Christine Tsan Morgan - Executive Agent Magazine
Transcription
Christine Tsan Morgan - Executive Agent Magazine
EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE Christine Tsan Morgan Executive Agent of the Month Inside Features: Ruben Amaro imortgage Ivan Hernandez Alpine Mortgage Planning Diane Kapitan Century 21 Award Steve Reddy Hanu Reddy Realty Jill Snedeker imortgage TM TORS, LOAN ORIGINA UT! CHECK THIS O Marketing & Professional Design Services To Rocket Your Business! Flyers ● Postcards ● Ads ● Banners ● Signs ● Promotions ● Events ● Just Listed ● Just Sold ● Post Closing Got your eye on a neighborhood where you’d like to live? DownloadNorth our FREE Park. Home Scouting La Boheme is the premier residence in premier SOLD! La Boheme, North Park’s premier condo location, is so much more than an address. We can sell yours, too! app to stay on top of active listings, 6555 Norman Lane ● San Diego CA 92120 ● Sunrise-To-Sunset Views ● 7 BD/5BA ● Approx. 8,000 SF ● 2.8 Acres ● Unfinished sales, prices, schools and more! Sandy & Deirdre Sell San Diego Real Estate 619.302.6292 CalBRE # 01239094 La Boheme Unit Sales Address 3957 30th St, #201 BD/BA 2/2 Sq. Ft. 985 Status Active! Sold Date NA Price $329,000 3957 30th St, #304 3950 Ohio St, #224 3957 30th St, #410 3957 30th St, #407 1/1 1/1 2/2 1/1 801 795 1,013 821 Pending Pending Sold Sold NA NA 5/22/2013 8/22/2012 $259,000 $259,000 $315,000 $220,000 Let Jason Hopson help you buy or sell in La Boheme or elsewhere in North Park. Call today! (858) 231-0181 Banners, Magnets & Billboards Call Jason today! (858) 231-0181. Got your eye on Gary Jackson financed this purchase! a SeeLender neighborhood other side for more on Gary. where you’d like to live? Get noticed fast with professional flyers, postcards, ads and more! Download our FREE Home Scouting And if you’re buying, lender Gary Jackson will find the perfect loan for you! app to stay on top of active listings, Jason T. Hopson, Realtor , Broker/Owner (858) 231-0181 ® Cobrand With Realtors® ® 602.810.0165 [email protected] Lic. #SA580543000 ● Find homes nearby—GPS enabled ● Accurate and up-to-date data ● View complete property details ● Save and track your favorites ● Get notified of price drops or sales ● Get new-listing Quick Alerts These units sell quickly! La Boheme resident and Realtor Jason Hopson would know. He represented the sellers on all closed and pending sales shown in black! www.SanDiegoRealEstate247.com Postcards Lala Smith, REALTOR Home Scouting Mobile App [email protected] www.HopsonProperties.com DRE # 01314688 sales, prices, schools and more! Forbes Magazine declared North Park to be one of the Top 20 Best Hipster Neighborhoods in the United States! Gary Jackson, Lender Direct (619) 928-0112 Mobile (619) 559-0108 Lala Smith, REALTOR Home Scouting Mobile App ● ● ● ● ● ● Jason & Gary are your North Park Neighborhood Specialists! ® 602.810.0165 [email protected] Lic. #SA580543000 Find homes nearby—GPS enabled Accurate and up-to-date data View complete property details Save and track your favorites Get notified of price drops or sales Get new-listing Quick Alerts [email protected] NMLS ID 258869 Flyers Seven Killer Homebuying Mistakes and what you can do to avoid them. imortgage 7777 Alvarado Road, Suite 701, La Mesa, CA 91941. Rates, terms and loan program availability are subject to change without notice. If you are already working with a Realtor or lender, this is not meant as a solicitation. This is not an advertisement to extend consumer credit as defined by section 226.2 of Regulation Z. Licensed by California Department of Corporations CRMLA 4130969. imortgage NMLS ID 3096. All rights reserved. 07/2013. Equal Housing Opportunity. imortgage cordially invites you to our totally fun and FREE event . . . TACO TUESDAY! Here’s how to dodge the pain of the Seven Killer Homebuying Mistakes that trip up even experienced buyers. Read on to find smart ways to convert pain into gain. 1. NOT BEING PREPARED Most people simply don’t do enough research when looking for a home. And that includes researching their buying power. Truth is, it’s really easy to get a quick idea of how much home you can afford. Look for a calculator on any Realtor or mortgage web site. Just input your salary and debts and voila!, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how much home you can afford. Better yet, sit down with a real estate professional before you go house hunting. You can find out exactly how much home you can afford with a qualified mortgage consultant like Ryan Grant with imortgage. FREE TACOS & BEVERAGES! When it comes to making an offer on a home, sellers are far more interested in offers that come from pre-qualified buyers. They know that the sale has a better chance of closing with few, if any, unforeseen problems at the last minute. imortgage offers clients a loan approval letter to prove their creditworthiness to sellers. San Clemente Events Calendar 5 PM TO 7 PM ● TUESDAY ● JULY 29, 2014 AT LA FINCA D’ADOBE 2. THINKING TOO LONG TERM Sat Mar 15 5 pm - 10 pm St. Patrick’s Dinner Community Ctr (CC) Sat/Sun Jul 19/20 All Day Ocean Festival Pier Sun Apr 6 Village Art Faire Del Mar Street Sat Jul 19 6 pm Band Meets Sand Pier Sat Apr 12 8 am - 4 pm Garden Fest CC Sun Aug 10 All Day Street Faire Fiesta Del Mar Street 9 am - 3 pm Sat Apr 19 7 am - 11:30 am Springtacular Vista Hermosa Park Thurs Aug 14 6 pm Bands Meet Sand Pier Sat Apr 26 10 am - 2 pm Earth Day Pier Thurs Aug 28 6 pm Bands Meet Sand Pier Sat May 3 Cinco De Mayo Max Berg Plaza Park Sun Oct 5 11 am - 3 pm Seafest Mon May 26 11 am Memorial Day CC Fri Nov 7 6 pm - 11 pm Taste of San Clemente SC Casino Thurs Jun 19 6 pm Bands Meet Sand Pier Wed Nov 26 5 pm - 7 pm Thanksgiving Dinner CC Sun June 22 All Day Paint San Clemente CC Thurs Nov 27 6 am - 11 am Turkey Trot Dana Point Harbor Fri July 4 Fireworks Fri Nov 5 pm-9 pm Puttin on the Glitz Del Mar Street 12 Noon - 6 pm 9 pm Pier Nipper Larson, Loan Consultant Direct (949) 297-1405 [email protected] NMLS ID 273037 Believe it or not, there’s a danger in planning too far in advance. Life has a habit of intervening in the form of health problems, job changes or financial setbacks. You may have to sell sooner than you think, and your home must have resale value. In times of trouble, being able to capitalize on your home’s appreaciation can be a real godsend. Pier Gosia Kawczynski, GRI RE/MAX Prestige Properties (949) 230-8271 [email protected] DRE #00997925 23120 Alicia Parkway, Suite 100 Mission Viejo, CA 92692 Joanne Grisaffi, Realtor ® (949) 294-4442 209Avenida Del Mar, #104 San Clemente, CA 92672 24442 Avenida De La Carlota, Suite 110, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Licensed by the CA Department of Business Oversight CRMLA 4131040. Corporate NMLS ID 174457. All rights reserved. 03032014. 5202 BONITA RD, BONITA, CA 91902 Questions? Contact Gary or Sergio below! Plan Your Housing Needs YOUR TACO TUESDAY SPONSOR: It’s important to plan for your future events and how they may affect your homebuying. Plan to stay in each home for at least two years because when you sell, you want appreciation to at least cover your inital purchase price plus any closing costs. If your home hasn’t appreciated by at least six to eight percent (the typical range of closing costs), you could end up losing money. [email protected] CA BRE# 01164869 Foster Hamilton’s Preferred Lender Gary Jackson Loan Consultant Office: (619) 928-0112 Mobile: (619) 559-0108 [email protected] NMLS ID 258869 Sergio Soberanes Loan Consultant Office: (619) 928-0128 Mobile: (619) 921-9920 [email protected] NMLS ID 570991 • Se Hablo Español i m o r tg a g e ● 7 7 7 7 A l v a r a d o R d, S u i te 7 0 1 ● L a M e s a , C A 9 1 9 4 1 Rates, terms, and availability of programs are subject to change without notice. Licensed by the CA Department of Business Oversight CRMLA 4131040. Corporate NMLS ID 174457. All rights reserved. 07172014. San Clemente Events Calendar Call Julie or Mike for all the ways we can fuel your mortgage career! Mar 15 5 pm - 10 pm St. Patrick’s Dinner Community Ctr (CC) Sat/Sun Jul 19/20 All Day Ocean Festival Pier Sun Apr 6 Village Art Faire Del Mar Street Sat Jul 19 6 pm Band Meets Sand Pier Sat Apr 12 8 am - 4 pm Garden Fest CC Sun Aug 10 All Day Street Faire Fiesta Del Mar Street Sat Apr 19 7 am - 11:30 am Springtacular Vista Hermosa Park Thurs Aug 14 6 pm Bands Meet Sand Pier Bands Meet Sand Sat 9 am - 3 pm Newport Beach Sat Apr 26 10 am - 2 pm Earth Day San Clemente Pier Thurs Aug 28 6 pm Sat May 3 Cinco De Mayo Max Berg Plaza Park Sun Oct 5 11 am - 3 pm Seafest Mon May 26 11 am Memorial Day CC Fri Nov 7 6 pm - 11 pm Taste of San Clemente SC Casino Thurs Jun 19 6 pm Bands Meet Sand Pier Wed Nov 26 5 pm - 7 pm Thanksgiving Dinner CC Sun June 22 All Day Paint San Clemente CC Thurs Nov 27 6 am - 11 am Turkey Trot Dana Point Harbor Fri July 4 Fireworks Fri Nov 5 pm-9 pm Puttin on the Glitz Del Mar Street 12 Noon - 6 pm Julie Day 9 pm Pier Nipper Larson, Loan Consultant Direct (949) 297-1405 [email protected] NMLS ID 273037 Joanne Grisaffi, Realtor ® (949) 294-4442 Newport Beach Branch Manager 24442 Avenida De La Carlota, Suite 110, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Licensed by the CA Department of Business Oversight CRMLA 4131040. Corporate NMLS ID 174457. All rights reserved. 