Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So here we are--the last day of 2008--and what a year it was. This year was probably best defined by change both for myself and the world around us. Change is something that, for most is very hard thing to accept, much less self-induce. Change for me has been a constant through most of my life. Fortunately, it is not something that I fear. If you know me, you also know that I accept the challenge of change on a regular basis.

From a personal perspective, change has come in the way of a recommitment to my health and fitness that has led to the loss of almost 50 pounds!!! The workout I have been doing for quite a while is called Crossfit (http://www.crossfit.com/ is a test of both your physical and mental commitment to fitness and leaves you completly spent after each workout. One aspect of Crossfit is an exercise called the Tabata Protocal (created by Dr. Izumi Tabata at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo). The basic concept of this cardio interval training method is to do intense exercise for 20 seconds, rest 10 seconds, and repeat for 8 cycles. The entire workout only takes 4 minutes . . . 3:50 to be exact. This theory applied to a combination of excersices creates an intense anaerobic and aerobic workout that will have you as fit as you have ever been in your life.

My business also changed tremendously in 2008, and I am very excited about the opportunities before me. I joined Turnquist Partners Real Estate, which has turned out to be the best decision of my real estate career. Turnquist Partners has an outstanding vision, brand, and reputation worldwide. Our commitment and expertise in luxury real estate sales will continue to set us apart from our competition. I am excited to be with Turnquist Partners and look forward to growing my business with them. The year 2009 is set to be filled with new hopes and expectations for ourselves, our families, friends, and neighbors. I urge you to accept change instead of fearing it and use it as an opportunity to improve and grow as an individual.

"Dance as if no one were watching, sing as if no one were listening, and live every day as if it were your last."

Preperation

Preparation: The act or process of preparing; the state of having been made ready beforehand; readiness.

There are a thousand different ways to prepare yourself for a thousand different situations. We do it constantly. All day long, as we walk into a crowded room we "mentally prepare" ourselves for the upcoming situation. How we do that depends on our own likes, comforts, and resources of strength.
One of the ways I prepare myself for the day is by taking my dogs, Jack and Sampson, to the Slaughter Creek Metropolitan Park every morning. It is right by my house and located in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (see http://www.sosalliance.org/ for more info about the recharge zone and why is it so important to pick up your dogs poo!!) I go with the intention of getting myself mentally organized, inspired, and motivated for the day. The park gives me a serene and quiet place that allows me to clear my mind and think clearly about my upcoming day.

Going early in the morning with the dogs, while the park is still quiet, also gives me a chance to appreciate and connect with my environment. The park land is over 550 acres of 300-year-old oak trees, Hill Country wildlife, and miles of trails. It is an important part of my daily process and something I will continue to do.

When it comes to helping someone to buy or sell a home, preparation is the #1 tool I have in the bag. As a professional real estate agent it is my responsibility to prepare my client for the transaction, help him or her gain market knowledge, assist as needed in the decision-making process, and negotiate the best outcome for all parties involved. I cannot do these things without a planned course of action and systems in place to execute the plan.

A home seller must prepare her or his home for sale. And as someone who understands the time value of money, I understand that it is even more important to do the things necessary at the beginning of the sale to avoid losing thousands on the back end of the transaction. Getting your home preinspected is a great way to put yourself, as the home seller, in a winning position from the word Go! When it comes to negotiating repairs on your home there will be no big surprises that could lead to the buyer's asking for thousands in repairs or even terminating the contract .

So many sellers put their house on the market with no idea of its current condition. You wouldn’t be able to sell a car for top dollar if you didn’t know whether or not the engine started. How could you properly and confidently price the car if you didn't know its condition? It is the same with your home. Knowing the condition of the house from the outset will go a long way in getting you the most money in the least amount of time.

Understanding these principles and my commitment to preparing myself mentally, spiritually, and physically are the key pillars of the foundation of my success.

"Preparation." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 22 Dec. 2008. http://www.answers.com/topic/preparation

Home Sweet Home

Most of us have a place we call home. Home for me is Phoenix, Arizona. I was born in Long Beach, California, but at a young age moved to Phoenix. I lived in Phoenix until I moved to Austin, Texas, at age 22.


I just got back from a visit home where I had an amazing time. It has gotten me thinking about how our past shapes who we are and motivates us in our daily lives. I have always had the ability to look forward and not let the things in my past affect me . . . or so I thought! This past weekend I realized how attached to my past I really am and how important it is to me.


Growing up in Phoenix, my mother and I struggled to get by. She did what she could to provide a safe, stable, caring environment for us. I learned very quickly that the material things in our life were temporary, but that the love and respect my mother had for me was constant. She has always cherished our relationship more than anything else. I have brought that importance of relationships with me to my adult life and realize they should be tended and cared for like our most prized possessions.

I have also brought my relationship values to my real estate practice. The benefits of a relationship-based transaction with the intention of building a "client for life" experience are threefold over a business-only transaction and is my goal with every client and vendor I work with.

This one ideal and business practice will, I hope, be the catalyst for both a successful real estate career and a productive and full personal life.


Thank you to everyone with whom I have had the opportunity to grow and cultivate a relationship. I will continue to value, respect, and appreciate each and every one of you.

How IS the Market?

The first question I always get when I tell someone I am a professional realtor is "How’s the Market"? Well, the market is adjusting and has changed from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. Fortunately, real estate is local, and Austin is holding strong.

It is no surprise that Austin is in a winning position. We did not see the double-digit appreciation rates and investor-driven appreciation other cities saw.

The Austin market currently has 11,377 properties for sale. That is a 6% increase over this same time last year. That number is not bad when you compare it to a city like Phoenix, which has over 30,000 homes on the market!! As for average prices, the "New Listings" average list price is up 6.30%, to 328,479. In October 2007 the average list price was $309,024. Sold average sales prices increased 0.35%, to $241,447 from $240,606 in October 2007.

We also have a lower-than-average unemployment rate. Employment in the Austin-Round Rock region increased 1.9% between October 2007 and October 2008, outpacing many of Austin's economic development competitors, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On a personal note:

The TAAF Flag Football State Championship was this past weekend. The tournament was in Brownsville at an awesome sports complex. Our team, Austin Turbo, came in 5th out of more than 35 teams. We had high expectations for winning, but are very happy with our result and had a great time.

I am always reminded by a game like football, and my weekend at the state tournament, how important teamwork is, not only in a game like football, but in our personal and professional lives. My real estate team is as competitive as my football team . We work together to create an over-the-top client experience and have the skill level and experience to overcome any challenges that may arise during a real estate transaction.

Thanks for your time and interest

Ben