Mike's Blog

Hello all.

I have just got back from the REOMAC Convention in Hollywood, FL. It is a group of industry professionals that working in the distressed housing business. If there is a person out there that is working in REO, short sales, loss mitigation, then the REOMAC is a website you should definitely go check out.

The convention was held at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, FL. The beauty of holding a Party ( excuse me, Convention) here is that once you have arrived, there is no reason to leave this place for days on end. Everything is available here, from spas to fine dining, bars and sushi restaurants, to clubs and sports bars. Oh yeah, they have like a million feet of convention hall space as well.

It was kicked off by this guy Bill from the Apprentice, and he told his story. What an inspirational speaker this guy is. In fact, this list of speakers and industry leaders that were at this conference is pretty amazing. I suggest people go to the REOMAC site and check it out.

Approx 1800 Realtors and related industry proffessionals showed up for this even, and the place never felt crowded. Like a real business, the networking started early, and I was surprised to see hundreds of people getting coffee and exchanging  ideas as early as 6:30 am every day there. The main breakfast area was set up on the third floor in a HUGE room with 20 foot glass windows overlooking the ocean view.

Inside the room where large round tables that sat eight, and the layout encouraged networking as well. All attendees had to wear a large tag around your neck at all times to be able to enter the convention area, and this tag had your name, company, and home town. This allowed others to walk up and say "Hey Mike, where in the hell is Leesburg, Fl??"

The convention went for 3 days and had non stop speakers, events, and educational sessions going non stop. The hotel was perfect, the staff was very courteous, and the event was well worth the money. In addition to the education, the training, and the mental boost gained by taking time off to go to an event such as this, is the opportunity to meet truly wonderful people from across the country. Imagine three days of no negativity, this crowd is in a boom phase, and this convention was like a treasure chest of opportunity for all who attended.

I was surprised to be recognised several times from my blogging presence here on Active Rain. I did my best to balance my time between the small groups that were gathered everywhere discussing strategy and how to capitalize on this market and trying to learn all I could from the sessions going on all around. Like a day at a Disney theme park, there was way to much to do, to see in a day. After the days sessions were over, the halls and lobbies were full of ongoing conversation. I remember being constantly amazed to not hear ONE bit of whining and complaining. This group was positive, and seemed to be making money. Imagine a group of this many Realtors and no complaining, no whining, just positive energy from one end to the other.

I found my way into conversations with groups from every corner of the US, and these guys seem to be kicking butt. I talked to successful Realtors in FLint Mich, Gross Point, Mich, and Cleveland, Ohio, and the very successful team out of Mrytle Beach, SC......Did someone forget to tell this crowd the market is terrible?? What I did get a sense of is that this group does not want to talk about short sales....no time..  They work with investors, and they are looking for more deals every day. I even found people from 3 different companies from Palm Coast, Fl.  Now, there is a black hole, if you listen to all the reports...But at one of the dinners, I was fortunate enough to be seated with this crew. They were alive with enthusiasm in THIS MARKET, each of them doing better every month in investor sales.

Now, let me finish by stating that I am not even a REOMAC member. I paid $ 850.00 for the privilege of being here, and I never wondered for a minute if it was worth it. I like dealing with successful people, professionals who are positve and making it happen thru any market. These guys (and gals) are finding a way to be pro active are really doing well in an industry that is supposed to failing.

Well, I am back to work now, and getting emails from accross the country from about 50 movers and shakers that I met at the conference. I anticipate that most of us will get our attendance fee back a hundred times over and some of these relationships will go on for years.  There are good conventions and there are not so good.

This one was great!

Hi all  here is a post I found on the Point 2 agent site....I dont want the points, just think about this for a minute!!!

Hi Pals,

I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume the re are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in the ir pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be the re

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else


Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost the ir jobs at Lehman Bro the rs and every o the r company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( 'vote buy' ) economic incentive that is being proposed
by one of our candidates for President.


If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can 'never work.'

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion

We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,

Birk

T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it's ei the r good for a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!

--
When told the reason for Daylight Saving time the old Indian said...
'Only a white man would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket
and sew it to the bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket.'

Of course there would have to be stipulations every american would have to sign a waiver to pay there debt. if they do not have debt they would have to agree to 50% into a cd or money market for no less than than three years. if your in prison it would go to pay restitution. if your a felon restitution 50% cd or money market also 10% to non profit organization that helps people for the crime in which you commited. Also in the wavier agree to what i call the ccc&r. care,compassion,consideration & responsabilty for your fellow human being.

Thank You
Brett Fish www.pahrumpland4u.com

If today is not better than Yesterday, is there a way for you to have a vote in the outcome??

I bet there is!!

I bet there could be, if we just made up our minds to change it....I have been up since early. I did some working out, I cleaned a closet, (mine of course), I pulled clothes for donation to Good will, and then I worked on some homework for a package deal I am trying to figure out.

We have to take an active role in our own success, our own happiness.

It won't come and pull us out of the office, it won't force you off the couch!! We have to plan to be in a better way for it to happen. Start early, do something that needs to be done, and start planning for the future...the future that you really want.

If we at least do that, put down our thoughts on paper to make an orderly plan for our future, I believe we have a much better chance of succeeding. Succeeding in whatever we are setting our sights for.

I try to plan on what that future day will look like. If its a business deal, or a family vacation, what ever, you need to see it, really plan it in your mind, and then go to paper to work backwards from that point to now..........and then get up off your butt and get started.

Its all in your mind.............so take the time to put it on paper....draw it out....visualize. and then share it with a partner, teammate, spouse or family member..... Let them help you make it real,and then go back and update the plan again with the prospective you have gained from their input.......

Happy Planning for your Future.................And Make Your Own Luck!!!! 

PS>>>>>>>>>>> These ladies  ( My Mom & My Wife) are already trying, Planning different recipes for Thanksgiving.....They get it!!

This week was certainly busy. We had a scheduled trip to SW Fl already planned and I had a Grandaughter that was coming at any time.

I decided to make the trip, and just try to stay in touch with the cell phone. I certainly wanted to be there at the time, but I could not know when "that time" would be.

Well, on day one of a minimum 2 day trip I got the call that mom to be was being taken to the hospital. It soon became apparent that this was going to be a marathon baby instead of a sprint, so the docs did what they do to slow down the process so that mom to be could rest for a while.

The next day we were coming back on a four hour return trip and I got the call in the later afternoon.....It would be most any minute now, hurry!.. Well, there is no real way to hurry I-75 traffic, so we just stayed in touch on the cell phone with my son and the rest of the family. Mom to be was apparently no longer in a talking mood.

I finally arrived at the hospital at the nick of time, according to the cell phone conversation I was getting from one of my sons as I neared the hospital parking lot.

Four hours later, I remembered how much I hated waiting room furniture, and took my Grandson for a walk to a vending machine in the lobby.  As luck would have it, when I came back 15 minutes later, our new addition to the family was here.

Little baby Aubrey had finally arrived. There was much joy as the collective family members shared hugs..I remember counting, 18 people here to share in the event...........What a welcoming party..

When your kids have kids it certianly is a time for reflection. Our first concern, is always is the mom OK, is the baby OK, count the fingers and toes!!  Little Aubrey is our fourth Grandbaby,and with another son recently married, I think I am beginning to see a pattern here.....But its a nice pattern.

I wish them all the best........I better get back to work myself....Pretty soon there will be a need for all kinds of things... Spoiling your grandkids is an earned priveledge, RIGHT???