03032014. Pier Pier 209Avenida Del Mar, #104 San Clemente, CA 92672 [email protected] CA BRE# 01164869 Laguna Hills Mike Calvert Laguna Hills Branch Manager 949.705.0555 [email protected] NMLS ID 366408 949.297.1412 [email protected] NMLS ID 174457 1301 Dove St., Suite 101 Newport Beach, CA 92660 24422 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite 110 Laguna Hills, CA 92653 Rates, terms, and availability of programs are subject to change without notice. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act CRMLA 4131040. Corporate NMLS ID 174457. All rights reserved. 01012015. contents Southern California’s Publication for the Real Estate Professional ExecutiveAgent Magazine February, 2015 S. Orange County Cover Story Editorials 12 - Tony Alessandra: How To Be Street Smart On And Off The Street 16 - John Boe: Fred Arrias Executive Publisher PO Box 73384 San Clemente, CA 92673 Ph: (949) 366-3349 Fax: (949) 266-8757 Email: [email protected] Web: www.EAMag.net ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Listen While You Work 36 - Jeremy Cyrier: Alpine Mortgage Planning................27 The Easiest Way To Get Real Estate Leads Greenpath Funding..............................9 imortgage.......................................2 30 - Don Loyd: imortgage HB..................................33 Power by Embracing Enthusiasm 19 06 - Zig Ziglar: i Photography Studio...................25-32 Kinecta Federal Credit Union............13 Using Your Time PWAOR..........................................8 Christine Morgan Executive Agent of the Month The Termite Guy..............................38 Ticor Title Company.........................40 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage...........39 04 Ruben Amaro 10 Diane Kapitan Marketing Director: Frank Arrias Editorial Manager: Trudy Van Graphic Designer: Garon T. Arrias Photography: i Photography Studio, Ian Wiant, Rob Paino Writers: Shannon Hartsoe, Haley Freeman, Steven McReynolds © Copyright 2014 Executive Agent Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Executive Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. 28 Ivan Hernandez 14 34 Steve Reddy Jill Snedeker ExecutiveAgent Magazine 3 E XECUTIVE AGENT TM MAGAZINE Ruben Amaro Written by Haley Freeman R uben Amaro is all about creating the “wow” feeling. Sometimes it comes in the form of a great workout at the crack of dawn. Or, as a top-producing loan consultant with imortgage in have always strived to be the best I can in originating,” says Ruben. “With that being said, I am always focused on the client and what their home-financing goals are. From there I’m able to determine what program best fits for that specific client.” He adds: “I want the client to have that ‘wow’ feeling when they have walked away from the entire process.” As a property investor himself, Ruben can empathize with buyers. He knows firsthand how anxiety, uncertainty and vulnerability can creep in and potentially hinder a person’s ability to make sound financial decisions. But his clients quickly let go of such negative feelings once they get around Ruben’s calming influence and realize the depth of his mastery of the loan process and his desire to give them the best experience possible. That’s why so much of his business comes from referrals. “I strive to have an excellent reputation with my clients and truly appreciate the fact that I continue to work with the same clients and their families throughout the years,” he says. A Passion for People As a teenager Ruben spent many hours working in retail. He learned the value of helping people achieve their goals – even in more difficult climates when customers were demanding and the workload was great. Laguna Hills, it happens when he helps a family get the perfect financing to buy their dream home. Regardless of the “wow,” Ruben goes all out to make it happen. And that’s one of the main reasons for his success. Once he became a lender in the wholesale industry in 2005, Ruben sought out successful people in the business and developed close relationships with them. Through that period and his later move into lending at a major bank, Ruben watched and learned how successful loan consultants managed their business and for the most part became their own boss. “Throughout my years as a mortgage consultant I ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA We have a loan for every home... simple as that.® Ruben was attracted to the idea that there were no limitations on his success, believing that if he worked hard and provided excellent customer service, there was nothing that could keep him from reaching his full potential as a loan consultant. “When I started my lending career I knew what I needed to do to be successful almost immediately,” Ruben says. “I knew that I needed to hustle and get out there and establish myself in this business and I needed to move quickly. The sky is the limit in our industry and I was not going to let it surpass me because I had set goals for myself.” His achievements include promotions to lead teams, top-lender awards and even earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental analysis and design from the University of California at Irvine. Ruben says a lot of his success and discipline come from maintaining a healthy work-life balance and simply being at peace with himself as a person. Striving for excellence for his clients and himself go hand in hand, he says, and together drive him to continue improving his abilities so he never rests on his past achievements. Ruben says he has found the perfect company in imortgage, noting imortgage’s emphasis on providing outstanding customer service and its diverse product line. The company cares tremendously about its employees and employees replicate that to the client or agent, he says. “The culture of the company is like no other company I have ever worked for,” he adds. activities four-to-five days a week, rising at the crack of dawn to get his body and mind in top form for the day ahead. Ruben appreciates being able to live such a full life. And he counts himself fortunate to make a living doing what he’s loved since he first started working back in high school. “Even as a teen I enjoyed interacting with different people of different backgrounds and listening and understanding what was important to them,” he recalls. “I was very customer-service oriented from an early age.” And his clients at imortgage in Laguna Hills are thankful for that. Ruben Amaro imortgage 24422 Avenida De La Carlota, Suite 110 Laguna Hills, California 92653 Direct: 949.297.1425 Cell: 949.632.3654 [email protected] www.imortgage.com NMLS ID 174457 Outside of work Ruben spends quality time with his wife of 11 years and their two children (ages 4 and 7), which includes rooting for their sports teams. He’s also active in high-intensity physical fitness ExecutiveAgent Magazine imortgage is licensed by the CA Department of Business Oversight, CRMLA 4131040. NMLS ID 174457. Equal Housing Opportunity. All rights reserved. 2015. EA Using Your Time I ’m frequently asked how I can be so productive in the business world and still have time for my personal and family life. The answer is that during my frequent travels I am an absolute “workaholic.” When I get home I am then free to do things with my family and enjoy my personal life. As I write this, I’m returning from a speaking engagement in Memphis. On the flight to Memphis I spent the entire time planning the presentation I was going to make. While there I was busy but still managed to read for an hour before bed. On the return trip I wrote notes for articles. I started dictating this article before I left Dallas and later gave it to my Executive Assistant, Laurie Magers. On the way home I stopped by my office, picked up my mail and headed home to take my wife to lunch. After lunch my son and I, along with a friend, played 18 holes of golf. After the golf game my wife and I had a long, quiet dinner, during which she had my undivided attention. I give you these details to emphasize the fact that concentrating on my profession (job) when I’m away from my family enables me to focus on my family when I’m with them. This approach allows me to be more effective in both areas. It will do the same thing for you. Roger Staubach told me that he made his best grades at Annapolis during football season. His time was so limited because of football that he quickly learned to utilize every moment and focus on the task at hand to reach his objectives and to maintain his standing at Annapolis. Buy this approach and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP! Zig Ziglar is a beloved author and America’s motivator. He is the author of 25 books and offers training and consulting to organizations