"The Property System's organization, ................. a far reaching real estate network serving thousands of families across the Southeast"

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Fourth Issue - Issue # 4 – 30 June 2006

Quarterly Newsletter From Property Systems

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News Flashes – High Lights

* CORPORATE THEME - This year’s theme is, “Quit talking about it and do it!”

* WEB SITE COUNTER - Property System’s Home Page Web Hits

June 2006 – 103,400.00

April 2006 - 94,950.00

* AFFILIATES IN SYSTEM NOW

June 2006 – 110 – (We have 15 in process)

April 2006 - 116

* RESPONSIBILITY MANAGER STATISTICS

Total Tasks Assigned – 2,264.00

* TRIVIA QUESTION - Trivia Question Winner – Robbie Key - What is the name of the actor who played the hobo in Mayberry? Answer: Buddy Ebsen

* NEW SIGNS – Property Systems has a new sign design being released this month. The sign is a horizontal version and is a good bit bigger then the old ones. Click here to order signs:

http://www.presentalloffers.com/YardSignsOrderForm.aspx

* BIGGEST LISTING – This listing is under contract to a major buyer with a closing date of November 2006. Property Systems Land Corporation lists the biggest and highest priced property in the history of the company. 16,142.00 acres is listed for $315,000,000.00 in Camden County, Georgia. There will be a package available at the Corporate Office by the bathroom.

* TRAINING CLASSES - Is The Real Estate Business A Career Or Hobby For You? Training Class - Date of Next Class – Saturday, the 15th of July 2006 – 1720 Powers Ferry Road - Marietta

Quarterly Welcome Message

Greetings from the Corporate Office of Property Systems!

Summer is here and everyone seems to be busy with their business and personal lives. Production has been consistent.

In May 2006, The Director of Career Development position was created. This promotion has been earned by Larry Whorley. We have recruits in process and the #’s will be increasing for sure. If you have any person interested in our program, please contact Larry.

In April 2006, our training session had 30 attendees. It took place at the Hyatt Regency in Marietta. The group learned about various aspects of real estate.

More news will follow as it is available.

Best regards,

Reese Freyer

Property Systems – Qualifying Broker

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DEADLINE - The Next Deadline For Articles & Updates Is The 16th Of September – Any Affiliate, Please Submit Any News Item On Line At This Link

http://www.presentalloffers.com/SubmitArticle.aspx

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FEEDBACK – If you have any feedback about any aspect of Property Systems, or the VISION Newsletter, please feel free to submit your comments to Corporate. You can submit your information anonymously at this link:

http://www.presentalloffers.com/Feedback.aspx?feedback=CorporateOffice#FormStart

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TRAINING CLASS SIGN UP – Please register on line for the training classes at this link: http://www.presentalloffers.com/Feedback.aspx?feedback=Party#FormStart

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Training System Classes & Modules

Date of Next Class – Saturday, the 15th of July 2006 – At The Corporate Office

Your Manager and the Corporate Office have defined the training schedule and content. The schedule and content will be constant from this point forward. So all managers and affiliates can count on this schedule.

Here are the details on available training:

  1. FREQUENCY - Training will take place 4 times a year on a quarterly basis. Classes will take place on Saturdays from 8:30 AM – 4: 30 PM.
  1. TEACHERS – The training content will be taught by various managers and corporate office employees, who are active in the real estate business. The difference in our training and other organizations is real world vs. classroom. We are attempting to provide real world and real time training situations vs. something “parrotted” by a teacher that is class room driven, boring, and out of a book. Most trainers have never been active in the business.
  1. LOCATION – Depending on the # of CONFIRMED students, the location will be in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Alternative locations will be designated at the appropriate time.
  1. REGISTRATION – Registration will need to be done on line by the student on line at the following link: This event is called “Quarterly Training Class”

Sign Up For Training Below:

http://www.presentalloffers.com/Feedback.aspx?feedback=Party#FormStart

  1. MODULES – The modules will correspond with the Promotions System. All REALTORS, REALTOR Associates, REALTOR Broker Associates need to refer to their Promotions System Check List up loaded on the Responsibility Manager to see which modules are required. ALL affiliates will need to attend the modules regarding “Orientation” and “Face To Face Meeting With Loan Officer” The rest of the modules will relate to the development of listing, selling, recruiting, training and managing in that order. The modules scheduled early in the monring will concentrate on the entry lvel positions, and the ones later in the day are for those who want to prospect and recruit.

  1. CONTENT FOR MODULES – Below are the modules and time line covered with the training class.

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Orientation

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Break

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM – Financing Of Real Estate Segment - Loan Officer Presentation

The above will complete the minimum requirements for the REALTOR Promotions System.

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11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Time Management 101 - Prospecting For Buyers, Sellers & Recruits

12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch Time – Food May Be Provided Or Students Can Go Out To A Local Area

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM - Broker Price Opinions & Competitive Market Analysis’s

TAKE A BREAK IF YOU WANT, BUT THE CLASS IS STILL GOING TO ROLL

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM – Working With Buyers & Seller – Marketing Techniques

Reports

These various reports are available on the home page. A link has been provided for your convenience.

Robert Siegel Economic Report – This report is password protected. Password = report – This author writes a bi monthly article on the housing market in the United States and divides it up by region. http://www.presentalloffers.com/EconomicReport.aspx

GA Department Of Banking & Finance Newsletters – This is the monthly newsletter from the Department of Banking and Finance, the regulatory agency for the mortgage and banking business. http://www.presentalloffers.com/Content.aspx?pageKey=BankFinanceNews

Daily Real Estate Message – This is an internal message for Property System’s web site users.

http://www.presentalloffers.com/messages.asp

New Members & Affiliates

Please welcome these new affiliates to our organization.

Member of Property Systems

Fred R. Freyer Jr.

877-522-5577

fred@fredfreyer.com

Member of Property Systems

Casey Anglin

877-522-5577

caseyanglin@adelphia.net

Member of Property Systems

Elizabeth Freyer

877-522-5577

elizabeth@fredfreyer.com

License Active

Wayne Keen

678-777-3823

770-333-8930

wayne@osiatlanta.com

Member of Property Systems

Tony Gambino

703-209-3696

tgabbs@gmail.com

Member of Property Systems

Luders Etienne

404-626-2845

alceus14@hotmail.com

Member of Property Systems

Tony Michael Gambino

770-355-1451

tgabbs@gmail.com

Member of Property Systems

Mary Aleman Davis

678-574-0673

felicita26@yahoo.com

Member of Property Systems

Adriana Suarez

678-457-2992

luzasu@yahoo.com

Member of Property Systems

Barnett Grier

404-557-5845

404-228-0544

bgrier3@earthlink.net

Member of Property Systems

Kimberley Shoebridge

404-456-4204

770-338-9622

kimshoebridge@adelphia.net

Member of Property Systems

Darlene Martin

404-217-1632

pbeyze@comcast.net

Member of Property Systems

Susan Green

770-883-1446

sbgreen@bellsouth.net

Vision News

Here are some updates Reese Freyer has been working on:

Written goals are the key to success! If you are not writing down what you want to achive you are making a big mistake.

Question: Is real estate a hobby or a career? Be thinking about this answer when you set your goals.

Goals – If you want to meet with your manager to set goals, click on this link and set up a time for a face to face meeting. http://www.presentalloffers.com/GoalSetting.aspx Remember, “Quit talking about it and do it!” Set up a time to come up with your goal list. Please remember your manager is your first point of contact if you need assistance in any aspect of your real estate career.

WEB SITE - www.propertysystems.com – Use the web site to stream line through technology the daily administrative factors you need to accomplish.

