Don't get fooled by the financial headlines proclaiming that banks are now all of a sudden profitable and that the worst is behind us. In 2007 an accounting rule was changed in order to help banks look healthier than they are. I always thought the rules of accounting were to try to convey the r...

04/22/2009

Freddie Mac CFO Found Dead. Did He Know Too Much?

9 Comments

I guess I'm always looking for the conspiracy angle. Here's a news story I just saw. David Kellermann, the acting chief financial officer of Freddie Mac, was found dead at his home Wednesday morning in what broadcast reports said was an apparent suicide.Kellermann was named acting chief financial...

04/22/2009

FDIC Offers $7500 Commission on Homes <$25,000. Sweet Deal if You're Connected

7 Comments

I like the example that the FDIC is setting for real estate commissions. The Washington Times came out with an interesting story about how a company got a sweetheart contract to sell foreclosed homes held by the FDIC. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that the company has ties to a powerful Senat...

04/21/2009

Tea Party Reality, Getting Past the Deceptive Editing

6 Comments

Sometimes it's tough to get to the reality of a sitution by just watching what you see on TV. No matter what station you watch, they all seem to have an axe to grind and instead of just reporting, they also end up distorting in order to push their angle. That's why I love YouTube so much. There...

04/19/2009

What You Won't See on CNN About the Tea Parties

13 Comments

CNN had a piece yesterday trying to portray the tea parties as some kind of anti-government, right wing Republican event. Here's a video of what happened after the CNN live reporter was off the air. A lady explained why she was there. I wonder why they didn't put her on during the report? Th...

04/16/2009

Fox Told to Be Quiet About Seals at Kartrina. What Else Aren't They Telling Us?

1 Comments

I really don't know what to make of this comment that Greta Van Susteren blurted out on her show when she was interviewing a guy about the Navy Seals pirate operation. She says that Navy Seals were seen in boats during Katrina and the reporters weren't supposed to mention them. Two things that t...

04/15/2009

Always be Caring and the Closings Will Happen

37 Comments

I think that the key to getting more business is to care about your clients. It's pretty basic stuff. No tricks or techniques to learn. Just be a human being who really cares about the welfare of your client. If you care, the closings will happen. I studied many sales training techniques and ...

04/13/2009

Wasting Time and Trusting Prospects. My Self Analysis of What Has Worked for Me

7 Comments

I read three posts today that made things come together for me. Broker Bryant's feature post about his self analysis of what has brought him success kind of got me thinking. How am I different than the typical real estate agent? I read two posts today that struck a chord with me. I have always d...

04/09/2009

Are Home Prices in Atlanta Near a Bottom?

4 Comments

Below is a chart I created using the S&P Case Shiller Index data. It shows the 20 metro areas that they cover. I added the data for inflation(the black squares) which I got from the Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS). Over the long term, I would say it's a fair statement to say that housing price...

04/08/2009

I Love Happy Clients Who Get Good Deals

7 Comments

I helped a nice young couple last year sell their home and move up to a bigger home in North Cobb County. We found a nice home and we thought we negotiated and really good price for it. A few weeks ago he emailed me saying that he was refinancing in order to take advantage of the drop in rates a...

04/08/2009