all across the globe. To learn more about Zig and his business visit his website at www.ziglar.com 6 ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Written by Zig Ziglar ExecutiveAgent Magazine 7 You Have the POWER to CHOOSE… CHOOSE Why Join the Pacific West Association of REALTORS®? DECREASE in MLS Fees Two convenient locations to serve you (Anaheim & Long Beach) Anaheim Office - 1601 East Orangewood Ave., Anaheim Long Beach Office - 5000 East Spring St. Suite #110, Long Beach Direct access to Matrix MLS, CAR, RPR, PWReports & PWR MarketAnalyzer through our website FREE Onsite Training FREE Education FREE Informational & Networking MEMBER Events / Meetings Professional Standards enforcement To become a PWR Member, & NEW RED Program please contact our Political Advocacy to protect your rights Call Center at (714) 245-5500 The only Full Member Support or email Call Center in California [email protected]. Supra Keybox & Card Ca Support PWR Charity Foundation with grants to help your military clients buy a home PWRStore for all your real estate needs Flexible Dues Payment Options (Monthly, Quarterly, or Yearly) BE A Pacific West Association of REALTORS® • www.pwr.net THE PREMIER PURCHASE LENDER • Purchase focused lending • Turn times unmatched by other lenders • Mortgage solutions to meet your buyers needs Brian Liebman President 949-860-3495 NMLSR ID 519190 David Gaylord Sr. Mortgage Consultant 949-939-6011 NMLSR ID 257383 Mark Joplin Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-368-1294 NMLSR ID 653792 Brian Fraser Sales Manager 714-488-2245 NMLSR ID 653793 NMLSR ID 347564 Jenna Tolman Mortgage Consultant 949-702-0532 NMLSR ID 999566 NMLSR ID 681631 Manny Cien Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-277-3431 NMLSR ID 664734 Dreama Brown Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-890-3037 NMLSR ID 512330 Mark Schumann Sr. Mortgage Consultant 858-688-1617 NMLSR ID 237029 ©2013 Greenpath Funding, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NMLSR ID 996608. • Experienced local professionals who deliver exceptional service NMLSR ID 657535 NMLSR ID 766437 J. Horacio Herrera Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-646-5800 Tim Fiero Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-223-4184 Doc Spaulding Sales Manager 858-750-9110 Josh Lander Sales Manager 619-602-1587 George Radlick Sr. Mortgage Consultant 760-579-1998 NMLSR ID 681674 Pat Whitney Sr. Mortgage Consultant 760-427-7676 NMLSR ID 283273 Ryan Amaro Mortgage Consultant 619-729-1161 NMLSR ID 1101389 Joel Berman Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-279-2935 Chris Young Mortgage Consultant 949-340-2622 Greg Wickstrand Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-471-1708 Scott Miller Mortgage Consultant 949-228-2497 NMLSR ID 653795 NMLSR ID 664707 Armando Formariz Sr. Mortgage Consultant 619-733-3697 NMLSR ID 294420 NMLSR ID 1221129 NMLSR ID 1238171 Shawn Gallup Sr. Mortgage Consultant 951-219-4373 NMLSR ID 1007912 E XECUTIVE AGENT TM MAGAZINE Diane Kapitan ‘World Class Service’ W hile Diane Kapitan has made her home in Southern California, she may rightly call herself a citizen of the world. Diane was born in the United Kingdom, and during her childhood she had the unique opportunity to live on three continents. “When I was little we moved from England to Canada and then to San Diego, where my younger sister was born. From ages 7-11 we lived in Australia. Moving there from California was an adjustment – I was a child having fun living the California life. I had to adapt to black and white television with only three channels and wearing uniforms to school.” ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Finding Her Home in Real Estate Written by Haley Freeman Her family returned to Canada, where Diane eventually began her own family and a career in the software industry. When she relocated again to California with her husband and son almost a decade ago, Diane decided that it was a good time for her to pursue her interest in real estate. “It is something I always wanted to do. I think maybe moving around so often and looking at so many houses over the years got into my blood. I remember going to new homes and the thrill of finding my new room. It was so exciting to me as a kid.” As a broker-agent at Century 21 Award, Diane enjoys participating in that journey of discovery with the numerous families she represents. “I love the helping side of this business. I enjoy working with first-time homebuyers and educating them through the process and getting them the house they want. I give 100% to helping things go the way they would like for them to go.” Diane’s tenacity has been evident right from the beginning. “People think real estate is easy, but it is a difficult job. It is the hardest job I’ve ever had, but I love the challenge,” she says. “I started doing short sales before there was even a process for it. It was really gratifying to be able to help people through those difficult times – helping them to see that it’s not the end of world – it just is what it is. I never lost one short sale. Every single one closed.” Truthfulness and integrity are among Diane’s greatest assets. “My biggest thing is honesty. Sometimes it doesn’t help me, since I’d rather be honest and tell a client they can’t afford a home rather than making a commission. Sometimes they don’t want to hear that, but I’m not going to get somebody into a house where they are strapped to the last cent to pay the mortgage.” am very tolerant of people’s differences. I was brought up not be prejudice and to love everybody. I have a lot of patience, and working with short sales and first-time homebuyers requires patience in order to educate people through the process. My life experience has also made me very adaptable, so I think it is easier for me to change with the market and be responsive to my clients’ needs.” When she is not busy helping her clients, you will find Diane spending time with friends and family, reading and traveling. She is also a devoted volunteer for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a non-profit organization that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities. “It’s a wonderful organization full of great people, and we puppy raisers get together regularly. We do the early training with the puppies and then give them back to the organization for professional training. The dogs learn how to do everything from picking up a credit card off the ground to getting things from the refrigerator. Once the dogs are fully trained, they are given to people who need them at no charge.” “Whether someone is buying a $200,000 home or a million dollar home, I will treat them the same and be there all the way through it. When I have a job to do, I’m like a dog with a bone. I keep working until it’s done.” Diane Kapitan Century 21 Award 4000 Barranca Parkway, Ste. 110 Irvine, CA 92604 Tel: 949-939-0760 Email: [email protected] Web: www.KeyRealEstateTeam.com CalBRE # 01501286 One of Diane’s clients, Sue K., confirmed Diane’s character and positive spirit, “Diane was very pleasant and sincere. Diane seemed to be a real, honest person from the first time I met her. As it turned, out she is an honest person and isn’t pushy. If I didn’t like a particular property she just said, ‘Maybe the next one will be yours.’ She sent me lots of listings to view and kept in contact. It was a very pleasant experience.” Diane credits her years of travel and exposure to various cultures with helping her to be a better professional. “I ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA How To Be Street Smart On And Off The Street A thief looks at two houses on a street -- both are large and well kept, so he is assuming there are great steals in both houses. Both are dark and empty -- all the neighbors are at a block party down at the end of the street. Both houses are exactly the same -- except that the house on the right has an alarm system, and the house on the left does not. Which house do you think this thief is going to go for? Same thing for muggers. Do you think a mugger is going to go after someone walking confidently, paying attention to her surroundings, aware of where she is going? Maybe, but he’d more likely go for the person shuffling along; wearing heels so high they’re hard to walk in, let alone run in; distracted on a cell phone; scanning a map worriedly. Call it awareness; call it survival skills; call it Street Smarts. Whatever you call it -- have it! Street Smarts is not just for keeping you safe --it is an essential business tool. Street Smarts-borne skepticism will allow you to negotiate will ease and skill. For example, once I was in negotiations for a project with a publishing company about my royalties. From conversations with colleagues, I knew that 3% was an accepted target, so that is what I went in expecting. I could tell right away that these guys were people I could joke around with, so my first offer was 50% -- which made the publishing guys look at each other, speechless, before they