New Areas of the web site this period include the following:

Conference Call Set Up http://www.presentalloffers.com/ConferenceCall.aspx

Sign Order http://www.presentalloffers.com/YardSignsOrderForm.aspx

Transaction Data Sheets - http://www.presentalloffers.com/agentForm.aspx

Earnest Money Release http://www.presentalloffers.com/ReleaseEarnestMoney.aspx

Earnest Money Submission http://www.presentalloffers.com/EarnestMoney.aspx

Agent Acting As Principal Notice - http://www.presentalloffers.com/ActingAsPrincipal.aspx

Advertisement Needs To Be Approved By Broker - http://www.presentalloffers.com/Advertisement.aspx

ROLE MODEL – Who is the perfect role model as a Property System’s member? What does he/she do to earn a substantial living and income? As a Property System’s affiliate, you have the opportunity to create income from the following sources: listing, selling, recruiting, training, and managing. And opening an office. In order to receive income from all of these sources you must balance your real estate career. I always recommend personal production no matter where you are in your career. Production keeps your skills sharp, and allows you to teach others through real world experiences. So your perfect Property System’s Member does a combination of all of the above.

News/Office Update

FROM LARRY WHORLEY – MARIETTA, GEORGIA – NO REPORT

FROM LARRY AUGST – DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA – NO REPORT

FROM DONALD WIDENER - AUGUSTA, GEORGIA –NO REPORT

FROM MICHAEL ROSS – GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA – NO REPORT

FROM PATRICE PENN – ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Property Detailers Group – No Report

FROM DAPHINE HOLLAND – BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – NO REPORT

FROM SHARI DOVER – REFERRAL AGENT - ECONOMIC UPDATE: The 30 year fixed rate on June 14, 2006 is 6.625%. Homeowners who have home equity lines of credit based on the prime or adjustable rate programs based on prime will see that their mortgage payments are increasing due to the increases over the last year. The Prime Rate is at 8% versus 6% about a year ago. According to a Harvard Housing Studies Report researchers downplay the risk in mortgages with adjustable rates and easy down payment requirements. Those loans introduce uncertainty, some worry: if interest rates rise, owners could find themselves with much higher monthly payments and that could result in a big jump in foreclosures and forced sales, adding to home inventory and hurting prices.

The Harvard researchers don’t expect that to happen, though. Most owners with risky loans have already seen their home values grow substantially. "Having significant home equity is the best protection against foreclosure because homeowners can sell at a profit if they cannot cover their mortgage payments."

Sales of new single-family homes jumped unexpectedly by 4.9% in April, their highest rate since last December. Analysts had been anticipating a decline. The median price of a new home sold in April was $238,500, up just 0.9% from a year ago.

Sales of existing single-family homes fell by 2% in April, the National Association of Realtors said May 25. The median price of an existing home sold in April was $223,000, an increase of 4.2% from April 2005. The rise was the smallest year-over-year gain since September 2001.

Information provided by:

L

FROM DONNA CARSWELL – AUGUSTA, GEORGIA:

Information To Be Submitted:

Hi to everyone from the Augusta office. Business is going strong here. Of course, our main focus is Reo. We have 2 offices here and it looks like it is going to be a busy summer. So far this week, we have gotten several new REO properties and now it is time to do all the legwork from occupancy checks to the CMA's. We haven't had much luck with recruiting new salespersons but we are motivated. Hope everyone has a great June.

Article Title:

Augusta Hello

FROM HORACE CARTER – MARIETTA OFFICE:

First Name:

Horace

Last Name:

Carter

Current Email:

carter2349 @bellsouth.net

My Office:

Larry Whorley & Associates

Information To Be Submitted:

IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO INVEST IN MULTI-FAMILY UNITS? According to.... The National Multi-Housing Council's (NMHC) April 2006 Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market conditions released a Market Tightness Index that remains at 83 for the January to April period. An index reading above 50 indicates that, on balance, conditions are improving; a reading below 50 indicates that conditions are worsening; and a reading of 50 indicates that conditions are unchanged. It was the fourth consecutive quarter for an index of at least 80, a level unattained in the seven year history of the survey.

Article Title:

FROM GEORGE ANSONG – MARIETTA OFFICE:

Back To the Fundamentals of the Real Estate Business

By George Ansong – Real Estate Agent Specializing in Investment Properties

If you are like most people you glanced at your production goal for this year and realized that you have not met your mid term goals as you projected. What should you do? I am assuming that you have a production goal in mind for 2006. I think you have to go back to the fundamentals of this business which is prospecting.

There are so many ways of prospecting:

1. Call your sphere of influence

2. Email campaign

3. Mail outs to designated areas

4. Contacting FSBO or Absentee Owners

5. Create a website as prospecting tool

6. Offer free over the phone CMA – Comparative Market Analysis

Prospecting is the bedrock of this business and out of this everything else flows. Prospecting is the link to your success: Here are the six links to your success as a Real Estate Agent:

· Prospects – You have to make contacts with prospects

· Schedule – You have to schedule appointments

· Attend Appointments – you have to meet the clients face to face

· Listing -Take the listing or write the buyer agency agreement

· Contracts – write the purchase and sale agreement

· Closings – Attend the closing and receive your commission check

Here are some ideas for you to explore:

1. Set monthly goals – measurable goals – I will call 5 Sphere Of Influence everyday and set one good appointment. Ultimate goal is to close 3 contracts per month. Keep re-committed to your goals every month.

2. Be in a support structure – Training and support structure – People who can help you

3. Remember to do the High PRIORITY Activity everyday – Call or Follow up on prospects

FROM VICTOR WAGNER – ST. MARY’S GEORGIA:

How To UNDERWRITE An Owner Financed Note

Why Underwrite a Note?

Understand the monthly financial picture of the debtor – DON’T FORGET you are agreeing to make a loan to a complete stranger

ESPECIALLY with a second lien note – DON’T JUST ACCEPT that because the buyer is approved for the first – everything is okay – GET YOUR PAPERWORK UP FRONT – or you will never get it

If you act like a mortgage company – buyers will give you the docs – get a copy package of the 1st mortgage application

WHAT INFORMATION TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE:

Gross Income and the sources (wages, social security, rents, interest/dividends)

Housing Expense - Mortgage payment PITI - loan payment (principal and interest), property taxes and homeowner’s insurance

Consumer Debts – recurring monthly payments – categorized as installment (auto loans, terms loans), revolving (credit cards-retail, gas, general) and open (30 day charge – AMEX, Diner’s Club, Carte Blanche)

NEW NOTES

PREPARE a Form 1003 Uniform Residential Loan Application

Standard credit and information application used in Mortgage Underwriting Analysis

Calculate two ratios (percentages)

Housing ratio (front ratio) – Total Housing Payment/ Total Gross Income

Total ratio (back ratio) - (Total Housing Payment plus Total Consumer Debts)/ Total Gross Income

Purpose of ratios – calculate housing and consumer debt payments as percentage of income – compare “apples to apples”

Traditional ratios: 28/35 – today back ratios up to 50% are common – FNMA/FHLMC AUS (DU, LP) – does not have set standard ratios – equation of several factors (credit score, credit depth, liquid and non-liquid assets, residual income, LTV, CLTV, purpose of loan (purchase, rate/term refinance, cash out refinance)) determining whether application is approved or not - “state secret”

APPRAISAL REPORT (Form 1004)

Standard Full Appraisal – interior/exterior pictures – comp pictures

Drive By Appraisal (Form 2055) – Exterior photos only – less comp info obtained and used to call a value

Determine in advance that you will receive an original Appraisal Report

OBTAIN VERIFICATIONS

Employment (VOE)

Rent (VOR)

Mortgage (VOM)

PULL A TRI MERGE CREDIT BUREAU REPORT (CBR) (Repositories: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian)

Make sure ALL debts on the CBR are on the application

CALCULATE:

Ratios – Front and Back

Obtain CBR and Credit Score (FICO)

Obtain Verifications

Residual Income

Review Appraisal Report

LTV (Loan to Value)

CLTV (Combined Loan to Value) (1st & 2nd liens)

BOTTOM LINE:

NOTE PACKAGES with organized “pretty” information/documents are worth more – Investors will pay more – the more information available – the less the perceived risk. Will the debtor pay earlier because your have a pretty note package? Probably not. Will you know where to go and find him if he doesn’t because you have a pretty package? ABSOLUTELY

ASKING AND GETTING JUST A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BORROWER MAY ONE DAY SAVE YOUR ASSETS!

