Samantha

If the link doesn’t work go to youtube and search: video…uploaded in the last week…

http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&client=mv-google&hl=en&v=Zz1HO02DJxE

I have been on what I would consider a more personal or intimate basis with myself lately and that has caused me to go back to the way I once expressed myself…with pen to paper. Though this is not a “green” way of logging and sorting ones thoughts, there is something very healing about using longhand when writing to understand. Logistically it causes one’s mind to move slower as my cursive is not nearly as fast and my typing…a great side effect is that it allows me to process, to actually decipher between the static and the music in my mind.

Some people have no desire, want or need to put their thoughts in writing and are perplexed by the people that do have the need and even more so by those of us who do a lot of it publically i.e. writing books, blogs, twitter, facebook, etc. but that just goes back to, we are all beautiful individuals that are wired differently and we can all appreciate the differences between us. How boring would the world be if you were all like me? How could I be delighted when given the chance to see something in a new light, to learn something new, to have an awakening?

I do most of the above (facebook isn’t really my thing) and it all fits different pieces of what I want to contribute to myself and for others. Blogging is more my look on the world overall. My tweets are more of a peek into my personal world and what I am experiencing in that very moment. My journal is more what I need to share with myself, the truth I need to see, the removal of the unprocessed information I want to get out of my head, make it stop spinning and put into the Universe for my spirit to be clear and heard.

With all that said…I do believe wholeheartedly that none of the above outlets for thought should ever be replaced by the non-replaceable human conversation. In fact, I believe the above expressions are ways to enlighten ourselves, but do they have meaning or purpose if we can’t communicate them verbally to another living being? Hmmm, sort of like the “if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, has it actually made a sound” (or something like that) So with the new year here, I encourage you to try a few of the above ways to sort your thoughts, the information in your heart and I’ll even be so bold as to say your soul and then share them with a real live person…face to face…heart to heart

Until Next Time,

Samantha Poland Reflections of a Real Estate Performance Coach and Trainer and now Realtor Extraordinaire

(and writer…not to be understood by others, but to understand herself)

Tampa, Bay Florida

So I was thinking about the 80% that most of the world believes they can achieve and deserve to achieve and here is my realization:

In 3rd grade we look at percentages as a pie and how the pieces are split.  So we assume if we have 80% of the pie we have 8 of 10 slices.  However, what if it isn’t cut in slices but divided by volume instead.  Let me give you an example.  A cherry pie has filling, the cherries and the crust.  I could divide the pie and in my 80% get lots of crust, some filling and no cherries.  I still have 80%, but it’s not the 80% I want.  I want less crust more cherries and some filling.  Someone else might be happy with no crust and all filling.  Do you see where I’m going with this?

We can all get our piece of the pie, but the piece that makes us happy will most likely be composed of different components than what makes someone else happy. 

If you look at your life and say “hey I have 80%”  I challenge you to ask yourself,  is the 80%  made up of the parts you love the most, that make you smile, that bring you joy, that make you a better person for yourself and all those whose lives you touch, are you satisfied? Just a thought…maybe you need more filling

Until next time…

Samantha Poland

Devine Red & Co.

Tampa Bay, FL

I celebrated a Birthday this week and was surprised how I felt about the coming of 38.  Not in respect to the actual age, but the reflection of the last year.  I’ve had a lot of changes, many of you that I speak with have also found 2010 to be a year of transition or awakening.  You can blame the economy, the state of the country, the real estate market, the job market, the downfall of American morals, whatever, but I’m not gonna blame all those things, I’m gonna thank them, because for me, it’s been probably the biggest year of personal growth I have ever experienced and if any of those issues helped lead me to where I am today, I say AMEN!

The purpose of this blog is to discuss the art of making decisions.  I say art because it certainly could not be a science, there is no right or wrong, just what works for each individual.  I have never been one to have an issue making choices, but I am an action driven individual who would rather do something instead of nothing.  But some decisions are bigger and need to be looked at more carefully.  Following is what I’ve figured out:

BIG DECISION making process:

1.  You either DO or you DO NOT?

That’s it, there’s no 2., 3., 4., or 5., just that one question…I know you’re saying “but”, however the “buts” are just the details, the messes we get to work thru and figure out, once we’ve made our decision and in doing so… set our eye on the goal.

Ok, there is one more step. It’s more of a step included in the process of 1.

Everything in life is about counter-balance and everything comes with a price.  As you ask yourself, “do I or do I not” we must say ”what is the cost if I do and what is the cost if I don’t”?