started laughing. So, they countered me at 10%! I guess they thought I was serious. So, I paused, moved my head back, and squinted, really considering their offer. “Hmmmm, is that fair?” I asked. After much deliberation and some hesitation, which made them feel better that they were playing hardball, I accepted their offer. I walked out of that office ecstatic. I got 10% royalties just because I was able to use my Street Smarts to analyze the situation and interpret the best way to approach it. “In any pursuit in life there is a formal knowledge base and an informal knowledge base. The formal knowledge is what you are told. It is what you get in the manual when you start a job. It is what you get in the course work in college. Informal knowledge is everything they do not bother to tell you. Moreover, usually that is the stuff that 12 makes the most difference. It is the stuff they cannot say and would not say if they could. That is why we call it tacit knowledge.. It is what you learn from your environment. You might say it’s the unwritten rules of life.” According to Dr. Robert Sternberg of Yale, this informal knowledge, or Street Smarts, is a far better predictor of managerial success than academic performance. He even said a very high I.Q. could be a detriment to managerial success. “I don’t think Street Smarts has anything to do with big cities or small cities,” Sternberg said. “It’s no longer a negative term that conjures up images of street gangs or con artists. There is no denying that street smarts has its roots in the impoverished areas of inner cities, places in which people had to develop certain abilities just to survive physically; but just as blues singers are no longer slaves, street smart people are no longer just city-dwellers. They are born, raised, live, and work in all types of environments. “So how do you learn to be street smart? One of the critical things is just your attitude. You must have an attitude that this is something that matters -- something you can use to your advantage. So a big part of learning is motivational. It is almost a prerequisite for developing it. Then you have to seek out the information from other people, from your environment, and from within yourself. The first is done by observing Street-Smart people and asking questions of mentors. The second is done by paying attention, both inwardly and outwardly. You have to let the knowledge you already have come out-and we all have more than we might give ourselves credit for.” Above all, it takes experience, constantly adjusting your attitude to make the most of every situation. Dr. Tony Alessandra, CSP, CPAE has authored 13 books, recorded over 50 audio and video programs, and delivered over 2,000 keynote speeches since 1976. Dr. Tony Alessandra is recognized by Meetings and Conventions Magazine as... “one of America’s most electrifying speakers.” Copyright© 2006, Tony Alessandra. All right reserved. For information about Tony’s keynote presentations, contact the FrogPond at 800.704.FROG(3764) or email [email protected] ; http://www.FrogPond. com ExecutiveAgent Magazine A Partnership Rooted in Success Kinecta Federal Credit Union’s mortgage professionals are committed to making the financing experience simple and seamless for you and your clients. We support local Realtors by building personal relationships • Join us in presenting free workshops for first-time home buyers • Loan Consultants answer questions about financing options at your Open Houses • Highlight your prime properties on our Facebook House of the Week feature What your clients can expect • Pre-approvals to help save time when shopping for the right property • Fast, priority turn times for all purchases • Our Purchase Guarantee – we close on time or we pay1 • Competitive rates, flexible terms and low fees With 75 years in the financial services industry, Kinecta understands the dynamic needs of today’s borrowers. We also are committed to building stronger communities through our network of employee volunteers. Partnering for success starts with all of us, and we look forward to partnering with you. Contact us today! Erik Jenner, NMLS# 38025 Mgr. Mortgage Loan Sales direct: 949.253.5337 • fax: 949.293.1237 [email protected] www.kinecta.org/ejenner Not-for-profit | Member-owned | Est. 1940 All loans are subject to credit approval. Guidelines are available upon request. NMLS # 407870. Intended for mortgage professionals only and not for consumer use. 1) Visit www.kinecta.org/Smart_Move for $500 closing cost and 21-Day loan closing guarantee restrictions. 17047-01/15 E XECUTIVE AGENT TM MAGAZINE W ith 25 years of experience as a Realtor® and associate broker at Hanu Reddy Realty, Steve Reddy possesses the longevity, integrity and knowledge to care for his diverse clientele. “I am totally committed to the real estate business, and so is my family,” he says. “Each economic cycle brought in new challenges for homeowners and I was able to successfully help them solve their real estate problems while continuing to grow my business. I have thrived in good markets and bad. I intend to be here for a long time.” Steve earned his master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan. He comes from a family background in real estate, so Steve was always conversant in the benefits of homeownership and investing in real estate. He himself is an Irvine homeowner since 1981. When his brother, Hanu Reddy, decided to open Hanu Reddy Realty in Irvine, he recruited Steve. ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Steve Reddy Committed to the Real Estate Business Written by Haley Freeman Steve used his technical skills to computerize the office when PCs were brand new. Leveraging cutting edge technology was one of the ways in which the company was ahead right from the beginning. Steve’s training as an engineer benefitted his real estate practice in other unique ways. “Engineering has given me the analytical skills to solve issues during transactions. My math skills have helped me to have an understanding of financing, guiding my clients to understand the true cost of a property and the ramifications in the long term.” Steve expresses gratitude for Hanu Reddy’s mentorship, “He was my main catalyst for succeeding in this business. Seeing his success made me want to emulate him. I am fortunate to have learned from a person who was a true professional and doing it with a total passion. I have worked by his side continuously for the last 25 years and this experience has been invaluable. He has the ability to solve complex transactional problems. I have learned that you must be honest and disclose everything you know about a property, and I always recommend to my clients that they do the same. After closing many transactions, we have a long list of satisfied clients who continue to come to us and it is very gratifying that we are now helping their children with their real estate needs. I consider that a major accomplishment.” The father of three children, Steve is proud to have his eldest daughter, Lakshmi, with him. “She graduated from UC Berkeley with a business degree, got her broker’s license, and is a full-time partner with me. She shares my commitment to the business. It means a lot to me that my family believes in what I do and want to be a part of it. By having multiple generations involved in the business, we are able to cater to Baby Boomers whose needs have changed, Milllenials who are forming homes and Generation X who are looking to move up with their growing families.” A strong internet presence is especially important for Steve, since the company works with a diverse pool of buyers and sellers. “With affluence growing globally, there are more international buyers looking to invest in the United States. We are able to help buyers worldwide who want to invest in real estate and my background helps me fulfill their needs.” Steve loves the City of Irvine where he raised his family. He is a consummate gardener who appreciates Southern California’s year-round growing season and diverse plant species. “I have been learning how to create a garden that consumes less water and still looks pretty. I like to share landscaping ideas with my clients. Right now, I am working with succulents and drought-resistant plants and helping my friends and neighbors to do the same.” Steve likes walking and hiking around his neighborhood, Summit at Turtle Ridge, and enjoying its natural beauty. He gives back to his community by hosting regular social events there, including the annual harvest festival. “In addition to my integrity and in-depth knowledge of the market, I am a really friendly and happy person to be with. I love what I do because I get to meet so many good people who become my clients and then part of my extended family.” Steve Reddy Hanu Reddy Realty 16251 Laguna Canyon Rd., Ste. 100 Irvine, CA 92618 Tel: 949.510.3933 Email: [email protected] Web: www.HanuReddy.com CalBRE # 00882549 Steve continues to utilize technology to enhance client acquisition and service delivery. “We have highly qualified assistants from the UC system, who know how to use social media and compelling graphic design which takes us beyond conventional advertising. Our main strength lies in our team of experienced professionals who work with me and have been in the industry for over 25 years. This team includes my sister, Ranji Myer, and Andree Fontanella who have been with the company since its inception.” ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Listen While You Work I believe that the earning potential for a salesperson is directly linked to the quality of his or her active listening skills. To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of selling. An ancient Chinese proverb reminds us; “To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well.” While everyone can benefit from this sage advice, these words of wisdom are particularly appropriate for professional salespeople. No sales rep has ever listened himself out of a sale. Would you consider yourself to be a good listener? How would your customers, business associates, friends, and family members rate your listening ability? Their feedback just might surprise you, because most people believe they’re much better listeners than they truly are. Poor listeners frequently confuse the physical act of hearing with the emotional art of listening. While hearing is a function of biology, active listening skills must be acquired and developed. In the selling process, when you talk you merely provide information, but when you genuinely listen you show respect, create trust, and develop rapport. Unfortunately, our educational system places great emphasis on speaking and writing, but not on the important skill of active listening. For example, I have a good friend with a PhD who speaks three languages fluently, but can’t listen worth a hoot. The good news is that it is never too late to begin working on improving your active listening skills… from the kitchen table to the sales table. Active listening is making a conscious effort to hear your customer’s words as well as to try and understand the total message being sent, both verbally and nonverbally. It requires you to listen not only with your ears, but also with your eyes. It’s important to monitor your customer’s body language gestures and look for congruency between his or her words, posture, movement, and tone of voice. Are you able to stay focused on your customer or does your mind wander? By giving your customer your full and undivided attention, you’re not only showing respect, but you’re also laying a foundation of trust and building rapport. Discipline your mind and put aside distracting thoughts. Each time you catch your mind starting to wander, “grab it” and immediately refocus your attention back to your customer. The best salespeople have a tendency to listen like a homicide detective and ask great probing questions to gain understanding and promote conversation. They don’t make assumptions, they summarize and seek clarity. An occasional question or comment to recap what has been said 16 communicates that you understand the message. Until this is done, your customer will resist your input. If you would like to improve your sales effectiveness, consider incorporating the following active listening tips into your sales presentation. 1. Face your customer and give him or her your complete and undivided attetion. 2. Show your attentiveness through your body language by sitting up straight, maintaining good eye contact, uncrossing your legs, unfolding your arms, and leaning forward slightly. 3. Minimize distractions by turning off your cell phone. 4. Respond appropriately to show that you understand by nodding your head in agreement. 5. Encourage your customer to give you more information by using open-ended questions such as “How did you feel when that happened?” 6. Keep an open mind and don’t jump to any conclusion or make assumptions. Wait until your customer has finished speaking before deciding that you disagree. 7. Don’t interrupt your customer when he or she is speaking. 8. Ask questions for clarification and periodically summarize comments. Paraphrase your customer’s key statements to make sure you didn’t misunderstand his or her point of view. Start with: “So if I’m hearing you correctly, you’re saying…” Where communication is poor, mistakes increase, relationships breakdown, and opportunities to make the sale are missed! If you want to enhance your professional image, strengthen relationships, and dramatically improve your sales effectiveness, I encourage you to listen while you work. “I only wish I could find an institute that teaches people how to listen. Business people need to listen at least as much as they need to talk. Too many people fail to realize that real communication goes in both directions.” - Lee Iacocca John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and sales-oriented keynote/breakout session/seminar programs for sales meetings and conventions. When you book John for your next sales meeting or convention, you get a nationally recognized author, sales trainer and business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the meeting industry. Copyright 2007, John Boe International. All rights reserved. For additional information, contact the FrogPond at 800.704.FROG(3764) or email [email protected]; http://www.FrogPond.com. ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Written By John Boe ExecutiveAgent Magazine 17 Nomination Form Nominate a fellow REALTOR® to be featured in one of our feature stories; on the cover as Executive Agent of the Month, or as a special feature story. All candidates must be nominated by a real estate professional. The selection process includes a questionnaire, personal interview, reference check and final approval by the Advisory Council. Candidates are evaluated based upon professionalism, length of service and uniqueness of story, as well as industry and community involvement. I Nominate: Name_______________________________ Company___________________________ Address____________________________ _____________________________________ City, State, Zip_____________________ _____________________________________ Phone______________________________ Email_______________________________ Submitted By: Fax/Email nomination to: Executive Agent Magazine PO Box 73384 San Clemente, CA 92673 Fax: 949.266.8757 Email: [email protected] Tel: 949.366.3349 Name_______________________________ Company___________________________ Phone______________________________ Email_______________________________ EA Cover Story Christine Tsan Morgan Executive Agent of the Month ExecutiveAgent Magazine Christine Morgan Written by Shannon Hartsoe - Ian Wiant Photographer A s a child, going to the grocery store with her parents was a bit like going to the career center for Christine Morgan. While her classmates were likely to head for the candy aisle, a young Christine instead bolted straight for the magazine rack, where she skimmed through every home magazine on the stand. “That should’ve been the first indication that I was meant to be in real estate!” she says. Sure enough, that desire to learn all she could about real estate from those grocery store magazines and her parents, who were both Realtors®, paved the way for Christine to become a successful Realtor® in her native Orange County. “I have always been great at sales,” she states. “For a few years in high school into college, I worked as a telemarketer for a pretty big bank at the time. It was the most awful job, but I was great at it and making a decent amount of money. I’ve always had the knack to strike up a conversation with just about anybody, which is a huge part of sales.” With a degree in political science and business from the University of California at Irvine, and proven sales skills honed at her telemarketing job, Christine today is a successful agent with Teles Properties in Newport Beach Her outstanding customer service, top-notch negotiating skills and an extensive knowledge about the county that can only come from living in one place for an entire life, makes Christine a much-sought-out Realtor® in central and south Orange County. Big Dreams Fulfilled It’s no surprise that Christine’s career began with goals many new Realtors® only dream about. “When I began, my mother had told me that if I was going to go into real estate and sell homes, I might as well reach for the high end, luxury market. A sale is a sale and a home is a home. You’re selling the same product, so why not go for more,” she recalls. With her mother’s advice, Christine says she reached out to all of the high end-brokers that she knew of and tried to see if she could shadow them. In 2008, one of them hired her to be a secretary and, just as she had hoped, shadow buyers’ agents to their open houses. Fast-forward eight months and Christine was holding her own open house with an oceanfront home in Laguna Beach -- proving that real estate sales was indeed her destiny. ExecutiveAgent Magazine Jessica Rocha, Christine Morgan, Michelle