Mortgage Department

James Hill, and Fernandis Adams are available to prequalify any of your prospects. All are available at (O) 877-734-3674.

Subject: Newsletter Article Submission

First Name: Fernandis

Last Name: Adams

Current Email: fernandis@propertysystemscorporate.com

My Office: Marietta

Information To Be Submitted: Loan applications were slow but the increase of applications are looking very promising! Rates are pretty decent i.e; (5/1 I/O Investor- 7.875%), (30yr Fixed- 5.375%), (5/1 Arm- 5.875%).

Article Title: Mortgage Update

Loan Servicing Statistics

Home Loan Delinquency Rate Drops
The percentage of home loans that are past due or in foreclosure showed widespread improvement in the first quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Overall, 4.41% of home loans were at least 30-days late at the end of the first quarter, down 29 basis points from the fourth quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the MBA's National Delinquency Survey. The percentage of loans in the foreclosure process declined one basis point to 0.98% from the previous quarter. MBA chief economist Doug Duncan said a strong economy and job growth in the first quarter offset factors such as the aging of the loan portfolio, rising short term interest rates, and high energy prices that have put upward pressure on delinquency rates.

Third Party Article Of The Month

In Focus: Digital Photography Basics

Today, the majority of real estate professionals are utilizing a digital camera to capture photos of their properties. The photos are then added to their listing, used on flyers, and are placed on other marketing materials. It is often just a single exterior photo that is representing their property to thousands of potential buyers. Ask yourself these questions: Are your photos sending the message that you want them to? Could learning more about your tools help you create a better photo to "sell" your property?

What is a Digital Photo?
Just like a conventional camera, a digital camera has a series of lenses that focus light to create an image of a scene. However, instead of focusing this light onto a piece of film, it focuses it onto a semiconductor device that records light electronically. A computer then breaks this electronic information down into digital data. Digital images are made up of rows of colored squares that make up a rectangular grid to produce a whole picture. These squares are called pixels. The more pixels, the better the image.

Resolution is the term used to describe the total number of pixels that are in an image, or how many colored squares make up the 'grid.' For photos being input into FMLS, the maximum resolution is 640 x 480, (meaning that the photos need to be 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels tall.) Making sure you photos utilize the maximum allowed resolution will ensure that they are as 'crisp' and detailed as possible.

On most digital cameras, placing them on the LOW resolution setting will result in images that are 640 X 480. The DEFAULT setting on most digital cameras is a much larger resolution. (Look for terms in your manual such as Compression, Image Mode, Picture Quality/Size for instructions on how to adjust the resolution you are using.) Reducing the resolution on photos you are taking for your real estate purposes will also allow you to fit more photos onto your camera's memory card or memory stick. For a quick guide to image resolution, review the chart below:

  • 256x256 - Found on very cheap cameras, this resolution is so low that the picture quality is almost always unacceptable. This is 65,000 total pixels. (Produces "grainy" or pixilated image.)
  • 640x480 - This is the low end on most cameras. This resolution is ideal for e-mailing pictures or posting pictures on a Web site.
  • 1216x912 - This is a "megapixel" image size -- 1,109,000 total pixels -- good for printing pictures.
  • 1600x1200 - With almost 2 million total pixels, this is "high resolution." You can print a 4x5 inch print taken at this resolution with the same quality that you would get from a photo lab.
  • 2240x1680 - Found on 4 megapixel cameras -- the current standard -- this allows even larger printed photos, with good quality for prints up to 16x20 inches.
  • 4064x2704 - A top-of-the-line digital camera with 11.1 megapixels takes pictures at this resolution. At this setting, you can create 13.5x9 inch prints with no loss of picture quality.
    (Resolution information courtesy of www.howstuffworks.com)

Even if your images are larger than 640 x 480 they can be resized fairly easily, to the 640 x 480 size. (Read on to learn more about resizing.)

Another thing to be aware of when dealing with digital photos is file type and size. The most popular digital file format is JPEG or .jpg (pronounced JAY-peg.) FMLS requires that property photos be in JPEG format and that the file size is no larger than 150k. File format designates how a file/image was reduced or compressed to be read in a digital format. The great majority of digital cameras are going to, by default, produce images in the JPEG file format. File size correlates to the number of bytes that are contained in the digital image (150k = 150,000 Bytes.) The number of bytes a file contains effects how much digital file space it will take up on your computer and how complicated it will be for a computer to process or manipulate that file.)

Resizing Digital Photos
Digital cameras often come with software that will aid you in transferring, resizing, and cropping your photos. If your camera did not, there are free photo editing softwares that are available on the web (for example, Google's Picasa and fxPhoto) as well as a number of free online resizing web sites (such as, www.shutterfly.com and www.resize2mail.com.)

What Can I Do to Optimize the Photos for my Listings?
Lighting
A photo showing a well lit room is going to enhance your listing much more than one of a dark room. To make your room look as light and bright as possible there are a few things to be aware of. Backlighting often causes the inside of a room to appear dark. In the daytime, light streaming in from a window will often fool a camera's light meter (or auto flash.) If you are working with a flash, turn on all the lights to be sure your exposures are sufficiently lit. Another option is to use "fill flash" to soften dark areas or shadows and bring out details that may otherwise be lost. (This can be accomplished by utilizing your camera's auto flash.) Finally, a third option is to reduce your camera's shutter speed to allow more ambient light into the exposure- making the light look more natural. However this technique requires the use of a tripod or very steady hand as the slower shutter speed can result in the image looking blurry if the camera moves (a.k.a. camera shake.)

White Balance
When using film cameras indoors, photographers often use filters to balance out the color of the light that is cast by incandescent or fluorescent lighting. Without such filters indoor photos would often have a yellowish or bluish cast. In the digital world, these correction filters are no longer necessary, replaced by a feature found in most, even the entry-level, digital cameras called, White Balance. Digital cameras often provide preset White Balance settings such as, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Sunny, Auto, etc. Using preset White Balance can improve a picture, especially under indoor lighting. Once you've selected a White Balance setting, just remember to reset this white balance setting when you head back outdoors into natural light.

Composition
Take several photos from different angles for each shot you'd like to capture. This will give you a group of photos from which you can choose the best picture. Find the 'horizon' line in the space and ensure that your photographs composition is properly aligned. When taking the exterior shot, take the photos from different distances and positions. In the shots below, notice how in the first photo the home appears to be dominated by the driveway and that the front door is obscured. Now look at the second photo and notice the subtle differences in composition that result in better curb appeal.

Staging
The cheapest way to revamp a home is to eliminate distracting elements and clutter when taking photos of interiors. You want to make it easy for a potential buyer to visualize living in the space as his or her own. It’s important to make the house look its best when it comes time to post your listing. That first impression is essential.

Want to learn more about optimizing your listing photos? Check out our newest class, Digital Photography 101- covering the basics of digital photography and its role in the real estate industry. Be sure to take advantage of this FREE opportunity to learn more about one of the top tools that you have for marketing your listings, YOUR CAMERA! In this class, students will learn how to choose a camera, use the best settings, get tips for uploading photos, and how to resize their photos. To register for this course, please visit www.fmls.com, click on Training, click on Instructor-Led Courses, and click on the Digital Photography 101 course that will be the most convenient for you.


