Luke 19.10 "For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost." (Message Translation) When I was a young man, I often thought about what it would be like to have kids.  I could envision two little kids, one boy and one girl, running around our house (it didn't actually end up that way).  After I got married, my wife and I went seven years before our first son was born.  People constantly asked if we were ever going to have kids to which I always replied, "We're still practicing." Well, seven years into a pretty fun marriage a little blue smurf looking creature showed up.  Thankfully, he eventually turned flesh colored, and the hospital let us take him home.  Shew!  I wondered how I was going to explain the blue boy when I went out shopping with him. He was a beautiful, blue eyed, blo... 11/27/2011

It was the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the house, everyone was sleeping, even the mouse. They were dreaming of turkey, potatoes and dressing, macaroni and cheese and biscuits and blessings. Their plates would run over, but they would finish each bite in hopes of returning for seconds that night.   They would retreat to the sofa and drift off to sleep, the TV would blare, but they would not make a peep.  Before it was over, they would wake and eat pie, and when it was bedtime, they would let out a sigh. What a meal they had eaten, and a good time they had, their tummies were full and everyone glad.  For one day in November many thanks were remembered, and they planned to repeat it next month in December.                            11/23/2011

I personally love Thanksgiving as much as any other holiday.  It might  be my favorite.  Family and friends gather together to enjoy each other's company and to reflect on what they're thankful for.  What's not to like about that?  One of the great benefits of living in this part of Virginia also happens around Thanksgiving.  The Green Valley Book Fair.  If you've never visited the GV Book Fair you can't imagine the volume of new books that are available at radically discounted prices.  The Book Fair offers books in fiction, history, health, self-help, finance, children's books, religion, science, sports, cooking, home and garden, crafts, art, nature, exercise, the outdoors and many more.  It's almost hard to explain how massive this book sale really is.  The Green Valley Book Fair star... 11/23/2011

I'm a big planning guy, but I also know that plans don't always work out the way the plan was planned.  Today was a busy real estate day for me, but here I am at 3:30 pm just getting started with my plans.  Our contracting company has been trying to correct an electrical problem for a local business.  We didn't do the original work, but the business owner called us in to fix what the original 2 contractors did.  Oy vey!  I could have a crew that just does repairs on other contractor's work.  What ever happened to pride in craftsmanship?  I would imagine we spend 15-20% of our time repairing the work done by someone else.  This poor business owner will have spent 300% more than the original contract when it is all said and done.  He was trying to save a few bucks by hiring the cheap guys... 11/21/2011

I'm a creature of habit.  I would be easy for a spy to profile, because I seldom change my routine.  One habit I have relates to my indoor cycling class.  I teach M-W-F at 5:30 am (and yes, there is another 5:30 every day).  When I leave the gym, I have a habit that I've had for three years now.  I take my water bottle out of my gym bag and empty it on the roots of a specific tree.  This tree is the one closest to my car, so it has been easy for it to become my habit.  What I've noticed over the past three years is that - that particular tree thrives no matter what the weather is.  If it's hot and rainy, it thrives.  If it's hot and dry, it thrives.  If it's cold and wet, it thrives.  If it's cold and dry, it thrives. Whatever you water in your life will thrive.  It doesn't matter if it... 11/20/2011

During one of my early trips to the Ukraine I had a vision.  The country was new to freedom and capitalism and it was a little intense and dangerous at the time.  It wasn't good to be out on the street alone, let alone out after dark.  One day while I was in prayer, the Holy Spirit gave me a very realistic vision.  In the vision, I was standing on the window sill of a very tall building.  In the area of Ukraine where I lived, there were a lot of tall apartment buildings, but this building was much taller.  In the vision, I was standing on the window sill and clouds were passing by.  That's how tall the building was.  While I observed the clouds moving past, the Holy Spirit said, "Jump."  And, I jumped into the clouds and landed like I was on a pile of cotton balls.  I didn't fall throug... 11/20/2011

This has been a week for the record books.  Whew!  It has been one challenge after another.  Short sale gobble-de-goop.  REO nightmares, and a few struggles with a simple fair market sale.  There must be a full moon in my future.  For some reason, in the midst of all of the challenges I keep thinking about an incident that happened in our home about six years ago.  I had a rescue dog named Tony.  I sometimes think rescue dogs are so thankful for their second chance that they become great dogs.  Tony was a mix between a German Shepherd (my favorite) and a Golden Retriever.  He looked just like a blonde German Shepherd.  He was beautiful.  I was working on one of my rentals in Petersburg, VA one day when my next door neighbor came over and asked if I knew someone who would like a dog.  It... 11/18/2011