Wahler And That Was Just The Beginning During her open house, Christine recalls that a billionaire walked in with his friend, took her business card and called her the next day to show him a $12 million home in Three Arch Bay in Laguna Beach. One month later, she sold the home to him. But a week after closing in October 2008, the economy crashed. “My broker at the time had told me to never expect it again, because my story was an anomaly and never happens to anyone,” she says. Turns out the broker was wrong. In 2009, that same billionaire bought a $9 million property from Christine on Lido Isle in Newport Beach. “It was a great start to my real estate career, and I definitely feel incredibly blessed. If it weren’t for those two deals, I can almost guarantee I wouldn’t have made it this far in real estate.” ExecutiveAgent Magazine Real Estate Fulfills Childhood Dream As her success grew and reputation as a consummate professional became well-known throughout Orange County, Teles Properties recruited Christine about three years ago. The move has been positive for both Christine and Teles Properties. “They have been an amazing company to work for. The way they operate is unparalleled to other brokerages, and they really allow each agent to run their businesses effectively,” she says. Her solid reputation also generates a steady flow of referrals. “I believe that listings beget listings and sales beget sales. The busier I am in real estate, the more productive I become,” she acknowledges. “I don’t believe in a ‘one-anddone’ transactional mentality. I’m very keen on providing excellent customer service and having my clients enjoy the home-selling and buying experience so that I can be their Realtor® for life.” Even though her years in real estate are relatively small, Christine knows it takes a team to maintain success. She surrounds herself with diverse, highly talented professionals whose skill sets compliment her own. Christine and her team specialize in using customized approaches to marketing their clients’ homes, using the most effective technology for each client, including video, social media, photography and more. The team spends a great deal of time on each listing, determining the most effective way to stage the home prior to taking professional photographs to ensure the first impression people see is a great one. “My team and I are constantly looking for ways to keep on going. We’re always bouncing ideas off of each other -- non-traditional methods of marketing that are catchy,” Christine says. “We try to find niche neighborhoods where the competition is low. It might be a new neighborhood that doesn’t have a ton of resale just yet, but we work on establishing ourselves in that area and building our reputation up. With less competition, we can get our foot in the door and start marketing ourselves early.” ExecutiveAgent Magazine How Her Clients Benefit One of Christine’s first tenets of success is simple. “I answer my phone!” she says with a laugh. Transparency and excellent communication are paramount for Christine and her team. This is especially good news for the many first-time homebuyers she works with. “I remember the first time I ever bought a home and how scary the process was. With that said, I like to make sure that they’re well taken care of and everything is explained from beginning to end so the home buying experience is enjoyable.” For sellers, Christine and her team provide personalized service that includes hand delivering more than 200 neighbor invitations to a brunch -- regardless of whether it’s a $300,000 listing or a $2 million listing. And her marketing team prepares all of her properties’ websites, brochures, postcards, etc., so that even from the very first launch, the promotion makes a huge impression. Her clients love to share their experiences with Christine and her team. “Christine Morgan was amazing. She listened to exactly the specifics that I was looking for in a house and actively searched for options that fit my criteria,” says D.M. Dimaranan. “She made herself available to me whenever I needed her, whether it was to answer a question, to inquire about a certain property, or to do a walk-through.” “Christine was also extremely effective. After I found the house that I loved, we opened escrow within a couple of days. Due to her experience in the current housing market, we negotiated a price approximately $30,000 below asking.” Such accolades are likely to increase as Christine and her team expand their size and reach in Orange County. Giving Back, Keeping Balance Outside of her busy work responsibilities Christine gives back to her community by supporting local charities, and along with her husband works with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County. She, her husband and young child also attend Mariners Church in Irvine and love to cook and try out new restaurants in the area. “I love what I do and find that everyday is challenging and exciting. With every changing landscape, I’m always on my toes,” she says. So how does Christine keep her work-life balance in check? “My husband, baby and dog keep me occupied and balanced. With that much going on, you have to be!” ExecutiveAgent Magazine Christine Morgan Teles Properties 12 Corporate Plaza Dr., Ste. 250 Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel: 949-910-1042 [email protected] www.ChristineMorganHomes.com CalBRE #01839037 ExecutiveAgent Magazine Now You Can Get Executive Agent Magazine Online! We’ve Gone Digital So You Have Access To All Executive Agent Has To Offer-On The Go, Anytime, Anywhere Link directly to Advertisers Search for Articles Interact and Connect Executive Agent Magazine www.ExecutiveAgentMagazine.com 949.366.3349 [email protected] COME JOIN OUR TEAM! ALPINE MORTGAGE PLANNING NEWPORT BEACH ALPINE MORTGAGE PLANNING CONTINUES TO EXPAND IN ORANGE COUNTY • Alpine Mortgage Planning is a direct lender • Retail branch of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage Corp • 2013 – Funded $7 billion • Focused on purchase business • Broker and banker • In branch set-up, processing, and docs • In-house marketing support • CRM • Production assistants to allow you to be in the field • Employer paid health benefits • 401K • Multiple sources for jumbo product with excellent pricing and delegated underwriting We’re proud to announce our new office in Newport Beach at Bayview Corporate Center. Alpine Mortgage Planning is currently in the process of interviewing purchase-focused loan originators, sales managers, and teams to join our world class fulfillment team. If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, you need the right support team behind you. Join us! VISIT WWW.ALPINEMC.COM/CAREERS FOR MORE INFORMATION! JOHN J. REED Branch Manager MLO-869516 Cell 714.305.2912 Fax 855.688.2743 [email protected] © 2014 A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage Corp | Equal Housing Lender | NMLS 81395 | WA CL-81395 | AZ BK-910890 | Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Regulated by the Division of Real Estate Colorado. E XECUTIVE AGENT TM MAGAZINE Written by Haley Freeman I van Hernandez is a Senior Mortgage Advisor for Alpine Mortgage Planning, a rapidly growing division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage. PCM has been recognized by Scotsman Guide as one of the nation’s top ten lenders for two years in a row, and has been honored as one of the top places to work in several major markets. With locations in 11 states, the company is now introducing a new branch in Newport Beach. Ivan is a seasoned professional with over 14 years of experience in the industry, who has made the move to Alpine Mortgage Planning’s new Newport Beach location. A graduate in computer engineering from Cal State Long Beach, Ivan chose to work in the mortgage industry, where he opened and operated a branch for a mortgage broker from 2002-2009. He and his wife, Maria Salazar, built the branch together, focusing mainly on helping underserved members of the community. They built a reputation for helping first time buyers and first generation American families to achieve their home ownership dreams. They managed a marketing team that generated leads for refinance transactions while also scouting for potential sellers. “In those days you were able to do both lending and real estate,” Ivan explains, “so we would help buyers in all aspects of the transaction.” Ivan Hernandez ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA When the real estate market took a downturn, Ivan and Maria decided to take a break from the industry. Ivan returned to his home country of Colombia for a time, in order to pursue business opportunities there. With the strong rebound in the economy and missing the ability to help the underserved achieve their homeownership dream, Ivan decided to come back to Orange County and get back into mortgage lending. With his experience and strong connections, Ivan decided to come back and reestablish himself here. Ivan’s professional integrity and experience made him