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Flower Mound, TX Real Estate News

By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
With my reverse wired brain leave it up to me to see a completely different lesson in the Federal bailout of banks and lending institutions.  Life Is ALL About Second Chances. While the example in this case is not of the most noble, think about our whole spectrum of life. Who would not like a second chance to get it right financially in business, with averting a life threatening illness, to patch up a relationship or begin anew with a new one? I think we all in life, like those fresh and clean sheets of paper to start marking down on them the new story. Toss the old story out the window. We seem to have this infinite capacity to mess up. We can only draw hope from being given second chances. Even the God of the universe is an entire story of second chances. Think of the Jonah and the wh...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
Over time as I have gotten older I have been more and more of a seeker in life. One of mankind's biggest needs beyond love is the quest for happiness. I know that joy is different necessarily from happiness and comes from within. Joy is kind of like this zenith of happiness. Joy can be present despite outside circumstances. It is something you hold inside. Kind of like memories. But I have found that what can spark these feelings of elation inside can have to do with highly positive events that you create for yourself in your life. I have observed that JOY IS FOUND IN FANTASTIC FINISHES.   I have used quite a few sports analogies to relate to how life works. Life is a journey. It has competition. It has its ebbs and flows. You can find yourself a winner some days. Sometimes you are mire...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
With the financial markets in turmoil with banks and credit problems one word pops into my mind as the Scrabble game word of the day.           TRUST. From an institutional point of view, from our representative government, from entirely too many an individual, trust is not what it is supposed to be. These are character flaws. Human weakness. What's remarkable to me is many Americans live lives with their families showing trust in each other each day. Yet if power corrupts, and greed sets in for many an individual or organization it seems that trust just goes right out the window. In the future days ahead, those of us who are trustworthy individuals can be examples to those who are not. Unfortunately sometimes the consequences of bad apples amongst us affect the whole barrel. For those ...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
Certain images stand out in my mind throughout life. There is a LIFE LESSON FROM FEEDING DUCKS. It could equally apply to feeding geese, seagulls, or pigeons. Imagine you are one of these birds. Some little boy is throwing bread your way. You may or may not get your piece right away. You have to be PATIENT!! Patience is that act of waiting. It is allowing life to unfold. Those in life like me and maybe you, who like to drive results with persistence stuggle mightily with patience. Patience is the wisdom behind perserverance. It is knowing that some things take time to develop. ESPECIALLY things out of your control. Focus on what you can change and accept what you cannot. Patience is for distant and difficult goals. Hang on with time and the conditions will allow you to succeed.
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
I have always been a student of effective time management and balance in life. Talking with coworkers and real estate clients I know that balance is a challenge for ALL of us in today's time starved work weeks. I heard an expression that goes like this: DO NOT GAMBLE AWAY THE SWEETNESS OF LIFE. In other words, yes we have responsiblities and roles to play as Career person, Super Mom, Soccer League coach, work at the church, Rotary Club Vice President, Homeowners Association board member, blah, blah, blah. But rigidly set aside time each week for the sweetness of life. Family, friends, personal development, what you love to do OUTSIDE your adult roles and responsibilities. Think of your "prime time" in the evenings for example. Limit TV viewing to two hours or turn it off completely. Spe...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
We all remember toward the end of the Wizard of Oz with Dorothy clicking her ruby red shoes together saying, "There's no place like home... " So if you are a buyer searching for a home or a buyers' agent helping someone what is the ONE key to finding home sweet home?                 LIFESTYLE. It is truly unique among all of us. Some downsizing, some it is the schools or the town, some nature, some noisy, some quiet. Some to be near family. Others the beach, mountains, lively night life, quiet deserted streets, or just the rodeo nearby. Buyers' agents listen carefully. Buyers think hard about where you WANT to be the next five years. The answer is there. Listen to the music inside your soul. Go for it. Lifestyle is the key!!