Sources:
Atkins, Bob. Digital Cameras: A beginner's guide. <http://www.photo.net/equipment/digital/basics/>.

Wilson, Tracy; Nice, K; Gurevich, G. How Digital Cameras Work. <http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/digital-camera.htm>.

Text Tutorial: Tips for Better Looking Real Estate Photos <http://www.realestatephotoexperts.com/Photography_Tips/page_1197194.html>.

Digital Explained. <http://www.colorama.co.uk/online/digitalexplained.html>.

Trivia Question

On the cartoon, “The Flintstones” what TV show was the inspiration to its creation? Please submit your answer to “Broker On Duty” http://www.presentalloffers.com/brokeronduty.asp

Delinquent Members

If your name appears below, you need to contact the Corporate Office immediately. Please call Michael Redd at 877-522-5577 X. 8018 to discuss this problem.

Habitual Members who do not pay at all:

Erica Paige

Reginald Williams

Shauna Ostler

Joeslie Jones

Jadon Steavens

March Dues Still Owed

Erica Paige

Leai Williams

Deidre Sligh

Tachara Lane

Shauna Ostler

James McRae

Reginald Williams

April Dues Still Owed

Lameate Dixon

Natasha Dodd

Jadon Steavens

Joselie Jones

Erica Paige

Leia Williams

Shauna Ostler

Reginald Williams

May Dues Still Owed

Mark Granigan

Judy Meer

Andrian Suarez

Lameate Dixon

James Gault

Natasha Dodd

Jadon Steavens

Allison Worsham

Joeslie Jones

Chubassco Spivey

Erica Paige

Dan Hogan

Tachara Lane

Danny Goodwin

Shauna Ostler

Daphine Holland

Chartlton Carswell

Anne Foss

Jimmy McRae

Eric Morrison

Gene Pool

Tameka Sims

Reginald Williams

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Third Issue - Issue # 3 – 23 March 2006

Newsletter From Property Systems

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News Flashes

 

* CORPORATE THEME  - This year’s theme is, “Quit talking about it and do it!”

 

* WEB SITE COUNTER - Property System’s Home Page Web Hits – 94,950.00

 

* AFFILIATES IN SYSTEM NOW - 116

 

* TRIVIA QUESTION - Trivia Question Winner – Robbie Key - What is the name of the department store owner in Mayberry? Answer: “Weaver’s Department Store”

 

* BIGGEST LISTING - Property Systems Land Corporation lists the biggest and highest priced property in the history of the company. 16,142.00 acres is listed for $315,000,000.00 in Camden County, Georgia. There will be a package available at the Corporate Office by the bathroom.

 

* TRAINING CLASSES - Is The Real Estate Business A Career Or Hobby For You? Training Class - Date of Next Class – Saturday, the 29th of April 2006 – Location To Be Determined

 

* SPONSOR – Property Systems sponsored “An Evening In Italy” hosted by “The Coastal Symphony of Georgia” on the 27th of February 2006

 

* GAR FORMS - New Version Of Georgia Association of REALTORS Form Contract Are Available. Start using the 2006 version vs. the 2005. They should be updated on your MLS for a seamless transition.

 

Monthly Welcome Message

 

Greetings from the Corporate Office of Property Systems! I hope all is well with you.

 

In February, I had the pleasure to meet Senator/Governor Zell Miller at the Coastal Georgia Community College Foundation gathering on Sea Island, in Southeast Georgia. He is not in politics anymore and is famous for “telling it the way it is” and his “wanting to duel” with Chris Matthews on MSNBC during the Republican National Convention.

 

“Zell” gave about a 45 minute speech about the world today. It is very alarming to hear some of the emerging facts and trends. Many are very scary. The United States needs to wake up in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting this famous and inspirational political figure.

 

OK. Have you implemented the theme for this year in your daily life and business? I sure hope so. We all need to “Quit talking about it, and do it!” Every person at Property Systems needs to focus on the following areas: listing, selling, and recruiting.

If you need any assistance, please call on your Manager to lead you. He/She is a trained professional and has the knowledge to assist you in your day to day activities. Please keep reading below.

 

Best regards,

 

Reese Freyer

Property Systems – Qualifying Broker

 

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DEADLINE - The Next Deadline For Articles & Updates Is The 16th Of Next Month – Any Affiliate, Please Submit Any News Item On Line At This Link

http://www.presentalloffers.com/SubmitArticle.aspx

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FEEDBACK – If you have any feedback about any aspect of Property Systems, or the VISION Newsletter, please feel free to submit your comments to Corporate. You can submit your information anonymously at this link:

http://www.presentalloffers.com/Feedback.aspx?feedback=CorporateOffice#FormStart

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TRAINING CLASS SIGN UP – Please register on line for the training classes at this link: http://www.presentalloffers.com/Feedback.aspx?feedback=Party#FormStart

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Training System Classes & Modules

 

Date of Next Class – Saturday, the 29th of April 2006 – Location To Be Determined

 

Your Manager and the Corporate Office have defined the training schedule and content. The schedule and content will be constant from this point forward. So all managers and affiliates can count on this schedule.

 

Here are the details on available training:

 

  1. FREQUENCY - Training will take place 4 times a year on a quarterly basis. Classes will take place on Saturdays from 8:30 AM – 4: 30 PM.

  1. TEACHERS – The training content will be taught by various managers and corporate office employees, who are active in the real estate business. The difference in our training and other organizations is real world vs. classroom. We are attempting to provide real world and real time training situations vs. something “parrotted” by a teacher that is class room driven, boring, and out of a book. Most trainers have never been active in the business.

  1. LOCATION – Depending on the # of CONFIRMED students, the location will be in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Alternative locations will be designated at the appropriate time.

  1. REGISTRATION – Registration will need to be done on line by the student on line at the following link: This event is called “Quarterly Training Class”

Sign Up For Training Below:

 

http://www.presentalloffers.com/Feedback.aspx?feedback=Party#FormStart

 

  1. MODULESThe modules will correspond with the Promotions System. All REALTORS, REALTOR Associates, REALTOR Broker Associates need to refer to their Promotions System Check List up loaded on the Responsibility Manager to see which modules are required. ALL affiliates will need to attend the modules regarding “Orientation” and “Face To Face Meeting With Loan Officer” The rest of the modules will relate to the  development of listing, selling, recruiting, training and managing in that order. The modules scheduled early in the monring will concentrate on the entry lvel positions, and the ones later in the day are for those who want to prospect and recruit.

 

  1. CONTENT FOR MODULES – Below are the modules and time line covered with the training class.

 

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Orientation

 

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Break

 

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM – Financing Of Real Estate Segment - Loan Officer Presentation

 

The above will complete the minimum requirements for the REALTOR Promotions System.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Time Management 101 - Prospecting For Buyers, Sellers & Recruits

 

12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch Time – Food May Be Provided Or Students Can Go Out To A Local Area

 

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM - Broker Price Opinions & Competitive Market Analysis’s

 

TAKE A BREAK IF YOU WANT, BUT THE CLASS IS STILL GOING TO ROLL

 

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM – Working With Buyers & Seller – Marketing Techniques

 

Reports

 

These various reports are available on the home page. A link has been provided for your convenience.

 

Robert Siegel Economic Report – This report is password protected. Password = report – This author writes a bi monthy article on the housing market in the United States and divides it up by region. http://www.presentalloffers.com/EconomicReport.aspx

 

GA Department Of Banking & Finance Newsletters – This is the monthly newsletter from the Department of Banking and Finance, the regulatory agency for the mortgage and banking business. http://www.presentalloffers.com/Content.aspx?pageKey=BankFinanceNews

 

Daily Real Estate Message – This is an internal message for Property System’s web site users.

http://www.presentalloffers.com/messages.asp

 

Georgia Real Estate Commission Policy On Advertisements – Mandatory Information Must Be Present In All Ads

 

To Have Your Advertisement Approved, Please Submit To Broker On Line:

http://www.presentalloffers.com/Advertisement.aspx

 

Dear Affiliates:

 

There are so many changes in the real estate industry and so many new people entering the business.  We are asking you to share with all agents this excerpt from the Georgia Real Estate Commission Rules and Regs.  Please make sure everyone in your office realizes you must have written permission from the owner to advertise a property in any way, to include signs placed on the property.  Thank you.