Now, most of us screw it all up at this point, because we lose sight of the BIG DECISION making process and we start muddling in the details and trying to figure out how to solve the messes.  Please don’t do that, just ask…if there were no fear, if I couldn’t mess it up, if I could find a solution to all the “details” would it be worth the cost or not?

Once the decision is made, the Universe has heard you and if we let the details fall in place, working thru 1 at a time, knowing or end goal, loving the idea of what achieving that goal looks like…it always works out.  I haven’t seen it fail a single time.

Don’t give me “oh there was a time when I…”

Go back and ask yourself if you used the above process.  I’ll go out on a limb and say you didn’t.  You probably started it out right, but got lost in the details, never took action or got in your own way. 

If I’m wrong…comment, I’m always open to new ideas.  I’m not open to making things more complicated than necessary though, so keep that in mind while emailing me

Until Next Time,

Samantha Poland, Tampa Bay

Reflections of a Real Estate Performance Coach and Trainer and Realtor Extraordinaire

GO BUCS!

The point today will be quick…though we are all busy, it is mandatory that we stay aware of our priorities, both professionally and personally.  It’s a must to time block the “Big Rocks” so we keep making money and having FUN amidst the chaos.  The above statements are reasons, but not excuses on why I have made adjustments so I can accomplish everything on my list. 

I also have to shorten the time I spend, leverage or become more efficient in some of my tasks, so for a few months, I will most likely be Tweeting my thoughts.  It forces me to keep it short and concise, yet still express the daily life lessons, challenges and random thoughts that need to be released from this crazy filled up mind of mine  

You have a couple of choices if you want to follow me on Twitter.

1. you are not required to have an account, sign in or out, if you go directly to http://twitter.com/RedReflections

2. or you can create a Twitter acct. and then set it up to notify you via text when I have a new Tweet posted, all you need for this is a phone that sends and receives text messages, nothing fancy.  However, if you have an iphone, Droid or newer Blackberry, you can install the Twitter application, which is even more interactive.

3. the last option is to still come to this site and on the right hand side under “Random Red Reflections from Twitter”, you can see my last 5 Tweets

FYI if you see something that looks like a link after a posting…that means there is something attached. If you click on the link it will take you to the attachment.

Some of you already knew all of the above information.  If you didn’t, good thing you’re reading, ’cause guess what? Your clients are Tweeting, Facebooking, texting, Instant Messaging and so on…you’re gonna have to keep up with the times .

Also, know your audience: block your content for Facebook, if you plan to use for personal and social. Use Facebook Fan Pages for your Clients and  Linkedin for Business Associates and Clients, that aren’t part of your “social” circle. 

Feel free to continue commenting to this site or email me at www.RedHeadedRealEstate@gmail.com

And yes, from time to time when I need a major “thought download” I will still be posting to www.RedHeadedRealEstate.com

Let the Games BEGIN

Reflections of a Real Estate Performance Coach and Trainer and now Realtor Extraordinaire

Samantha Poland

Tampa Bay, Florida

Couple of pieces of information that seem to be getting misinterpreted regarding options and the basics of what it looks like if you can not pay your mortgage payment or if you feel that a strategic property release, is to your benefit.

If you’ve read my Blog you know I am not a bubble bursting type person, I’m a deal maker, NOT a deal breaker, but I want you to be aware of a few of the most common risks:

If you stop paying your mortgage payment for what the lenders deem to be a legitimate reason (they call it a hardship) divorce, loss or transfer of job, illness, rise in interest due to the maturing of an ARM, you typically have 4 choices.  If you just stop paying to stop paying and it is not viewed as a hardship you have only the first 2 options.

1. Foreclosure – Bank takes your home

2. Deed in Lieu – you hand it back over to the bank

3. Short Sale – you find a buyer (through your Real Estate Agent) that will buy your home at or a bit below market value, this could be substantially lower than what you owe on your mortgage. 

The contract is submitted to your lender and they approve, renegotiate or decline the contract with you and the potential buyer, along with negotiating how the deficiency will be handled with you, as the seller.  The deficiency can be grossly lower than the difference in what the home sold for and what you still owe on the note and with much certainty less than you will be liable for in a foreclosure (which includes the mortgage shortage, all fees and costs involved in the foreclosure process, etc.)  FYI- banks have up to 5 years to come back to you for the deficiency, so it is much better to get this negotiated and over vs. waiting to “see” what will happen…Chances are it will NOT be pretty.  In fact, it is forecasted that debt companies will begin to buy up the bad debt notes start collecting in the near future.  It will be the newest boom in Debt Collection. 

