Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes raced to a two-year high in July, a real estate trade group said Tuesday, giving more evidence that a recovery in the housing market was under way.

The National Association of Realtors said its Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in July, rose 3.2 percent to 97.6, the highest level since June 2007, from 94.6 in June. Pending home sales contracts have risen for a record six straight months.

Marco Rubio entering to speak

I’m just back from the Florida Association Realtor’s convention in Orlando, where Realtors from all over the state come to discuss  key issues affecting the profession and learn new strategies, while networking with Realtors statewide. Since Florida has the largest number of international buyers of any state in the US, many topics on Friday’s “International Day” were very timely for the six of us  representing iPRO, the International Council of Pinellas Board of Realtors.

One of this year’s highlights was the appearance at a SRO ballroom of two Florida’s  gubernatorial candidates, Chief Finance Officer Alex Sink  (pictured upper left) and Attorney General  Bill McCollum. They were asked the same set of questions by 3 realtors including whether they supported taxation of services, which would include realtor commissions. Both candidates declared they would not support that type of taxation.

Two candidates for the U.S. Senate seat from Florida spoke, and Marco Rubio (pictured upper right) brought the crowd to its feet during a lively question and answer session. 

I had the pleasure of meeting several realtors from around the state who were not only aware of, but also proponents of Fractional Ownership. This shows great possibilities for the shared ownership industry in Florida’s ability to attact a broad range of international buyers.

Discussed widely at the International Forum was the “silver visa” which would proactively allow  immigration to the US for international retirees who could purchase businesses and bring cash. The visa process was declared in several meetings to be “broken”, and revisions needed. The FAR International Operations Committee voted to institute as a priority the FAR legislative  initiative for a revised visa, permitting homeownership. While NAR had been pursuing this earlier, the FAR Board’s vote  to support the federal creation of this visa is a big step forward. FAR is accepting responsibility for pushing this forward since Florida stands to benefit so greatly from a revision of the visa situation. This “Retirement visa” 
would open up housing opportunities for international clients seeking U.S. homes.

     By Marge Coffing © 

1. What 

How did you first think of the word focus ….as a noun…as a verb…as an adjective? 

Huh? 

Indulge me here for a minute, please – the English teacher in me from eons ago is resurfacing briefly…and it’s for a reason which will come clear a little later.  

What something is, that’s the “what”, the definition. Let’s use this one for focus:

     “ A concentration of attention”

 as in…  “I believe I can bring you the high degree of focus needed for this job”.

Or…

In focus  - in highlight, in a spotlight

 as in…”The sports budget will be in focus at tonight’s meeting”.

Consider that “focus” used as a noun is out there somewhere, but it’s not yours.  

• or the verb – to concentrate one’s attention

“I really respect the way that George can focus so much”

 “If you’re going to beat your competitors, you need to focus”.

 “I need to focus on passing the test”.

 Consider that “focus” as a verb is bringing it closer to you, where the power is.  

• Or think about the power of a focus group – when several people concentrate together and interact on just one topic.

                     It’s a very useful tool for understanding and perspective. 

2. Who   

Do you think of what you do, or what someone else does, or the results?

“out of focus” – a microscope or telescope can’t work effectively if the tool is not focused for the person’s eye who is using it.

Consider then that to focus is primarily an individual activity. So let’s focus on just you right now, and on your ability to bring focus to what you do.

3. Why  

We’re all equal in the amount of time allotted to us daily, yet why do some people get more accomplished, or work at a higher level? 

They’ve learned to Focus. What’s the purpose of focus for you?  To Enable yourself, to Empower yourself.  

It’s about saving time. It’s about saving energy. It’s about using time effectively.  

4. When          

Little things…you know yourself – are you a morning person, or an evening person? 

Do you need more light to work effectively? Or more quiet?

 Demand it! 

5. Where 

Everywhere. You have to consider your story more important than someone else’s. You have to be willing to be seen as unsociable. 

Is your purpose to crank it out to get it done? Accept that things might not be perfect. 

Is your purpose to fine tune something to offend fewer people?

             Get over it – whatever you do or don’t do is going to offend someone, somewhere. 

6. How – The Big One! 

When a colleague says…I’m going in so many directions – can you help me?

 So do it – ask them to name the directions, and then help them ……. PRIORITIZE

            Don’t be a distraction. 

And now it’s your turn, and it’s all about discipline. 

This is about empowering yourself by qualifying your time. 

It’s about time management through using the power of Focus. 

A brief question – Do you answer your phones just because they ring?

                           – or have you arranged on your answer message information so people will know when they can reach you in person,

                          - or when you’ll return the calls? 

Did you realize you already do a lot of qualifying, by putting your experiences and relationships to work?

If you’re an investor, it’s about …qualifying a neighborhood you really want to work in. 

If you’re an agent, it’s about … qualifying a buyer before you open the car door,

                         …or qualifying a seller before you take an overpriced listing.

           As a consumer, it’s about …qualifying a restaurant by checking a menu beforehand, 

                               …or a book by whether it was on someone’s best seller list,

                                                            or a book of the month subject,

       …or a movie by the reviewer’s credentials, or what your friends  say.

 So now it’s time to empower yourself, and here’s a process that has worked for me -  

1.  Look at your “to do” list for the day, the week, or the month

              a. Review all the things on your “To Do” list

              b. Add the ones you should have put down earlier

              c. Force yourself to prioritize them in several different ways

                                    -  by How much effort they’ll take

                                    -  by How much “new” work you’ll have to do

                                    –  by How long you’ve had that goal, or task, or dream

            How and why have you been distracted?

                                                List the obstacles that got in your way in the past.

                                                Can you remove or diminish these obstacles now?