520‑1‑.09 Advertising.

(1) Media. This rule regulates advertising whether done personally by a licensee or through any media. The term “media” includes, but is not limited to, print, photographic, broadcast, and computer media including, but not limited to, such examples as newspapers, magazines, flyers, posters, business cards, billboards, radio, television, signs (including, but not limited to, office, directional, for sale, for lease, sold, or vehicle signs), newsletters, and the Internet.

(2) Misleading Advertising. Any advertising that is misleading or inaccurate in any material fact or in any way misrepresents any property, terms, values, services, or policies is prohibited. Whenever a licensee becomes aware that a principal with whom the licensee’s firm has a brokerage engagement is advertising to sell, buy, rent, lease, or exchange a property in such a manner that is inconsistent with this rule, the licensee must immediately take steps to stop the advertising until it complies with this rule.

(2.1) Advertising by Affiliated Licensees. All advertising by associate brokers, salespersons, and community association managers must be under the direct supervision and in the name of the broker who holds their licenses.  

(3) Written Permission to Advertise. A licensee shall not advertise any property for sale, rent, lease, or exchange unless the licensee has first secured the written permission of the owner or the owner’s authorized agent. Where such permission is granted, a licensee advertising property that is listed with another licensee shall clearly and conspicuously disclose that fact and the name of the listing licensee unless the listing licensee has expressly agreed to waive those clear and conspicuous disclosures.

(4) Discriminatory Advertising Prohibited. A licensee shall not advertise to sell, buy, exchange, rent, or lease property when such advertisement is directed at or referred to persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The contents of any advertisement must be confined to information relative to the property itself, and any advertisement that is directed at or referred to persons of any particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin is prohibited.

(5) Internet Advertising. Any licensee who advertises any property for sale, rent, lease, or exchange on the Internet must remove such advertisement within ten days after the expiration of the listing. Note: See 520-1-.11(3) for requirements for licensees advertising as principals.  

(6) Trade Names and Franchise Names. For purposes of this rule the term trade name shall include trade mark and service mark; and the term advertising shall include, but is not limited to, advertising done by others in behalf of the licensee.

(a)Any firm using a trade name or any franchisee in advertising specific properties for sale in any media clearly and unmistakably include said firm’s name as registered with the Commission in a manner reasonably calculated to attract the attention of the public. The firm’s name shall appear adjacent to any specific properties said firm advertises for sale so that the public may unmistakably identify the firm responsible for the handling of the listing of the specific property. In advertising a specific property or properties for sale, for rent, or for exchange, the name of the licensed firm offering the property for sale, for rent, or for exchange shall appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the name or names of any affiliated licensees or groups of licensees.

(b) Any firm using a trade name or any franchisee shall on any signs, business cards, contracts, or other documents relating to real estate transactions clearly and unmistakably include said firm’s name as registered with the Commission.

(c) Any firm using a trade name or any franchisee shall clearly and unmistakably include said firm’s name as registered with the Commission on office signs.

(7) Firm Names and Telephone Numbers in Advertising. In advertising a specific property or specific properties for sale, for rent, or for exchange in any media:

(a)all firms must include in the advertisement a name of the firm that is registered with the Commission and a telephone number for the firm, except when complying with lawful restrictions (such as covenants or local governmental ordinances) that forbid the use of the firm’s name on a particular type of sign;

(b)the name of the licensed firm offering the property for sale, for rent, or for exchange shall appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the name or names of any affiliated licensees or groups of licensees

(c)the firm’s telephone number shall appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the telephone number of any affiliated licensee or groups of licensees, and it must be a number at which the public can reach the broker or a manager without going through the affiliated licensee(s) listed in the advertisement;

(d)whether contained in a logo or standing alone, the name of the firm as registered with the Commission must be in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the name of any affiliated licensee or group of licensees; and

(e)a block advertisement in any print media that advertises various listings of a brokerage firm and includes the name of the listing agent next to each listing shall be in compliance with this rule if the name of the brokerage firm appears only once at the top of the advertisement in equal or greater prominence and print size than any of the listing agent’s names. The firm’s name may be located in other positions in such block advertisements if the firm name appears clearly larger and more prominently than the name of any other licensee in the advertisement.

(8) Licensees Advertising as Principals. A licensee shall not advertise to sell, buy, exchange, rent, or lease property in a manner indicating that the offer to sell, buy, exchange, rent, or lease such property is being made by a private party not licensed by the Real Estate Commission.

(a) Every associate broker, salesperson, and community association manager is prohibited from advertising under the licensee’s own name to buy any property or offering for sale, rent, or lease any property. All advertising by associate brokers, salespersons, and community association managers must be under the direct supervision and in the name of the broker who holds their licenses.

(b) However, when a licensee wishes to advertise property owned by the licensee and which is not under a brokerage engagement with a broker, the licensee may do so provided:

1. if the licensee’s license is affiliated with a broker, the broker holding the licensee’s license has been notified in writing of the specific property to be advertised;  

2. regardless of whether the licensee’s license is affiliated with a broker or on inactive status, any advertisement must include either (a) the legend “seller, buyer, landlord, tenant (select the appropriate name) holds a real estate license” or (b) the legend “Georgia Real Estate License # (insert licensee’s six digit number; for example, 000001).” “Georgia Real Estate License” may be abbreviated to “GA R. E. Lic.;” and

3. if the licensee’s license is affiliated with a broker, the broker gives written consent to advertising the specific property and the advertisement itself.

(9) Licensees Advertising Approved Schools. A licensee shall not advertise that such licensee offers, sponsors, or conducts Commission approved courses or that such licensee offers, sponsors, or conducts Commission approved courses in conjunction with an approved school or other approved organization unless the licensee is approved by the Commission to offer such courses.

 New Members & Affiliates

Please welcome these new affiliates to our organization.

 

Member of Property Systems

Rahman Ali Owens

2/22/2006

Member of Property Systems

Richard Edgar Roquemore

2/22/2006

Member of Property Systems

Jeffrey Cox Hooper

2/22/2006

Member of Property Systems

James Henry Fields IV

2/22/2006

Member of Property Systems

George P. Galphin

2/22/2006

Member of Property Systems

David Coleman

3/16/2006

Top of Form

Member of Property Systems

Lameate P. Dixon

2/24/2006

 

Vision News

 

Here are some updates Reese Freyer has been working on:

 

Written goals are the key to success! If you are not writing down what you want to achive you are making a big mistake.

 

Question: Is real estate a hobby or a career? Be thinking about this answer when you set your goals.

 

Goals – If you want to meet with your manager to set goals, click on this link and set up a time for a face to face meeting. http://www.presentalloffers.com/GoalSetting.aspx Remember, “Quit talking about it and do it!” Set up a time to come up with your goal list. Please remember your manager is your first point of contact if you need assistance in any aspect of  your real estate career.

 

WEB SITE - www.propertysystems.com  Use the web site to stream line through technology the daily administrative factors you need to accomplish.