Loan Modification: Ahhhh, the “fix everything” solution presented by our government.  I won’t get into the politics of this whole process, but I will tell you the odds of getting a Loan Modification are not good.  Out of all that have applied only a mere 4.9% have been approved.  Several pieces have to line up and unfortunately, that line is constantly moving and shifting.  For now, your home needs to have lost more than 20% in value (that isn’t too hard).  You must have a hardship to qualify (discussed above) and then you must re-qualify for the loan, again, for it to happen. 

So if you lost your job (that’s your hardship)  your home has gone down in value 37%, but now you don’t have a job, so you don’t qualify for the new loan amount, you won’t get a loan modification and have now taken the risk of a foreclosure, while you were awaiting a decision, instead of short selling it. 

Starting the short sale process or the loan modification process will not stop the foreclosure process.  Many times, it will slow the process if the foreclosure attorney for the bank is aware that the home has a short sale contract in place. 

My personal suggestion, if you are looking to loan mod., would be to contact an attorney.  Though I am sure it has happened, I have personally not met anyone who has pulled off a loan mod. without paying an attorney to handle the process.

The last piece I mentioned is for people who choose to “strategically release” their property.  This would be done by individuals who feel they have over paid for their homes and they will have to wait “too long to re-coup” that loss and want to let it go.  Many do this so they can take advantage of the great deals that should still exist in 3 years, when they will be eligible to qualify for a mortgage loan again.  I will not extend my opinion on the philosophy, but I will say, if this is something you are considering, you need to do it soon.  Currently many short sale requirements, you can squeak by on, such as the need for the payment to be more than 20% of your monthly income.  Changing that to 33% is in the works and most “strategic releasing” will not meet the new criteria under the new standard.  Currently, it is reported, that 20% of short sales are done for “strategic releasing purposes”

Also note that if you have money sitting in an account and could pay your mortgage, but are choosing not to, you most likely will not qualify for a short sale or loan modification.

We could go on for days on this subject and the many layers of each process.  If you have a specific question, contact me or your agent.  Please note that the processes are changing daily and the information above is deemed to be reliable, It is recommended you visit with your Real Estate Professional, your lender, your attorney and your tax accountant regarding all options and legal/tax ramifications.

My last note is: many consumers, from all walks of life, have been “caught” in today’s Real Estate situation.  I realize this is very personal and devastating for many homeowners, all over the country.  You certainly are not alone.  If you were to go to your door…look 5 houses to your left and 5 to your right…2 of those 10 homes are not paying their mortgage.  Unfortunately, it is what it is and this too shall pass…

Until Next Time

Samantha Poland

Tampa Bay, Florida

The messages are not inconsistent, they are  real, and the tracks are reflecting the thought process the songwriter is going through to move from the negative to the positive or expressing what went wrong and why they fell down, for lack of better terminology.  We all question what we are on the planet for, if we are on the right path, if not, how do we get on the right one,  What Are We Doing???

Yet, Ye who has the most positive of attitude and outlook on life, in return has the greatest battle to stay in the “light”.  Why?  Because others (those who aren’t fortunate enough to be driven by a dream, goal, thrill, or happiness and fun) just don’t understand and will always, out of fear, lack of understanding or just plain jealousy, try to make you doubt or rethink or re-evaluate or reconsider, and it isn’t always hard to knock you out of sync and away from the energy where you are in your zone, passionate and on fire for life.

How can we avoid those low or sad places?   STAY FOCUSED ON THE GOAL!!!

If the goal is  great enough…we will suffer, work extra hours, overcome the fear, wait and work thru the pain… we can endure almost anything to achieve what we so desire, if we stay driven and can see the end result.  We may not know how we’re gonna get there or all the messed up, crazy, uncomfortable, small yet disastrous details that will happen along the way, but when we know exactly what we want and what it looks like, we can close our eyes and feel it, smell it, taste it… IT IS REAL, it just hasn’t materialized yet.

The problem arises when we take our eyes OFF the goal…that’s when you get the sad Green Day songs, in their moment of self pity, confusion, when the composer has lost focus in their own life.