a good fit at Alpine Mortgage Planning, where the company culture is built on four primary values: teamwork; empowerment; positivity; and excellence. “I have always thrived in working with members of the Spanish-speaking community. I know the culture and how to help clients meet their goals. I also knew that I needed to be retrained to work in the industry, since the loan process had changed a lot from the process that I experienced before. I cared about learning and becoming a better Mortgage Advisor, and Alpine Mortgage Planning was willing to train me to work with agents and help them with their purchase transactions.” Alpine Mortgage Planning has provided Ivan with the tools and support that help him to be responsive to Realtors® and clients in an ever-changing market. “We have a great marketing team, and our rates and programs are very competitive. When I give a pre-approval letter, I am confident that I’m going to get it done.” With a marketing team at the Newport Beach branch, Ivan is able to assist his clients with a quick turnaround on open house flyers and other co-branding opportunities to assist in a quick sell for his cleints. Ivan’s primary customer service goal is to respond immediately when clients need him. “When agents call me to say they have a prospective client, I call the person right away and then get the feedback to the agent. I understand that agents work very hard to earn those prospective clients, and want somebody on it right away – not three or four hours later.” Throughout the loan process, Ivan keeps all parties involved in the transaction updated. His goal on every transaction is to ensure that the listing and buying agent never has to pick up the phone or e-mail him for status. Ivan spends a great deal of his time in real estate offices where he is available to answer questions for agents and clients. “I always dress professionally, as presentation is very important, and clients want to work with a professional. I want them to have the confidence that they are dealing with someone who knows the answers to their questions, or can quickly find the right answer for their scenario.” In his personal life, Ivan is a dedicated husband and father, as well as a big soccer fan. “I used to play soccer, and now my daughter plays for the American Youth Soccer Organization. I coach and referee for them. I spend a lot of time there and have the opportunity to meet a lot of families in my community.” Ivan anticipates a positive climate for the future, as Alpine Mortgage Planning continues to grow and market conditions remain favorable for homebuyers. “I strive for honesty, reliability and loyalty, and I know that Alpine Mortgage Planning shares my commitment to these values.” Ivan Hernandez MLO 982497 Alpine Mortgage Planning 3501 Jamboree Rd., Ste. 200 Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel: 951.212.3044 Email: [email protected] Web: www.alpinemc.com/ivanhernandez © 2015 A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage Corp | Equal Housing Lender | NMLS 81395 | WA CL-81395 | AZ BK-910890 | Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act Regulated by the Division of Real Estate Colorado. . Mortgage Specialist ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Power by Embracing Enthusiasm Y ou can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars. With it, there is accomplishment. Without it there are only alibis. Enthusiasm is rarely a topic that comes to mind when we think of success. And yet, without it life becomes mundane and the spark we wish to ignite in others fizzles away without the desired result. Embracing enthusiasm is important because it replaces fear and worry. When I was in my early 40s I experience what many call a mid-life crisis. Prior to this dark, short chapter in my lie, I was accustomed to making many and huge decisions. I spiraled downward into a period of depression in which I could not decide on the color of my socks each morning. The catalyst for my turn-around was the new project I tepidly decided to take on. Early in the process, enthusiasm was a quality I forced on myself. I pretended I had it until it finally showed up. It showed up because (I think), as others became excited about my dream, their excitement spilled over to me and replaced pretending enthusiasm with the real thing. I grew into a bona fide, honest cheerleader for finding success in very today. That was the end of bad days for me. Now there are good days and, better yet, great days! And an interesting thing happened: my enthusiasm and excitement became contagious. Others reflected my newly refashioned positive mindset. The spark I sought to ignite became a forest fire from which many lives were positively impacted. Here’s my advice to you if you want to enjoy success and are having a tough time getting excited: Fake enthusiasm until it becomes real (no, you will not be a phony). 30 ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Surround yourself with positive people (don’t listen to negative talk). Think about how you can help others less fortunate than you (gets the focus off you and on someone else - which is a great thing for your well being). Learn how to give yourself and some of your money to others (if you refuse to give, then the things you own and the money you possess OWNS you). Norman Vincent Peale states, “Often enthusiasm is the bridge between poverty and prosperity.” I know, from personal experience, he’s right. He also wrote: “Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles and adds significance to all you do.” Now it’s up to you. What will you do with this information? File it away in some dark corner, or get excited about your dreams and go for them? It’s your choice. Now, go make it an enthusiastically great day. Don Loyd has been involved in real estate in some form for more than 38 years. He has written several books on the subjects of real estate, business, goal setting, and personal development. He writes a weekly column, and has served as a co-host for a financial services radio show. For more information, go to http://www.RealCashFlow.net. ExecutiveAgent Magazine 31 Your career with imortgage? The sky’s the limit! ● If you’re a loan officer or production assistant determined to take control of your high-flying career, now’s the perfect time to target imortgage. ● imortgage and its partner, loanDepot, have combined to become one of the top five* private mortgage lenders in the United States. ● imortgage is not only the perfect place to land. It’s the perfect place to launch the next phase of your exciting career. Watch your career take flight with us. Call today! (714) 657-1220 John Wellsandt, Branch Manager Direct Mobile (714) 657-1220 (916) 835-8129 NMLS ID 448583 [email protected] imortgage 7755 Center Ave., Suite 1200, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act CRMLA 4131040. Corporate NMLS ID 174457. All rights reserved. 01012015. E XECUTIVE AGENT TM MAGAZINE Written by Shannon Hartsoe “I knew I could give better representation than what the industry was offering to current and prospective homeowners,” Jill says. “I wanted to become a consumer advocate and help protect people from mortgage lenders that were charging ridiculous fees and giving the worst service imaginable. The only way I knew to help was to become a mortgage consultant myself and offer the consumer great loans and the first-rate service they were entitled to.” Jill did just that, and today is fulfilling that desire as a loan consultant with imortgage in Huntington Beach. In addition to being a Notary Public, Jill has worked as an Escrow Officer and a Loan Processor. At imortgage, she says she’s found a perfect match, a company that truly cares for its clients and employees. “I actually care about the needs of my clients and put their needs ahead of my own,” says Jill. “I value my reputation and by choosing to work for imortgage, I was aligned with the perfect company that shared my same values and work ethic. imortgage doesn’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk.” W She describes a company where the team of loan processors, underwriters and managers make themselves readily available to their loan officers -- just as she does with her clients and believes the mortgage industry has been helped by changes in legislation designed to protect consumers. hen Jill Snedeker started out in the mortgage industry, it didn’t take her long to see its flaws. Over and over, she saw a constant need for more honesty and ethical practices among mortgage professionals. So she decided to do something about it. “We treat our clients like friends and family and look after their needs throughout the entire loan process, which isn’t as commonplace in the industry,” she says. Jill Snedeker ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA We have a loan for every home... simple as that.