 

New Areas of the web site this period include the following:

 

Conference Call Set Up http://www.presentalloffers.com/ConferenceCall.aspx

Sign Order http://www.presentalloffers.com/YardSignsOrderForm.aspx

Transaction Data Sheets - http://www.presentalloffers.com/agentForm.aspx

Earnest Money Release http://www.presentalloffers.com/ReleaseEarnestMoney.aspx

Earnest Money Submission http://www.presentalloffers.com/EarnestMoney.aspx

Agent Acting As Principal Notice - http://www.presentalloffers.com/ActingAsPrincipal.aspx

Advertisement Needs To Be Approved By Broker - http://www.presentalloffers.com/Advertisement.aspx

 

ROLE MODEL – Who is the perfect role model as a Property System’s member? What does he/she do to earn a substantial living and income? As a Property System’s affiliate, you have the opportunity to create income from the following sources: listing, selling, recruiting, training, and managing. And opening an office. In order to receive income from all of these sources you must balance your real estate career. I always recommend personal production no matter where you are in your career. Production keeps your skills sharp, and allows you to teach others through real world experiences. So your perfect Property System’s Member does a combination of all of the above.

 

News/Office Update

 

FROM FRED R. FREYER, Jr. – Property Systems Land Corporation - FOUNDING FATHER  - “It seems like yesterday when Richard Uberto and I started Property Systems Corporation. The company was formed in 1976 which means that we are now 30 years old. Back in the beginnings we were strictly a land brokerage company. In 1987 Richard and I sensed that a recession was coming and since "land is the first to go" we decided to diversify into residential brokerage. Richard headed up the residential and I headed up the land. Richard retired in 1992. I continued to run the land division and Reese took over the residential. When I decided to retire in 2000 I called Richard and asked him if he was ready to get back into the land business. He said he was and so I transferred over to him my land operation and I retired. Not many companies last 30 years. I am proud of Property Systems and the service it has provided to the community. With service comes success. I fully expect property Systems to celebrate its 100 anniversary in 2076.”

 

Fred R. Freyer, Jr. is the listing broker for the $315,000,000.00 land in Camden County. For information, please contact him via e mail at fred@fredfreyer.com

 

FROM RICHARD J. UBERTO – Greenspace Properties – FOUNDING FATHER - I am currently looking for land for residential development anywhere in the Atlanta area. My development interests range from a 9-lot subdivision in East Cobb for million-dollar homes to a 350 lot tract-home development in northern Forsyth County. I’m also involved in a number of townhome projects. It seems like I specialize in problem properties. Most of my projects are "some assembly required," often with difficult rezonings and complicated sewer problems. I am constantly reminded that, "Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people don’t do." If you have a question about land in the Atlanta market, please let me know. Richard Uberto 770-977-6860

 

FROM LARRY WHORLEY – MARIETTA, GEORGIA – Our staff continues to grow as we’ve added seven new agents since our last update. 

 

A continued emphasis is on training.  We recently held training classes on selling HUD homes and the proper way to do listing presentations, using our group marketing plan.  Our group has a lot of agents that are newly licensed, so training is a top priority.

 

This past Saturday, we invited a mortgage broker, John Green of America Mortgage Funding, to speak to us regarding emerging markets and what’s going on in the mortgage industry.  Mr. Green has many years experience in the mortgage business and his knowledge and insight was very helpful.

 

FROM LARRY AUGST – DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA – For the month of February, our team had a great month.  We did over one million in gross sales and it looks like we’ll perform close to the same levels for March, while we have over ½ million locked in for April.  With rates rising and the kids still in school, this is a fantastic start for 2006! 

 

We had more additions to our team, Lameate Dixon and David Coleman.  Lameate is an Associate broker and comes to Property Systems with a strong background in buyers agency, while David just received his license last month after several years of investing giving him a good eye for values.

 

Rumor has it that we’re getting ready to open an office in Macon.  We hope to have this unit up and running within the next 60 days.  Currently we’re waiting for confirmation on the local MLS system there.  Once that is received, we’ll pin down our office space and then do a strong marketing campaign to build it quickly.  We’re hoping to show the office at a break even by the end of the calendar year.  This is a refining of our prototype opened by Michael Ross in Gainesville.   After we have this office established, the door will be open for another office refining again the steps taken at the two previous units. 

 

I’m very excited about the new corporate training program that we’ll launch in late April and would like to see 100% attendance.   The classes are designed for the agents to make more money and will be taught by producing agents rather than a desk jockey.  The class is free to all Property Systems agents so take advantage of this.  Most importantly, Reese will be cooking lunch for the agents!

 

FROM DONALD WIDENER - AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – The Augusta, GA and Central Savannah River Area is loaded with Foreclosures. We even have Duplexs. Email me for an updated inventory list of foreclosed homes or Duplexs - then call your Investors. INVESTORS WANTED IN THE AUGUSTA GA AREA

 

FROM TONY THEVIS – ATLANTA, GEORGIA – LUXURY HOME DIVISION - Property Systems Realtors, LLC was formed by Tony Thevis and Reese Freyer on January 1 2006 to exclusively market high end homes starting at 700k.We have listed and sold several since inception. A 1.2 million in Dunwoody, 750k in Sandy Springs and a 2.3 million in Florida have recently closed. We

currently have two listings at 1.5 million and 1.8 million and are speaking

to other sellers who will be listing this Spring.

 

We will be aggressively going after new home builders and resale customers

by offering first rate, top notch service and experience along with

marketing dollars. We soon will have a new company logo and color scheme

just for this luxury division.

 

As prices continue to rise, Property Systems Realtors, will be in the

position to market and sell these properties and further grow our company.

 

FROM MICHAEL ROSS – GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA – The Property Systems Gainesville office is proud to present Stacy Ritch & Prasad Venkata as our new affiliates.  Stacy is a mother of two, a part-time school teacher with Gwinnett County and has a back ground in IT sales.  She has always had an interest in Real Estate and wants to work herself into a full-time position. Prasad is a computer Programer with YKK and is already working with some buyers. We welcome them into our family. The Gainesville office has experienced an excellent market in the Hall county / North Gwinnett area since opening our office in May of last year.  We are averaging 2 to 3 Real Estate closings a month, along  with 2 – 3 Loan Originations a month.   Our Goal is to add several agents this year and bring our roster up to around 15 agents and capture more of this market.  We welcome any agents in the area to stop by and say hello or use the phone / copier / fax if needed.  Our doors are open to you.

 

FROM PATRICE PENN – ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Property Detailers Group – No Report

 

FROM DAPHINE HOLLAND – BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – No Report

 

Mortgage Department

 

Briggith Ross, James Hill, and Fernandis Adams are available to prequalify any of your prospects. All are available at (O) 877-734-3674.

 

Loan Servicing Statistics

 

Single Family Delinquency Rates For The 3rd Quarter 2005

 

First 4.44

Prime 2.34

Sub 10.76

FHA 12.75

 

MBA Bank Delinquency Rates

Home Equity - 2.33

HELOCS .46%

Mobile Homes 3.31

Property Improvement 1.55

 

Third Party Article Of The Month

 

USATODAY.com
Hot real estate prices extend to rural land
Wednesday March 8, 11:12 pm ET

The fastest-growing commodity in Florida farm country last year? Land values, which jumped 50% to 88%, depending on the area.

While not quite as dramatic, a similar story has been playing out across the country. Rural real estate prices soared 11% to an average of $1,510 per acre from Jan. 1, 2004, to Jan. 1, 2005. That's the fastest annual increase since 1981 and the biggest on record in dollar terms, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

More recent data from Iowa State University show prices in Iowa rose nearly 11% in 2005. In Texas, the median rural land price rose 15% in 2005. State and USDA estimates differ because of sampling times and techniques but show similar trends.

"Those ... are whopping increases," says Charles Gilliland of the Texas A&M Real Estate Center. "Everybody is waiting for it to level off."

The escalation is the steepest since the response to the fat years of the 1970s, when world food prices soared and Agriculture secretary Earl Butz exhorted farmers to get bigger or get out. Many expanded, only to face a crisis in the mid-'80s when the good times ended. Land values sank 27% from 1982 to 1987.