So if you are having a not so great day or even worse, a dark day, week, month, year, I so hope it hasn’t ever been longer than that…ask yourself…is or are my goals big enough and important enough to get me thru this moment?  In the end, when I am living MY LIFE BY DESIGN and not by default… I WILL look back and feel that no matter how bad or painful it felt… I did what I needed to do, for me, the way it need to be done, for me, and as I did it, for me (because ultimately, “me” is the only one you have control over),  those whose lives I touch and interact with, are also benefited by my authenticity and every Jump… Up and Down,  WAS WORTH IT

Until next time…Keep your eye on the goal and the rest will work itself out

Samantha Poland

Reflections of a Real Estate Performance Coach and Trainer and now Realtor Extraordinaire

If everything seems under control…you’re just not going fast enough… Mario Andretti

I love the thought of how this works…I haven’t personally been one who cherishes the paved road or the most direct route in life. In fact I like to think more like a butterfly vs. an airplane. Being in constant movement floating with purpose to an end result…but appreciating the trip from A-B with a few tourist stops along the way…to keep it interesting and intriguing and to “check-in” with myself and where I truly want to land. If you are more like an airplane, you are strictly a point A to point B traveler. Now neither way is wrong , there is no judgment on how you should choose to live, and most of us have traveled both ways in our lives, I know I have…it’s just a perspective and a choice on what you are looking to get out of your experience…a butterfly requires the luxury of time…and the willingness to “let go” of some control as you move from the yellow flower to the red flower, enjoying the sun and breeze and some unexpectedness along the way. As a butterfly you may even find, during your flutter induced flight, that the red flower was never meant to be your final destination, but a resting place, to gather the energy to move on to a pink one, a flower you didn’t even know existed from outside the garden.  The airplane is necessary when you are in a position that requires immediate, specific results… You move from A to B with no hesitation and you beg for no layovers or delays…you fly OVER everything else and get where you intend as fast as possible…this is appropriate in some situations and even a butterfly traveler books a flight from time to time. However…what might we be missing…if we’re always above “life” only sticking to a flight plan that we created who knows how long ago and under who’s direction? Was it our choice and if so is that destination still our choice as we travel and interact with other passengers…learning more about what may be happening down on the ground? As we fly, we might pass over the largest ball of yarn…the great Mississippi and the Grand Canyon…what are we missing by not actually indulging in the experience?

The airplane is safe, we know where we took off from…where we will be landing and when. The butterfly is more on faith and a journey of transition. We know where we left from and we know where we intend to go and move forward with that goal…but we are open to the detours…the distractions, the education, the other opportunities and frankly the idea that our original destination may have been just the “idea” or “plan” we needed, to lead us to a our true happiness or true life, the real path of least resistance for our spirits…

If you find yourself on a the airplane and you realize this is not “your” journey…it is harder to make a change…you have to wait to land…get your luggage…and then plot your new trip…it is not impossible…in fact, it’s an empowering situation…but it can appear overwhelming and you may question whether it’s worth the “work” to re-route yourself or “hey, though this isn’t what I expected when my journey began…it was my choice and here I am and I’ll make the best of it”. A butterfly would not see it as work, but your life’s adventure …having enjoyed and appreciated the journey and the places you’ve been, yet open to a new route and path to joy, when or if it becomes necessary and mandatory…settling for nothing less than what you deserve…a life of astonishment!

Until Next Time…may you be Astonished!

Samantha Poland

Reflections of a Real Estate Performance Coach and Trainer and now Realtor Extraordinaire  

WARNING: the path of the butterfly is NOT without its tears and fears and is not for the faint of heart. There may be rains, winds, bubble bees and all other sorts of unknown obstacles to weather…but there will NOT be flight delays, unexpected layovers, hours spent in boredom, lost baggage, security checks, nor the requirement to be at the mercy of someone elses flight schedule.

This has been a challenge thru my coaching career and frankly thru many of our lives.  It sounds easy, right?  Why wouldn’t you be open to giving up the good for the great?  Well, that’s because the great isn’t always clear-cut, easy, and all wrapped up in a bow, and yet you will probably  have to give up the good before the great can completely manifest.  Sound scary?