® The lending landscape has changed dramatically over the years, in part because of the real estate crisis a few years ago. Jill says she constantly reads about trends in the industry and attends conferences to keep her skills in top shape. That’s why buyers in Orange County are relieved to find a professional like Jill who makes ethics, communication and transparency the central tenets of her career. Years ago she was accused of “over-servicing” her clients, which Jill believes is simply an oxymoron for anyone providing customer service. Her clients recognize Jill’s dedication to them and eagerly sing her praises. “I have to give the highest of praises to loan consultant Jill Snedeker. She was totally amazing, not only with the depth of her knowledge but also for her kindness and patience with my MANY questions. She is the epitome of a professional. I will highly recommend her to my family and friends,” says Debbie W. of Dana Point. Jill is also known for her tenacity, not taking “no” for an answer when trying to accommodate the loan needs of her clients. cess. They might not purchase a home today but tomorrow will be here before you know it.” Jill is an affiliate member of the Orange County Association of Realtors® and enjoys networking and doing charity work through the association. She’s also a member of the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce and Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce through her affiliation with The Women’s Business Connection. But she does find time to pursue outside interests. Time away from work for Jill often involves spending time with her boyfriend, Pete, and their German shepherd, Marley. “I also enjoy visiting with my family and friends and working on our house, which is always under construction but really starting to come together, and I can’t wait for it to be finished!” Her future plans include continuing to serve her clients with superior products and exceptional service and to help her Realtor® partners increase their business and their referrals by being a positive and valuable extension of their business. She adds: “I will continue to attend educational courses designed around mortgage lending and customer service in order to always make sure I’m giving my clients the highest level of expertise and professionalism.” “Many of our clients who have been turned down by other lenders are thrilled when I am able to turn a no into a YES,” she says, emphatically. “I don’t take no for an answer and I let them know that I will put in the time and effort to successfully get their loan approved or, at the very least, I will educate them on what steps they need to take to put themselves in a position to be approved down the line, turning a no into a ‘not right now.’ Jill views such transactions as a way to provide hope to people who have suffered through the Great Recession, enduring bankruptcy, foreclosures and short sales. “I want them to know that homeownership is possible for them and that together we can create a roadmap for their suc- Jill Snedeker imortgage 7755 Center Ave., Ste. 1200 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Tel: 714-315-7482 Email: [email protected] Web: www.imortgage.com/jill.snedeker NMLS ID 839465 imortgage is licensed by the CA Department of Business Oversight, CRMLA 4131040. NMLS ID 174457. Equal Housing Opportunity. All rights reserved. 2015. Her Clients Recognize Jill’s Dedication To Them And Eagerly Sing Her Praises ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA The Easiest Way to Get Real Estate Leads A ll good deals start with good marketing. And if you’re not marketing for good deals, you’re not going to be doing any. That means you won’t be making any money and your competition will be soaking up the opportunities in your market area. Just declaring to your friends and family that you are a real estate investor is not enough. You must get the word out to let everyone know that you are buying real estate and that anyone interested in selling his property should call you. Here’s the catch. You aren’t going to tell the entire world. You’re only going to tell the people that want to meet you. These are your targets. Rule #1: All good marketing starts with a clear target. This means that you define who you are trying to reach. For example, I want to buy properties from owners 36 that are debt free because they like to offer me seller financing. Therefore, I target owners in my market area who own their properties free and clear, particularly in communities that I want to invest in. Now that you’ve defined your target, it’s time to move to crafting your message for reaching out to them. Rule #2: All good marketing starts with a good messaging. Have you ever wondered why retailers ask you to sign up for their discount cards? They track all of your purchases and gather mountains of market intelligence about your buying habits so they can make smarter decisions when buying inventory and pricing programs. You must also understand your audience. What matters to your sellers? How will you provide a meaningful experience for them when they sell their building to you? ExecutiveAgent Magazine EA Once you’ve identified your target and crafted your messaging, now you’ll have to implement a system for communicating your message to your audience. You may hear that signs, letters, or email are the best systems to use to broadcast your message. Guess what? You need to do them all. Rule #3: All good marketing thrives on multiple systems. You must simultaneously work multiple systems to bring your message to your target audience because no one system will consistently fill your pipeline--it will vary from month to month. That’s why you need a calling system, mailing system, internet marketing system, print advertising system, etc. You must be firing on all cylinders at all times to keep your lead pipeline full. Here’s where most people fail: they don’t measure their results. Rule #4: What gets measured gets managed. What gets managed gets funded. This an old saying my father (a veteran HP executive) tells me and it rings true today. If you don’t know where your leads are coming from and why, you’ll miss the opportunity to fine tune your systems to make them perform at maximum capacity for you. Then you’ll start to wonder whether the investment is worthwhile or not. And when you do measure and manage, you’ll have a steady flow of leads that will turn into opportunities for you to do deals, over and over again. In a nutshell, if you aren’t marketing, you’re missing the lifeblood of your business. You must start marketing today. Make sure you follow the 4 rules listed above because without them, you may as well be throwing money out the window while driving down the highway hoping for something to happen. It’s not going to and all you’ll have at the end of the day are no leads, no deals, and an empty bank account. Jeremy Cyrier, CCIM trains people who invest their own money in commercial real estate at http://www. CommercialRealEstateInvestingEducation.com. For a free report on residential vs. commercial real estate investing, visit: http://commercialrealestateinvestingeducation.com/ residential-vs-commercial-property-investment-report. ExecutiveAgent Magazine 37 Why Wells Fargo We want to be the key to your success We’re dedicated to helping you put more buyers into homes with more mortgage options to suit more buyers • Buyer ConnectionsSM: Connects buyers and sellers not working with a real estate agent to professionals in their local market. • Full service lender: We provide financing for conventional, FHA, VA, renovation, relocation, and more! • PriorityBuyer® Preapproval: You’ll know you’re dealing with serious buyers. Call us today to find out more. Joseph John Ballesteros Branch Manager 714-934-7388 NMLSR ID 404462 Steve Silvestri Sales Manager 714-476-3000 NMLSR ID 419052 My Hoang Sales Manager 714-356-8991 NMLSR ID 453285 Nathan Lindsey Home Mortgage Consultant 714-394-0506 NMLSR ID 665133 Jenn Levin Home Mortgage Consultant 714-904-9424 NMLSR ID 448482 Robert Rabano Home Mortgage Consultant 714-906-8824 NMLSR ID 420527 Michael Ahn Home Mortgage Consultant 714-580-9412 NMLSR ID 237058 Mark W. Bowman Home Mortgage Consultant 866-531-3229 NMLSR ID 450934 Kathy Niemczyk Home Mortage Consultant 714-934-2065 NMLSR ID 433497 Mary C. Lee Home Mortgage Consultant 714-308-8576 NMLSR ID 420573 Kristi Nguyen Home Mortgage Consultant 714-580-5211 NMLSR ID 457844 Rishant Taneja Home Mortgage Consultant 714-655-8861 NMLSR ID 473697 Robert Michael Garin Home Mortgage Consultant 714-483-5504 NMLSR ID 490240 Christopher James Preston Home Mortgage Consultant 714-323-8825 NMLSR ID 490895 Brigitte Golay Haberl Home Mortgage Consultant 714-396-5590 NMLSR ID 899374 Kevin Thach Home Mortgage Consultant 714-454-9810 NMLSR ID 455195 Elli Nguyen Home Mortgage Consultant 714-408-8245 NMLSR ID 448027 Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. This information is for real estate professionals only and is not intended for distribution to consumers. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2014 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. 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