                                    –  by Which tasks require working with others

                                    –  by How long they’ll take to what is necessary

                                    –  by What they might cost to accomplish

                                    –  by What the money yield might be when accomplished

                                    -  etc, etc – get creative! 

d. some patterns should emerge from these priority lists about what you think, how  you work, and what matters to you. It happened for me, and it helped! 

              – Group the patterns

                           – Regroup them

                                       – Study them

                                                – Color code them

                                                                 – Number them

- Congratulate yourself – what you’re doing is empowering yourself

            by understanding what works best for you,

            and what you need to do/to change/to be

            to make more things work for you. 

-          set SMART Goals that are based on Your priorities and needs

• make them Specific
• make them Measurable
• make them Attainable
• make them Realistic
• make them Trackable

 And Power on through Focus!! 

Marge Coffing     727-343-8907 Office         

 866-356-1214 Voice Mail and Fax              727-479-4947 Cell  

 blog: www.FloridaFractionalLady.com     

  website: http://www.MyWatersideSecondHome.com 

                    http://www.margecoffing.com

Ok, it’s not the biggest. But it’s an ongoing error, and if you added all the times I have fallen into that trap, does that add up to the biggest?

 Errors fall into two areas – errors of omission, and errors of commission.

Omission – when you forgot to include something, or do something, that all your training and being says you should have. Errors of commission – when you know something was not well thought through, or not quite true, or downright wrong…and you do it anyway.

 Mine are errors of omission – which lead to toxic thinking.

 When I forget to keep my head clear.

 Part A) When I forget to listen to what I am saying, and how much time I might be spending on… REGRET.

 Part B) When I forget to listen to what I am saying, and how much time I might be spending on…WORRY.

 Both REGRET and WORRY are toxic, to yourself and to others.

Regret is all about the past, which is over, done, dead, and you can’t do anything about. Worry is all about the future, and you’re not there yet.

 But they both do the same job…they keep you out of the present, out of being fully aware of what is happening to you right now, out of living and being and reacting in the “here and now” to the people you’re with , to your surroundings, to the opportunities ready to be grasped.

 Being fully aware is what makes you alive. Awareness is where possibility resides. What is more mistake-free than being fully aware, and following the possibilities?  Not much.

 Marge Coffing           Beach & Luxury Realty, Inc. 1-866-356-1214

www.FloridaFractionalLady.com

www.MyWatersideSecondHome.com  www.MargeCoffing.com

• Dance – as though noone is watching you
• Love – as though you’ve never been hurt before
• Sing – as though noone can hear you
• Live – as though heaven is on earth

“July 4 Birthdays:  America at 233, and Parrot Beautiful Yaffa at 23″

Amazon green parrot “Beautiful Yaffa” again joined Boston’s  July 4 Birthday Party Celebration, generating smiles, uplifting spirits, and entertaining as part of the parrot’s continuing mission to spread love and peace in the universe.

According to Ken Lager, a 24/7 companion fulltime for the past six years, the Amazon green parrots are known for their personality and intelligence. They have the intelligence of at least a several year old child, and require much attention and love while forming deep bonds and long term relationships.

The yellow-naped AmazonYaffa is an exceptionally friendly, gentle, affectionate , and intelligent parrot with an amazing personality that Ken has known almost eleven years.

Beautiful Yaffa  became a very popular service animal, trained by Ken to be in service to any one disabled or handicapped. This is to the delight and benefit of all she meets.  Veterinarian Greg Mertz  has certified this potty-trained parrot to be healthy and well behaved, as any service animal must be. As a service animal and by popular request, she delights children of all ages, visits churches, seniors, and senior centers, and those in need. Yaffa  loves to socialize at crowds, musical and other events, and conferences.

Yaffa, as she(he) knew her name growing up, intelligently communicates musically, verbally, and with gestures. She verbally uses appropriately several dozen favorite expressions. She is musically delightful as she whistles, calls, flirts, and shares laughter. She climbs with agility, using two claws and a hooked beak, and can whistle at the same time she uses her beak to climb. She is an intelligent problem solver.  Although she does not fly, she rides the Boston ”T”, is an experienced  coast to coast air traveler, and loves to ride in a car.

 Beautiful Yaffa is involved in a research program involving music, the improvement of human personality, human development, and human perception, communication, and behavior, and overcoming learning and other disabilities.

During the fireworks celebration following the concert, Beautiful Yaffa was sharing one on one with those at the concert in the disability section near the stage. Accompanied by the beautiful music and sounds of the fireworks, which were largely visually obscured by trees, the delight and smiles of all those encountered were clearly visible. After the fireworks,  the parrot was also in the vicinity of the closing shot with Keith Lockhart, Niel Diamond, and others, including a few of the children celebrating America’s birthday.”

My sunset

I hope  my Mommy and Daddy will buy a summer vacation home on the beach.

Love, Isabella

Beachfront condo listed with broker. Broker hears about possibility of selling it fractionally, whereby owners can keep a piece of it, and sell off the other slices of that paradise pie. 

Condo docs reveal no problems legally with selling fractionally.  Fractional specialty realtor with her broker set up co-brokerage arrangement with listing broker. Owner is delighted with possibility. Owner signs agreement to market fractionally as well as whole ownership.  Owner selects time frame for owner’s preferred “Piece” of ownership.

Fractional marketing is begun. Condo president hears of it. Calls owner without listing broker’s knowledge and terrifies owner into thinking that something illegal is afoot. Condo president, who lives in building full time and has been President for the last 12 years, demands owner withdraw from arrangement.

Listing broker, cooperating fractional broker, and seller all withdraw from the agreements.

So much for private property rights. And then comes economic downturn with scarcity of buyers.

One year later, condo hasn’t sold. One year later, condo president remains in office.

Such is the power of a Condo Commando.