That is simply why most of us are not John D. Rockefeller.  In fact, the 80/20 rule applies here in several areas:

Most of us have what it takes, but only 20% of us will make it happen.  There are many beliefs as to why, but I’m going to go with motivation.  Did you know that 80% of us are motivated by pain and only 20% by pleasure?  You are going to argue with me, but before you do, let me explain.  Remember the saying, “you have to hit rock bottom”, it applies for many of us.  We can have hopes and dreams, desires, wants and “stuff” we pretend we are working for.  But is it a true goal, something you are working towards at every opportunity and are you making the time for the tasks you must complete to accomplish the goal? Are you willing to be deterred by nothing to accomplish it, even if it feels impossible, no one else believes, others condemn and mock you for it, but you just know… that if  you could just ”GET” to this ”thing”… here is where the “amazement” would be (forgive the melodrama)… or is it ok, if you don’t get it accomplished? Does your life continue, would it be better if one of your wants were achieved, but the world wouldn’t stop spinning, if you didn’t? If you answered yes to the latter, then you simply only have a 20% chance of making it your reality.  However, if your family was going to starve without 1 of your goals being reached or you were going to lose your home or your car or your life…would you act different?  

Took me awhile to get there, but my point is.  We run from pain… we work towards the things that will keep us from being in pain, much more often than we run to pleasure. Typically “pleasure” just isn’t strong enough to keep 80% of us focused.  It is the select 20% that even when comfortable, have the desire, will and accountability to step out of the ”comfortable” or the “good” and go on blind faith and possibly endure some “pain” to get the great they deserve.   

So we discussed motivation…or for some…lack of.  The next road block would be “do I deserve it”, basically your validity or entitlement to have it.  Of course you do, but do you believe it.  We are taught from childhood a few “beliefs” that completely mess with the mind of deserving abundance.  Don’t take more than 1 cookie… have you been a good boy, do you deserve a…no one gets everything they want.  Well, that is just ridiculous!!!!   why not have more cookies, money, love, health, joy, glory, passion, than deemed appropriate by the rest of the world…Everyone deserves it…whether, once again, deemed ”good” or not…and YES, some people actually get EVERYTHING they want…(but you have to know what you want, that’s a whole other post).

So when it comes to “being afraid to give up the good for the great”  some of us have the stomach for it and some of us don’t.  If you want it, but don’t know how to make it happen…that can be learned.  If you want to overcome the fear, just don’t know how…that can be learned.  But if you really think you want it, but aren’t willing to take a risk…that inate desire cannot be learned…

Last piece…it’s ok to be comfortable with good.  There is no right or wrong way to feel about choices, life, futures and reality.  In some situations good may be just good enough.  What I don’t want to see happen…is for some of you to want great, but be too afraid to give up the good.  So you get to make the choice…it’s your life, your existence, your future, your one time around the block and your story to be told…

One last question: if there was no way to fail, it was a sure thing, done deal, successful in EVERYTHING you did and planned to do…what would you be doing, right now?

Until Next Time,

Samantha Poland

Reflections of a Real Estate Performance Coach and Trainer and now…Realtor Extrordinnaire

Tampa Bay, Florida

(about an hour later)…

After writing several paragraphs, then deleting them…I’ve decided not to think through the fog.  I’ve decided that there are times when it’s ok to just be.  I want to know the answers…I want to know what decisions I should and need to make…I want to know if the risk is worth it…I want to make it all happen NOW and my way…I want to know what the future holds…but do I NEED to know?   Yes, but not today.

I talk about mindset, mind over matter, perspective and it is all important, needs to be kept in check, to keep us where we want to go: financially, personally, relationship wise and spiritually.  But guess what? Sometimes it’s alright to just have “a day”… one that doesn’t progress you forward nor propel you back.  It’s just a day to feel/do what you need to do. 

Give yourself a break, don’t be so hard on yourself, take the day off, mentally.  Let the day of  “just being”, allow you to recharge.  Tomorrow will bring about a new opportunity to be ready and prepared to sort through “the stuff”.

(about 4 hours later)

Wow, how one’s mind can process in a day or at least mine   while driving from property to property today, with my client following, I was given a lot of time to continue pondering.  I have had my Aha moment for the day, let’s hope for the week.  In my post last week, I mentioned we find our greatness in the moment we’ve jumped  off the cliff.  In the above post I discussed where my mindset has been today.  What I now realize is that in the moment of suspension, before we hit the ground, we have doubts, fears, excitement, all good and bad mixed up together. Gravity will prevail and we will hit the ground, in the way we intend, which would be on our feet, if we have the right attitude …but while we’re “uncomfortably” in the air, we have choices…we can kick and scream (the mood I was in this morning) or we can simply be in the faith we had at the time of our leap and enjoy the experience. 

 Until next time…just be

Samantha Poland

Reflections of a Real Estate Performance Coach and Trainer and once again Realtor Extraordinaire

Tampa Bay Florida