When this challenge was offered, I thought of a number of people I would love to introduce to the world.  I have been so privileged to have so many amazing people in my life.  Which one would I choose?  It was hard to decide, and then I realized they all have one person in common, Jesus Christ.  This may not be the direction this challenge was supposed to follow, but I can honestly say that without my relationship with Christ, not only would I most likely not be here today, but I would have never accomplished what I have in my life and career.  Those of us who grew up in the 60s lived through a tumultuous time.  It was a period in US history where the norms of just about every institution were being challenged on a daily basis.  Vietnam was raging in southeastern Asia.  Drugs, sex and r... 11/16/2011

I'm not a big boycott fan, and I definitely don't believe most boycotts do much to solve problems, but I think there is one that might be beneficial.  Most Realtors that I know are struggling with their short sales and REOs when it comes to some of the bigger banks.   Some of the bigger banks, who are considered "too big to fail" really aren't.  And quite frankly, I think it's time we find out.  It is not the government's responsibility to keep these banks afloat, nor is it the responsibility of Realtors who are trying to move the foreclosed or underwater assets of these banks.  What I do know is that my community's local banks are still strong.  The homegrown banks in our area that are not the major national banks are still doing business.  They are still lending money, and they are st... 11/15/2011

When approaching a potential listing client, you may want to take more information with you than just a good CMA.  In a most recent article from LPS, the headline reads, "Prices are 28.3% Below Peak Mid-2006."  Another article by LPS, posted on MReport.com states, "National Home Prices Tumble 3.8% Over August." That $200,000 house your client bought in 2004 would be worth $143,400 today.  Of course, that's a simple illustration that will not work in all areas of the country, but knowing what the percentage of lost value is for your area will help you educate your seller in the current market shift.  They may not want to accept it, and that could mean they will choose to not list at this time.  That would be OK. What they need to understand is that an overpriced house will not sell witho... 11/15/2011

During my twenty years as a pastor, I started every year with the same basic question:  "Where will you be one year from now?"  We're approaching the end of the year, and it's a good time to start thinking about next year.  Let me offer a few questions to get you started thinking. Where will you be one year from now?  You will be somewhere.  The choice to succeed or fail, to grow or stagnate, to prosper or struggle will be in how you answer that question. How will you get there?  If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.  There are still a lot of Realtors in my market who have the "plant it and pray" policy for real estate success.  They plant a sign and pray that somebody sees it and wants to buy it.  They have no marketing strategy, no web presence and no income.  How will you... 11/13/2011

When I was a young Christian, I learned a lot of things I had to unlearn as I grew in age, knowledge and wisdom.  One idea was the premise that because we are flawed human beings, we will sin everyday.  It might be helpful to know that "sin" is an archery term meaning to "miss the mark."  With that in mind, it sounds logical when you think of how flawed mankind is, but when you really think it through, as Christians, it doesn't make a lot of sense.   If I've made a commitment to Christ (Rom 10.9), and if I'm renewing my mind with His Word everyday, or most days (Rom 12.2), and if the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding me into all truth as Scripture promises (Jn 16.13) - why would I sin everyday?  The idea that  believers sin everyday is a great way to keep a heavy load of guilt and cond... 11/12/2011

Just about the time I think I can't learn anything new about REOs, a situation pops up to prove me wrong.  This week, I received a great education in the dangers of REO attorney mills.  Virginia has one that pumps out REOs like donuts at the local bakery. I have an REO under contract that is ready to close later this month.  The closing attorney on my client's side is one that I recommend because he is so extremely thorough.  He is extremely good at what he does and if cost me deals, I would be happy to accept his findings because I know he's so good at what he does that he would be keeping me out of harm's way.  That's fine because I have a avoidance reflex to being summoned to court.  This week, we were trying to get the paperwork done to get this REO closed.  The REO mill contacted m... 11/12/2011

