It seems so distant that everyone was worried about sinkholes or termites for that matter here in Florida. The reason we got into this sinkhole matter in the first place were greedy attorneys, and companies that fix sinkholes. People with small hairline cracks on a 30 plus year old homes were getting paid on sinkholes that weren't actually sinkholes...... which lead to the next problem that also deals with greed, but this time on homeowners. Interest rates dropped, home values escalated and refi's went skyward. Everyone and their brother refinanced and proceeded to go and live the life. Buying new cars, motorcycles, boats and other toys and vacations.

Then BOOM.... the market dropped and now they are stuck with a home that really is valued CORRECTLY and they can't make the payments, but they certainly enjoy their days off, boating, cycling and vacationing. Heres my point. Mortgage companies do not want your home. They are in the mortgage business not the real estate business. People are again listening to people with no knowledge of the situation and deciding to foreclose or ask for a shortsale.Either way they lose their home and in the case of a shortsale are still obligated for whatever the mortgage company loses in the shortsale.

Mortgage companies stand to lose millions in the upcoming year or years. We as REALTORS need to educate these people and tell them that mortgage companies are working very hard to HELP. They are willing to shift payments back to the end of the note, working on getting you caught up and so on. But they are not going to call you! You need to call them at the first opportunity. Trust me they are willing to help.

Lets stop this nonsense so we can get rid of the inventory that is out there and help the people that TRULY need to sell their home and not the idiot that can't make his or her payment but looks damn good on the boat or real nice in all that motorcycle riding gear.

 Todd Rivers - Broker/Owner
Florida Lighthouse Realty
727-514-1074

I have decided to have monthly home buyer seminars. I have asked a mortgage company and a title company to help in getting them rolling. We are planning one for Saturday November 24th and we are making it a theme. We are going with christmas and we plan to tell people something like "Nothing like Christmas in your own home" and trying to get them closed before then.

And we are planning on having at least 1 a month and using themes with them also. So heres the deal.... I am not only going to have my agents invite people but I am opening it up to ALL agents in my area. What I plan on doing is any client of another agent that comes in will get the benefit of all the information we are going to provide and the agent can be here with them or choose not to and still be protected.

Has anyone ever had luck with home buyer seminars or am I just going to throw good money after bad? My feeling is if 1 person comes and gets qualified and does close a deal then it was worth it. Any thoughts?

Also any agents in the Pasco, Pinellas areas in Florida that have first time buyers and want to get involved please feel free to contact me.

Todd Rivers - Broker/Owner
Florida Lighthouse Realty
727-514-1074
MyFloridaListings.com

I have been with P2 for along time now and they continue to amaze me with the updates and bells and whistles they give to us. Some are time savers and some quite frankly have no value what so ever. But I take the good with the bad (Mostly Good). Here is something I think would be an incredible time saver when it comes to handshake agreements.....

I hate to go in and see that my site has been blocked for "Does not participate in handshake" (When I clearly do) and for "Does Not Display Other's Listings" (Which clearly I do) and for not being in the selling area when the person saying that has an office less then1 mile away!

P2 has a setting that you check for new websites...........Since members in "New" status can advertise your listings on their websites you may want to automatically set their status to "Blocked By Me". This does not affect their rating and the reason for blocking will show up as "Blocking agent does not participate in Handshake".

At this point why when someone check that box doesn't it automatically unblock them if the person DOES participate in handshake. It also should automatically do it when you show others listings and so forth.

The problem is that people check that box and never go back to see if the NEW person does in effect participate or show others listings. And as far as selling area.... well that is a no brainer and should just automatically know were are in the same selling area if we both have the same selling areas checked.

Lets get on the ball P2 and help us save time..... PLEASE

Note: this discussion has moved to the Point2 Agent Message Board (link).

Note: this discussion has moved to the Point2 Agent Message Board (link).

I was sitting in my office today, ALONE as usual when the thought occured to me. If every agent in the state of Florida got up, brushed their teeth put on some clean clothes and went to the office with the thought of selling a home then this market would start to change for everyone.

I am tired of the agents saying the market is bad while they sit home and do nothing to change it. In my market there are something like 6000 or so active listings. So lets say out of the 1000 or so realtors in my board, 100 go to the office everyday leaving 900 or so at home complaining the market stinks. But if all 1000 go to work and start working as a Real Estate Professional I bet more homes would go under contract and eventually be sold.

 Its a numbers game people..... the more people working the faster the inventory will decrease and the better off we will all be. So I say this...... Lets make Wednesday April 11th go to work and do your job day and lets see if we can put a dent in the market. Who knows it just might spark the fire again.

I was asked by my board of Realtors to go to the Pinellas Board to sit and be on a panel to help roll out a new FREE service for the agents in the 3 boards in this area. As usual the people that CONTROL the mls's and the boards seem to RUN the whole show.

 So I am sitting here because I was the driver and listening to all these people argue about NOTHING. My question I guess is this.....

Has anyone else heard of or used this ListingBook and is it worth it?

I have come to realize why I never get involved with things at my board of realtors. NOTHING seems to get accomplished and they WORK for us. Why do they ask our imput but dont listen to what we need?

Does anyone else feel this way?

I have come to the conclusion that P2 does not index sites on a nightly basis. My reason for feeling this way is this.....

I spent all day yesterday re-doing my entire website and low and behold my score and rank stayed the same. I would have thought one or both would have gone down or up but never figured it to stay the same. 5000 pts? is that to much to ask for? And I am assuming that 5000 pts will get me that 1/2 star.

I think I need a 12 step program for P2 because I am certainly addicted.