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
Your House As Seen By: Yourself...     Your Buyer...     Your Lender...   Your Appraiser...   Your Tax Assessor... Don't you like that within the walls of this blog you just learn how the real world works. The smartest readers and commenters come here for the facts. Now you know all you need to know about how those folks gets those values on your house. Feeling pretty smart today aren't you?? Just remember you got it here first. Y'all come back now, you hear??  : )  
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
While I am a big fan of dancing and the true country and western dance, the Texas Two Step, in real estate and in life, many times we should be       AVOIDING THE TEXAS TWO STEP. In other words, don't retrace your steps to get something done. Do it right, do it all one time. Why? Time is precious. One appraisal, one inspection, one final trip out to find a home. Think in life. One trip to the grocery store for the week's groceries. Make one decision about something and get on with it. In shopping for clothes do not keep going back to the store to add to an outfit, get all the pieces at one time. Don't get into the I'm not sure about something with home electronics. Are you going to shop four stores and then come back next weekend? There is an efficiency with your time in life to not doi...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
It amazes me with Real Estate clients, peer level relationships, and life relationships how people can turn into a weasel on you. They can cancel appointments without telling you, not do what they say, and become a master in indirect communication. You hear of bosses firing people through email or breakups in love relationships by texting. How crass is that? With difficult confrontations we can move forward however with tactfulness and diplomacy and not let ourselves become weasels. Give a Little to Get Along and Don't Be a Weasel It is the fine act of being tactful. Here are a few phrases to try and get things done without hurting another's feelings. 1. Say, it seems to me the problem is.. 2. My concern is this... 3. Please explain this to me. Maybe I am not understanding this... 4. I ...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
Someone asked me once how do you come up with the answers you need? They must have thought I had it all figured out as a Realtor. I thought, just like many areas of life where we need answers, we need "tests."       TESTS IN YOUR LIFE REVEAL ANSWERS. Sure canned tests "have" answers that are correct like multiple choice and true/false. But life's tests reveal our character, what we may accept or not be able to tolerate, what will make us stronger or literally crush us. Think of diagnostic tests in medicine. They may reveal good news of a tumor being benign or worse yet you have months to live. Do not fear tests. They give us answers to what we need to know. It's what we do with the answers after we have them that is the most important. BTW, in this color blindness test, mainly for men t...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
With the events in the financial markets lately with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the $85 billion bailout of insurance giant AIG, all which can affect the housing market, you may be getting sea sick from all the wave action. But any good surfer knows you ride the waves. You embrace them till they take you to the shore. You've got to hang in there and manage what YOU can manage. Did you know that tube surfing, inside the curl of the wave, is from the BIGGEST and BADDEST waves? It probably is the most fun and scenic too. We can all get caught up with the stock market falling and then rising with its whipsaw like action, but remember life goes on. Good times, bad times, good times. Many things in life are in cycles. Just ride the waves. Don't let them knock you down. Or if they do, get bac...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
I don't know if growing up as a skinny kid who ended up being tall ( 6 ft 4 in) who maintained his leaness through the years, made me naturally gravitate toward basketball as a fun activity but much of what basketball is all about, applies to a REALTOR or others in the real estate industry. Keep it simple - basketball can be played with one person or ten. One ball. Don't have convoluted thoughts. Make your client's life easy. Say, "I'll take of that." Be lean - Watch your costs closely. Indoor or outdoors - Be on the phone and the computer, but get belly to belly with people "out" in the world as well. Get skilled - Practice, practice, practice your craft. Three pointers, contracts, foul shots, knowledge of market, passing, prospecting your target clients. Teamwork - You don't win five ...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
Listening to many people complain about their bad habits I also hear people pump up themselves about their good habits. The bad habits we all know like procrastination, smoking, over eating, drinking too much, not caring for people, working too much, blah, blah, blah. Good habits are like exercising regularly, eating right, showing up to appointments on time, touching people in special ways or even just staying in touch, being generous, on and on. Habits are very important in life. They are sequences of choices that we set on auto pilot. They become routine. If we can ditch the bad habits and stick with the good habits or new habits we would be so much better off. Two quickie rules I have learned along the way to move better in the direction of the good habits: The Rule of 48:  You MUST...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
In assessing someone practicing their craft look around you as well as make note of yourself. For real estate purposes, think Realtor, Stager, Inspector, Loan Originator, Title Officer, or Appraiser for example. What do you see in THEM and YOU?    DO YOU HAVE TALENT, SKILL, OR MAGIC? Talent, is the raw form. Yes you are in the right industry. Say like you are good at numbers doing CPA work. Your background is interior design and you are trying Staging. You like people, come from teaching, and this is your first year in Real Estate. But you haven't proven anything to your clients or yourself (YET). Skill, you are practicing. Some doctors are like this for years. In real estate you have more transactions. You pick up designations. You do not cringe with every question. You love your work....