One of greatest benefits of being an American is knowing the far reaching impact of freedom.  Every time I'm out of the country I have the same sensation flood over me once my flight crosses over US boarders.  No matter what part of the country I'm flying into, I suddenly feel a sense of peace and comfort. Traveling through foreign airports alerts you immediately that you are a visitor and you do not have the freedoms you enjoy in the US.  You are welcome to visit, but you're just a visitor on a leash.  It's a limited freedom, and even in some of the more exotic destinations you know you're restricted.  I always love that feeling of walking into the customs area, handing my passport over to an agent who says something simple like, "Welcome home," before I move on to the luggage pickup. ... 11/11/2011

As so many others have said today, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to our veterans and to those who faithfully serve our great nation today.  This speech by Ronald Reagan reminds us that if Americans are expected to enter the fields of conflict, they must enter with the full intention of winning and returning victorious. Those of us who lived through the Vietnam era know the utter foolishness and danger of sending our brave soldiers into harms way while politicians sit in their comfortable offices playing chess with their lives.  Our brave warriors are not political pawns on the chessboard of the next election.  Military conflict must never be an alternative if a recognizable victory isn't a dedicated and final objective.  God bless our brave service men and women as they commit the... 11/11/2011

For those of us who are frequent sellers of short sale properties, the lack of communication between us and the seller's bank is one of the most frustrating aspects of the sale.  If you've ever tried to get the bank negotiator on the phone, you have probably found that they can be as elusive as a sighting of Bigfoot. It makes you wonder if they really exist.  Well, they do, but that they can often be the weak link in the short sale process.  I just got off the phone with Don Pearce from Bank of America.  Bank of America has started a Twitter (only) access to their short sale department.  It is designed to help agents and brokers who are having trouble with a short sale within Bank of America family. If you're struggling with a Bank of America short sale, this new department at @BofA_Hel... 11/10/2011

Mark your calendar for November 19, when the Girls on the Run of Winchester Fall 5K will be taking place at Jim Barnet Park at 9 am.  The Winchester chapter of Girls on the Run welcomes girls from 3rd grade through 8th grade.  Girls on the Run offers girls more than training in the art of running.  The program helps young girls build self esteem and healthy living skills.  The program is designed to prepare girls for the challenges of life through the sport of running.  This 5K will be the first for many of the young members of the local chapter.  Come out and cheer them on, and feel free to donate to the local the chapter through their GirlsontherunWinchester.org website.  The details of the event can be found at Active.com.  All fees and pertinent information is provided at that locat... 11/10/2011

If you've ever listed and sold a short sale you know that it can be like trying to catch an eel in a barrel of snot.  Slippery.  OK, that was gross, but short sales can be gross too.  I'm in the midst of one right now which the lender initiated.  We listed the property at the average sale price for similar properties.  Within a few weeks of lookers and no contracts we lowered the price.  Bingo.  The first customer who dropped by came back and put a contract on the property.  The bank had already assigned a negotiator to the property.  So, we were good. I called the negotiator right after faxing the contract in.  I left a message.  No response.  Day two, I called back, left a message asking for a confirmation of the receipt of contract.  Nothing.  Day three, four, etc.  Today, my client ... 11/07/2011

I would like to make one more reference to the 12 hour "Pedal for a Cure" fundraiser before I put this one to bed.  There were a lot of amazing people who participated, donated and worked to make sure everything came off without a hitch (especially Shawn Carrico).  I deeply appreciate all of you and your contributions.  I'd also like to recognize the marathon riders.               Nancy Morrison - 12 Hours                                  Jay Skidmore - 11 Hours         Lula Neely - 6 Hours                                        Robin & Dale Streyle - 6-8 Hours                                                          A special thanks to our awesome instructors who volunteered their time for this great cause.  Thanks to Deborah Inaba, Victoria Egnew, Kendra Ingram and Suzie Carter.  You ... 11/06/2011

This is the series that is not a series.  Actually, when I wrote the "What can James Bond teach us about real estate," Jim Paulson sparked another idea.  That blog sparked more requests for additional characters with their lessons for life and business.  And, of course, I'm always up for  a challenge.   So, today I'm asking the question, "What can Sherlock Holmes teach us about real estate?"  Ah, the Brits favorite fictional detective can teach us a lot about real estate and life.  For instance: Most things in life really are "elementary", even though they may seem complicated.  The great detective always saw through the smoke screens thrown up by his adversaries.  Even though Dr. Watson and others were deceived or sidetracked by the distractions, which abounded, the good detective was ... 11/06/2011