Different from last land rush

While the current price run-up is not without risk, economists and real estate agents call it much different than the previous land rush. Purchases are not as highly leveraged. Farm income has been at record or near-record levels in the past several years, but land sales are not driven solely, or even mainly in many areas, by farm expansion.

A majority of buyers in some regions are real estate developers, individuals who want to convert a ranch or farm to a recreational purpose, such as hunting or fishing, or those who see land as a good investment given low interest rates. Farmland that could be immediately developed sold for a big premium in 2005 - more than $6,050 an acre, according to USDA.

"This is a starkly different episode," says Mark Drabenstott, director of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank's Center for the Study of Rural America. "We've seen considerable off-farm investors interested in farmland, in part a lingering result of the (low) stock market performance of recent years."

James Vine of San Antonio's Vine and Associates, an appraisal and consulting firm, doesn't see the value of many properties fluctuating with changes in the farm economy, noting that 40% to 50% of the sales he's recently seen are cash transactions.

"This recreational deal has taken over the rural land market, except in markets where there is no romance or row crop agriculture still makes sense," says Vine, noting a recent Texas drought "didn't impact the prices of real estate. It kept going up."

Unlike homeowners taking out loans against the rapidly rising value of their houses in the past few years, farmers aren't borrowing as heavily against their land.

"Farm income to farmland values have been improving over the past two years, because farm income has been so high," says John Anderlik of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., an expert on rural lending. "Bubble-like factors have been declining."

Sales fueled by tax law

Still, as the Kansas City Fed noted in a recent publication, the price increases are "raising the eyebrows" of lenders and producers. The record housing market, which has helped propel land sales, may be slowing. In a large swath of the Midwest, the value of the land is tied at least partly to federal crop supports. Anderlik notes that farm subsidies, accounting for about a third of net farm income since 1997, are under attack, in world trade talks and from Congress.

Many sales have been fueled by a federal tax provision called a 1031 exchange that allows an owner to sell an income, business or investment property, replace it with like-kind property and defer capital gains taxes.

Growers near urban areas have been selling to developers, then purchasing more-isolated properties, artificially escalating prices in outlying areas. An August study by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers found more than half of recent sales used the 1031 provision.

Zbynek Zidlicky, a former corn and soybean producer, sold his 78-acre farm near Oswego, Ill., to a developer several years ago. Using the 1031 provision, he then bought four properties out of the area.

"A lot of people do 1031 exchanges, so that filters down and increases the price on other properties," Zidlicky said, adding the price in some areas has doubled since he bought.

John Reynolds, a professor who conducts the annual farmland value survey for the University of Florida, says the 1031 provisions have helped push land price inflation in that state northward from fast-growing urban counties.

"The income stream from agriculture just can't support these prices," Reynolds says.

For many growers, particularly older farmers, it makes sense to sell while prices are at peaks. But the price run-up has made it hard for some younger growers to buy land.

Conservation efforts

The American Farmland Trust, which seeks to preserve farmland, notes that in 1999 the national average cost for agricultural conservation easement programs - voluntary, binding agreements that limit land uses or prevent future development - was $1,519 per acre. In 2004, it was $2,899 per acre.

High prices also make it tougher to keep protected land in the hands of farmers, says Jennifer Dempsey of American Farmland Trust. "Someone could come in and say, 'Here's 50 acres that are protected,' and they can make it their private estate."

Appraisers and real estate agents expect prices to slow but haven't seen a lot of firm evidence of it yet.

"It's not going to burst at all. In fact, I continue to see a strong rural real estate market for years to come," says Ray Brownfield, a real estate broker at John Greene Land Co. in Illinois. "It may not be as aggressive as it was because interest rates are starting to climb."

Vine says he's seen some softening in the volume of sales but says that may be because it's getting harder to find enough land. That's echoed by Florida's Reynolds, who now works as an appraiser at a Florida firm called Natural Resource Planning Services.

"Our firm also has a brokerage division, and we simply can't find enough land," Reynolds says.

Is negative savings rate a problem?
Tony Proctor, certified financial planner, Wellesley, Mass.

By Laura Bruce • Bankrate.com

"There's going to be a serious price to pay when housing stops appreciating at the rate it's been appreciating. It's not that people aren't saving a negative 0.5 percent; they're saving, but they're overspending. They might be putting money into their 401(k) and their IRA but they're spending all their other income plus they're taking equity out of their home. That would work OK if housing keeps appreciating, but that's not likely. They're going to have to substantially reduce their lifestyles or they'll have to stop whatever saving they're doing.

"There are people who are really doing the savings -- maxing out retirement plans at work. I'm not concerned about them. Then there's a whole other group that's putting small amounts into their retirement plans and they feel that's enough. With the amount of spending they're doing they need to put much, much more into their retirement plan so that when they retire they can maintain that lifestyle. They're causing the negative savings rate.

"A lot of people believe they'll work until they're 70 or 75. They think they don't need to max their retirement plan because they'll work for a very long time and they're in good health. Then they get to 60 and realize that they're getting tired and they think they'll retire at 62 or 65 or 66. The reality is that when they get into their later years their bodies have changed their minds for them.

"When you're 45 you're in the prime of your career and you're exactly the type of employee they want. By the time you're 60 you're lucky if you're not laid off. If you haven't taken a serious stance toward retirement savings you're in trouble.

"Go back to basics. Save 10 percent of gross income every single year. For some reason we've gotten away from feeling that saving is our responsibility. We have to save for ourselves. An emergency fund is not truly savings, it's deferral of spending because it's something we expect to spend.

"I see a lot of people who have sacrificed everything for their children. The whole baby boomer generation has a tendency to overspend on their children. They put their kids through college and now they have a couple hundred thousand on their home equity line that wasn't there before college. They don't want their children to be burdened with debt to start their life, but it's ironic because they're burdening themselves with debt."

Trivia Question

 

Andy Griffith Show – What role/character did Buddy Ebsen (A/K/A Jed Clampett) play on an episode? The first correct answer will receive a free month’s dues. Please submit your answer to “Broker On Duty” http://www.presentalloffers.com/brokeronduty.asp

 

Delinquent Members

 

If your name appears below, you need to contact the Corporate Office immediately. Please call Michael Redd at 877-522-5577 X. 8018 to discuss this problem.

 

Monique Keith

Elaine De Jesus

Diedre Sligh

Tachara Lane

Robert Rainbow

Donna Askew

Danny Goodwin

Shauna Ostler

Chubasco Spivey

Shannon Kimbrough

Erica Paige

Leia Williams

Rashanda Chism

Charlton Carswell

Joyce Jackson

Gene Poole

Michael Ross

Daphine Holland

Maia Watkins

Netasha Dodd

Patrice Penn

Ryan Foles

Stacey Ritch

Andrea Belfon

Allison Worsham

Elizabeth Tennebar

Jon Atteberry

Judy Meer

 

=================================================================================

 


======================================================

Second Issue - Issue # 2 – 23 February 2006

Quarterly Newsletter From Property Systems

======================================================

 

This year’s theme is, “Quit talking about it and do it!”

 

Monthly Welcome Message

 

Aloha from the Corporate Office of Property Systems! I hope all is well on this third week of February. Already we have had a great month with closings and I am seeing many people have their first closings.

 

The theme for this year was chosen to motivate you in your personal and business lives. We are all blessed to have a dynamic envirnment along with the greatest country in the world to live and work. You can accomplish anything if you really want to. So, “Quit talking about it and do it!” I have learned in my 18 year real estate career that deadlines are the key to accomplishments. Get your list of what you want to accomplish and set a deadline and do it! Guess what, that is a goal system! Write down things you want to accomplish and set a deadline. It is simple and will become a habit after you succeed and see that it actually works.

