Last night I attended a small presentation by Paul Brainerd at the University of Washington, Bothell Campus.  I was very impressed.  Paul talked about his foundation, The Brainerd Foundation, and most importantly how they go about allocating the 2-3 million in grants they give out each year.  The Brainerd Foundation specializes in place based conservation.  Place based means they find a place, geographic, that is environmentally important and viable for change and try to develop the “sustainability” of the community in that place.Sustainability, what is it?  Well it is really a pretty broad term encompassing socio-economic-politico-cultural community.  Everything is so connected.  No community is an island.  Paul spent considerable time describing the research they do to find an area that is both important and viable.  Once they find this place they invest money in other non-profit organizations that work to institute change in the community.  They aren’t throwing money at communities that aren’t willing to change.  Rather, they are finding communities that are on the brink of change and helping to move them in the right direction.  You can learn more about Paul and what they do on his website. What I really got out of it was the concept of a Strategic Communication Plan; the outcome of the research and how they go about implementing their vision.  I am going to walk through this process and then insert examples of how, in my own business as a Seattle real estate agent, this applies.   First they created their vision of helping to create sustainable communities through grants to non-profits.  My vision is to create a sustainable business in Real Estate that is education based and helps first time buyers into a home.  By building my business on education and being 100% client centered, it will be based on positive relationships and eventually self supporting through referrals from satisfied clients. They researched the possible geographic areas for environmental, social, economic, political, and even media presence and form.  I have researched the Seattle real estate market for education, marketing, client, market share, and interest.  Finding a definite need for a client centered specialist that works with first time buyers and second time move ups. Understanding that they only have 2-3 million dollars to allocate to specific non-profits they search for the greatest impact from their investment.  What a business would think of as Return on Investment or ROI.  Understanding that the scarcest resource that I have at my disposal is time; have to find where to most effectively spend my efforts toward building relationship and providing education and consultation.  My business is built on First Time Home Buying Seminars and other Financial Planning Seminars in addition to many other educational programs I am involved in, like my blog www.GuideToSeattleRealEstate.com. Once they have found a target for their place based conservation, they spend their resources on non-profits that can affect change.  I asked him how they best affected change in a community and shockingly enough is was by building relationship.  If the right 5-6% of the population is influenced, then the rest will generally follow.  People that seek out education before making important decisions are also typically the same people that others turn to for advice and direction.  So by spending my efforts building relationship with the right 5-6%, others will follow and create a business that is itself sustainable.   Of course once they have spent their money they check back and attempt to measure the results.  Typically 2-3 years later.  They maintain a 15-20% failure rate, if they are not pushing the envelope enough then they are not effectively leveraging their funds.  Just like playing the stock market.  The larger the risk the greater the possible return.  As I have been developing my business model and forming my strategic vision I have accepted a much higher risk level.  I think that as an entrepreneur the risk level must be more along the lines of 60-80%.  If I am not totally pushing the limits, I am not learning and I will not have the chance for the return that I am looking for.  By risk I mean the ROI on the time I spend on specific task, not how I work with clients once I establish that relationship. I have many books that have vocabulary sections that have phrases in them like “Strategic Communication Plan” and many others, but when I hear about the correct implementation and how these terms are used I really begin to understand what they mean and how to effectively use them in my business.  Without great examples like these, they are just vocabulary words and have little impact on my business.The Guide to Seattle Real Estate

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This a continuation of an earlier Post, I hope this increases your value of the use of a buyers agent.  Rather than calling the listing agent (the agent who represents the seller) you should have your own representation.  It is much like going to court without a lawyer, you just wouldn’t do it.·         Free to the Buyer: The buyer very rarely pays for the agent’s services. The seller at the end of the sales process generally pays the agents that are involved in the transaction. The agent that the seller chooses usually has an agreement with the seller on their commission on the property. In return, the agent selling the home usually splits the commission with the buying agent. So, you should take advantage of a free experienced Seattle real estate agent because the seller, in reality, pays for both agents anyway. If you are dealing with a For Sale by Owner property, the buyer can choose to pay their agent’s fee or the commission can be negotiated with the seller. ·         Experience: Great Seattle Buyers Agents look at houses all the time.  They know the industry, the market, and what it takes to get you your dream home.  They are involved in purchasing and selling homes all of the time.  For you this may only be your first, second, or even third home purchase.  But for your agent it is a regular part of their daily duties. ·         Market Knowledge: The buyer’s agent is knowledgeable of the market in the area you are looking.  The more you know the better educated offer you can make on a property.   ·         Your Advocate: Knowing you have an agent that you can trust when it comes time to negotiate and someone who is looking out for your best interest is vital.

