Williams across the country.

    We know Janna Scharf....Spudly as we lovingly call her...is in Idaho.Laura Giannotta  hails from the Jersey Shore...Missy Caulk our neighbor in Michigan...Irina Netchaev... anything BUT a "lady old lady" from Pasadena ...Michael Layton....our Palm Springs connection and the list goes on and on and on....

   The more we knew...the more comfortable we got....and in the spirit of "the little voice".....we knew that anyone who had the same birthday I did, had to a wonderful connection....and so it is...so if you are open to exploring a whole different, more prosperous, exhilerating way to do business...no matter where you are in the country....give yourself a present... and give us a call and we'll tell you how/why  Keller Williams is a present to yourself every day you are in real estate...

   Happy Birthday Gary...I will be waiting for our annual Birthday Phone Call !

"If I Write for $X on Your Short Sale Listing,

         What if it doesn't Cover the Mortgage ?"

   This was a comment made by a selling agent ...who "knew about short sales" and had buyers considering writing an offer.  Short sales are not as common in Wisconsin as they are in some parts of the country.  Whether you choose to do them, get trained to list them or just want to understand the market....understand the term...

ǝlɐs ʇɹoɥs

      It means  that the bank(s) who hold the mortgage(s) will be short of the total amount that they are owed.

    I know that there are lots of people....realtors in the Rain that think this blog is unnecessary....an excuse for writing something...

             Honestly...it happened yesterday.....educate, educate...learn learn.

     If anyone you know is unable to pay their mortgage...click here and call us...no matter where you are in the country, we will find someone who can offer you all the options you have to solving your problem.  Foreclosure is not the answer...begin a better day learning better alternatives with qualified professionals.

   We got a call from a landlord/homeowner who was in the mood to start over in life....no more rental properties, sell the primary residence, re-marry and begin life over again....sounds like fun. The conversation began,

"I want to sell all my properties, I don't care if I don't make any money, I just want to pay off the bank."

While we were talking I began to pull up the tax records on mls...the would be seller ticked off approximate mortgage balances and continued talking about how this landlording thing was a drain on time and energy.  I asked if property management from a professional may well be the answer...headaches gone. No, that would cut into the income.  Income...

               Are all the properties rented and there is cash flow ?  I queried.

   " Yes...I am good at property management ...I am just tired of it and want to move on and do something else."

       A brief survey of the areas surrounding the properties and some simple subtraction....thousands would have to be brought to closing on any of the properties....upside down...Short sale.....?  Not with this agent...."I don't wanna is not a short sale hardship."

    It's like quitting a job you don't like and expecting the health insurance, paid vacation and some sort of severance pay to continue.....

   There are sooo many legitimate hardships...people that every short sale listing agent works hard at helping...and yes....short sales close....and no....they don't all take 6 months in lender limbo.  If there is a legitimate hardship...short sale specialists are the first ones to help homeowners in any/every way we can..."I don't wanna" doesn't qualify as a financial disaster.

  Energy efficiency is a concern for every home owner...and Dorie wisely points out areas that need to be investigated....thank you Dorie from all the folks who benefited with every energy dollar saved.

   The residents as well as folks from far and near are celebrating July 4th all weekend long in New Berlin, Wisconsin ....and here are the activites for just the 4th....

SUNDAY, July 4:                        Malone Park                        

12noon – Grounds Open

10:00-11:45am – New Berlin National Dash Check-In @ Schoeneck Containers Family Tent

12noon – New Berlin National Dash 2M Run/Walk or 5K Run sponsored by New Berlin Jr. Woman’s Club

12noon-11:00pm – Spectrum Carnival

12noon – 4:00pm – Spectrum Carnival wristband special ($16 cash at Park & Rec before July 2/ $20 at gate)

12:30-4:30pm – Rabid Aardvarks (west tent)

12:30-4:30pm – Cyrus (east tent)

1:00PM – MAIN PARADE

3:00-8:00pm – Jo-Don Farms Petting Zoo sponsored by North Shore Bank

4:00pm – New Berlin Lions Free Ice Cream Handout  (11yrs & under)

4:00pm – German Shepherd Club Demo (center of grounds)

4:45pm – Anita’s Dance Company (east tent)

4:45pm – WMAA Tae Kwon Do Demonstration (west tent)

4:00 – 6:00pm – Discovery World @ Schoeneck Containers Family Tent

5:30-7:30pm – Magic Morgan @ Schoeneck Containers Family Tent

6:00-10:00pm – The Toys (west tent)

6:00-10:00pm – Eddie Butts (east tent)                   

10:00PM – FIREWORKS  sponsored by SCHOENECK CONTAINERS

11:00pm – Grounds Close

    If you are hungry, thirsty....feel like dancing, singing, being entertained, exercised...it's all here in New Berlin...the gateway to Waukesha County.... enjoy  !

  Know that if you find yourself scraping...borrowing more to pay off what you borrowed,...there is help and every realtor devoted the area of short sales can help you...call them...and go from feeling chained to debt to the beginning of financial freedom !

     Part of our real estate practice is devoted to short sales...and as any realtor who chooses to do these knows...this part of your practice is usually your heart....and a good part of your head that really has to get "into" the whole process to make it work for everyone concerned.

    We were referred to a couple who had a rental property...I always stop short of calling them "income properties"...these days income may be harder to extract from properties.   They were panicked because a tenant was leaving...they had repairs that were over due....and beyond that...they had really never looked at their own finances closely to see if they were making the best possible financial decisions.

      We explained the whole short sale process and then they explained some of the revelations they had in taking a closer look at their finances.

• They increased the  deductible on their home and car insurance and lowered the premium as well as shopped for better rates with competing companies
• Lunches at work came from home...not the vending machine or cafeteria
  
• Credit card balances were switched to companies that offered lower or no interest so that more money could be devoted to debt reduction rather than making minimum payments
• Fewer restaurant meals and more good old fashioned home cooking
• A scheduled financial review every 2 weeks...where was the money going...how could they improve...looking at the bills that they had, the debt to reduce, the goals for the future

  This e-mail has been edited in part to enable our "not client" to remain anonymous.