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
This time of year as we enter Fall, there are categories of potential home sellers who are already looking ahead to the next peak home selling season starting around March. They are assessing putting their house on the market, but are essentially moseying their way into it. It might be a dated house.They are thinking of doing some home improvements to maintain or enhance their home value in the market. This may be taking down old wall paper or updating kitchens and baths to bring the latest amenities to bear. Repairs may be cleaning rain gutters, and fresh paint and carpet. We can learn the basis for our own self-improvement in life by watching the home improvement process. Think about these tips: Set The Stage - Get ready to improve your life with goals you set physcially, with relati...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
I got to thinking again today. Always dangerous on my part when I should be reading a good book or helping someone else. So many people work so hard on Internet search optimization and making themselves appear on Google page 1 and so forth. But what about those one on one times with clients that want to hire you. Why do they want to hire you? What makes you any different than the next Realtor? Without making it any more complicated than it has to be, clients are just simply trying to put the puzzle pieces together about you. What I mean by that is they want a winner. They want someone who is committed to their interests and sticks up for them. Yes we all can tout our experience, and track record but what about your demeanor, your character, your sense of hard work, your reponsiveness? A...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
I have always been the curious type. That means if I am with you, you are going to get pummeled with questions. This can be good in Real Estate, because I am going to find out why you really want to sell that house. I will ask you six different ways to find the underlying motivation, or you will find me annoying and shoo me away. In life have you ever wondered, WHY CAN'T WE EAT TOOTHPASTE FOR DINNER? I know, an innane question, but it could be possible. A hand shooting up by me is a question. But a hand shooting up in a classroom for many is because they THINK they have the answer. Lest you think I lie around all day thinking up silly questions, I actually ponder where I can find the answers. Those of you with high school or college age children can relate to that supposedly THEY have A...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
Numbers have always fascinated me and I have been one of those people who have always been good with numbers and math. From the early days of even plain arithmetic, the adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing of numbers it all seemed so orderly to me. I encountered the short lived "New Math" concepts at one time where from what I could tell they were making the simple four types of calculations more complicated with symbols like circles and triangles. "New Math", like "New Coke" was too way out there for most people and the basics returned. But there is a new math that still can be observed.     The New Math where 1 + 1 = 3 This new math refers to synergy. The sum is greater than the individual parts. I see this in real estate with partners completing a transaction or project all...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
A group of research scientists studying images from Google Earth and looking at broad herds of cows across the earth have concluded that predominantly cows align themselves in a field in a north-south direction. Cows are social animals and sit down before a rain and huddle in a circle during a blizzard. But on sunny days when they are carefree they align facing either north or south. WHY ARE THESE MAGNETIC COWS IMPORTANT TO YOUR LIFE? Because it is a life lesson that sometimes we really don't know in our business or personal lives the why or how of something. The old expression that covers this is "it is what it is." Folks, there's something called "reality" which too many in business or personal relationships just like to run away from constantly. Think of real estate. The same size ho...
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By Gary Woltal, Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
(Keller Williams Realty)
KFC had this recent story about doing security improvements at their headquarters in Louisville, KY. They had to temporarily remove the yellowed piece of paper in a double locked filing cabinet that had the hand signed in pencil by Harland Sanders the secret recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken. You know the 11 herbs and spices. The filing cabinet was inside a vault with only two people having access to it. The "exact" mix of the herbs along with samples was contained in the cabinet. Believe it or not, an armored car with security guards was going to whisk the formula temporarily away to an undisclosed location.                                                                                 AP Photo / Bruce Shreiner Is all this really necessary? Don't you think in life secret recipes are p...
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