Please before you make that call, get in touch with a Buyers Agent that will look out for your best interests.

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We are often asked why a person should use a buyer’s agent.  Why not just call the agent with the sign in front of the house I want to buy?  Hopefully I will be able to answer this in the next few posts. 

• Save Time: Without the help of a professional Seattle real estate agent, the search for buying or selling a home can be very time-consuming. A good real estate agent is proficient at sorting through multiple listing properties and finding the results that are tailored to your wants and needs.  Agents are subscribers and members of the MLS (Multiple Listings Service). This organization has lists of properties that can be searched by different needs, as well as wants in a home. The listings on the MLS are more detailed and advanced than what is accessible to the general public. By using an agent and having access to the MLS you can save a tremendous amount of time because your agent is better trained to do the looking for you and find the properties that fit your specific needs.
  
• Get the Keys: Imagine if you actually had to call every seller anytime you wanted to look at a home. You would have to set a time that would be convenient for the seller as well as juggle your schedule to meet the seller’s availability to every house you wanted to see. Agents have keys to almost every house that is for sale. Your agent can show you numerous houses in one meeting that meets your schedule.
  
• Negotiation Experience: A great real estate agent is experienced at negotiating prices and conditions for properties, whether you are buying or selling. The negotiation process is important and can mean the difference between buying your dream home and your second choice. Agents can also give great advice to increase your odds in a competitive bid situation.
  
• Closing Knowledge: Closing the deal can be a very complicated process with a lot of important details. Using a professional Seattle real estate agent will insure that your closing process is completed correctly and on-time.

 More to follow in Part Two
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This is part three of the benefits of home ownership series.

Forced Savings 

Many people are not very good at saving money; fortunately, a house is an instant savings account. There are two different ways you grow your savings:  

1. Each month as you pay your mortgage a percentage goes towards your principal. The amount that accumulates in your principal is called your equity. During the early years of your mortgage, it will seem like there is not much equity but it is better than nothing when compared to renting. It will continue to grow the longer you own your home.
2. Your home will appreciate. You can also make home improvements to your home that will also raise the value of your home.  Many studies have shown, throughout history that the best financial investment for most Americans is their own home.

More Space 

Inside or outside, you will generally have a lot more room if you own your home. You will often have your own laundry space, parking space, bigger rooms, bigger yard, and a lot more storage space. 

Pride 

Owning your home brings a sense of pride as well as reflects responsibility. It feels great to know that you are working towards something that will be 100% yours someday. The Guide To Seattle Real Estate

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This is part two of the benefits of home ownership.

Freedom & Individualism 

When renting you are restricted to what improvements you can make to your home. You not only have to get permission, but it doesn’t make sense to improve someone else’s home, benefiting the homeowner and not you. By owning your home you have the legal right to do what you want to improve your home. If you want to paint, add new carpet, put on siding, remodel, or even own a pet it is entirely up to you. Owning your own home gives you the freedom to make your own decisions and create an atmosphere that you enjoy living in, as well as receiving all the financial benefits from your improvements.  

Stable Monthly Costs 

While being a renter, you can count on your rent to consistently go up every year.  By getting a fixed rate mortgage, you know exactly what your monthly payments will be for the next 30 years or how ever long your note is for. No surprises! If you decide to get an adjustable rate mortgage your rate will stay within a certain range for the life of the note. Who knows how much rent will be ten, twenty, thirty years from now? By owning your own home and knowing exactly what expenses you have for the next thirty years you can make concrete investment plans with out being concerned over the housing market. 

Stable Housing 

Renting your home will always give you the uncertainty of where you will live when your lease is up. Landlords can kick the renter out when their lease is up. Just like that, you are looking in the newspapers for a place to live and reliving the moving nightmare all over again. By owning your own home you get to decide when it is time to move on. The Guide To Seattle Real Estate

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