 

I hope you can use some of the content below in your real estate business. Some is administrative but hopefully some of the other will be inspirational and educational.

 

If you need any assistance, please call on your Manager to lead you. He/She is a trained professional and has the knowledge to assist you in your day to day activities. I hope all is well.

 

Best regards,

 

Reese Freyer

Property Systems – Qualifying Broker

 

=================================================================

DEADLINE - The Next Deadline For Articles & Updates Is 23 March 2006 – Please Submit Any News Item On Line At This Link

http://www.presentalloffers.com/SubmitArticle.aspx

======================================================

FEEDBACK – If you have any feedback about any aspect of Property Systems, or the VISION Newsletter, please feel free to submit your comments to Corporate. You can submit your information anonymously at this link:

http://www.presentalloffers.com/Feedback.aspx?feedback=CorporateOffice#FormStart

=================================================================

 

Reports

 

These various reports are available on the home page. A link has been provided for your convenience.

 

Robert Siegel Economic Report – This report is password protected. Password = report – This author writes a bi monthy article on the housing market in the United States and divides it up by region. http://www.presentalloffers.com/EconomicReport.aspx

 

GA Department Of Banking & Finance Newsletters – This is the monthly newsletter from the Department of Banking and Finance, the regulatory agency for the mortgage and banking business. http://www.presentalloffers.com/Content.aspx?pageKey=BankFinanceNews

 

Daily Real Estate Message – This is an internal message for Property System’s web site users.

http://www.presentalloffers.com/messages.asp

 

New Members

 

Please welcome the below new affiliates to our organization. Some are new and others are experienced.

 

Member of Property Systems

Joelise Jones

1/4/2006

708-743-6188

770-801-0365

 

404-581-5712

Larry WHorley

Member of Property Systems

Horace Carter

1/17/2006

770-591-0419

678-576-2376

 

770-591-6322

Larry Whorley

Member of Property Systems

Victor Michael Wagner

1/17/2006

904-861-4460

904-861-4460

904-861-4460

904-620-0317

Larry Augst

Member of Property Systems

Andrea Renee Belfon

1/17/2006

770-241-8241

770-379-9205

 

 

Larry Whorley

Member of Property Systems

Stacy Ritch

1/24/2006

770-729-9014

770-363-0823

 

 

Michael Ross

Member of Property Systems

Larry Dyer

1/26/2006

770-757-9929

 

 

 

Larry WHorley

Member of Property Systems

Ryan Foles

1/26/2006

404-917-6479

770-683-5040

 

 

Larry WHorley

Member of Property Systems

James Gault

2/2/2006

678-464-2017 Cell

770-487-8868 Home

 

770-487-8831

Larry WHorley

Member of Property Systems

Venesha Binns

2/2/2006

770-401-0984

 

 

866-428-6382

Patrice Douglas

Member of Property Systems

Maia Watkins

2/13/2006

770-899-5758

 

 

 

Larry WHorley

Member of Property Systems

Stephanie R. Rishel

2/5/2006

561-584-2906

678-567-9322

 

678-567-9322 - Same As Home #

Larry WHorley

Member of Property Systems

Jadon M Steavens

2/9/2006

678-334-4814

770-944-8522

770-948-2168

404-419-8820

Larry Augst

 

Vision News

 

Here are some updates Reese Freyer has been working on:

 

MANAGER - Manager – Per “Websters Third New International Dictionary” the definition of manager is: one that manages: a person that conducts, directs, or supervises something. One that conducts business or household affairs with discreet frugality and care. 

 

Your Property System’s Manager is standing by to assist you. You need to set goals and make yourself accountable for what you want to accomplish. Hopefully you see the benefit of this process.

 

Goals – If you want to meet with your manager to set goals, click on this link and set up a time for a face to face meeting. http://www.presentalloffers.com/GoalSetting.aspx Remember, “Quit talking about it and do it!” Set up a time to come up with your goal list.

 

Please remember your manager is your first point of contact if you need assistance in any aspect of  your real estate career.

 

WEB SITE - www.propertysystems.com – Many man hours have gone into the development of the corporate office web site. The web site is designed to make your life as a REALTOR easier. You can use the web site to find out information, handle administrative tasks, and learn. Many REALTORS spend hours re inventing the wheel on administrative tasks. Administrative tasks such as ordering business cards, creating flyers, DO NOT put any dollars in your bank account. Of course they assist in the process, but you should spend 99% of your time listing, selling and recruiting. Use the web site to stream line through technology the daily administrative factors you need to accomplish.

 

New Areas of the web site this period include the following:

 

Conference Call Set Up http://www.presentalloffers.com/ConferenceCall.aspx

Sign Order http://www.presentalloffers.com/YardSignsOrderForm.aspx

Transaction Data Sheets - http://www.presentalloffers.com/agentForm.aspx

Earnest Money Release http://www.presentalloffers.com/ReleaseEarnestMoney.aspx

Earnest Money Submission http://www.presentalloffers.com/EarnestMoney.aspx

Agent Acting As Principal Notice - http://www.presentalloffers.com/ActingAsPrincipal.aspx

Advertisement Needs To Be Approved By Broker - http://www.presentalloffers.com/Advertisement.aspx

 

ROLE MODEL – Who is the perfect role model as a Property System’s member? What does he/she do to earn a substantial living and income? As a Property System’s affiliate, you have the opportunity to create income from the following sources: listing, selling, recruiting, training, and managing. And opening an office. In order to receive income from all of these sources you must balance your real estate career. I always recommend personal production no matter where you are in your career. Production keeps your skills sharp, and allows you to teach others through real world expereinces. So your perfect Property System’s Member does a combination of all of the above.

 

News/Office Update

 

FROM LARRY WHORLEY – MARIETTA, GEORGIA - Larry Whorley & Associates - I’m very proud to announce that our group is to 30 agents, counting the committed recruits that are in school, working on their license.  We started recruiting in earnest around the first of October, using an online advertisement that continues to draw in qualified prospects.  Once I’m able to meet fact-to-face with each of them, our commitments to training, support and marketing sell themselves.

 

We hope to be at 50 agents by June and should be able to make this happen if things continue as they are now.  My goal for 2006 is to have 75 agents by the end of the year.  If we’re successful with our HUD Listing Broker Bid, our ability to offer leads will undoubtedly draw more people to Property Systems.

 

FROM LARRY AUGST – DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA - The Larry Augst team would like to welcome Jadon Steavens.  Jadon has a background in investing and loan origination.  He hit the ground running by turning in a contract for a HUD sale his first week.  We understand that he may have a second contract coming before the end of February!!  Good job & Welcome to Property Systems Real Estate.

 

Larry will have another get together with his team on March 4th (the first Saturday of the month) at 10:30am.  This is expected to last for 3 hours.  This class will focus on activities to create more income. 

It appears we’re off to a good new year, Keelin White has several in the pipeline that we hope to see close between February & March,  Ivory Jackson closed a new home sale, Rashonda Staples is averaging about two closes per month and it looks like Robert Rainbow will have 3 closes for the end of February. 

 

Both Kingsley Ilodianya and Rashonda recently completed their 25 hour continuing education course, while Robert Rainbow is going after a new construction sales designator.

 

Remember, the opportunities are there if you want to take advantage of them! 

 

FROM DONALD WIDENER - AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - It’s a Buyer’s market for REO Investment Properties. Interest rates are stable, inventories are coming in and turning daly, and our Buyer’s are making money. We would suggest to anyone to check out the Greater Augusta area-2 hr from Atlanta and 1 hr from Columbia, SC. Our market is booming...Give us a call 706-823-9493.

GREATER AUGUSTA-A BUYER’S MARKET

 

FROM PATRICE PENN – ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Property Detailers Group – Property Systems newest sales agent team and office is the Property Detailers Group - Intown Office. Located in the heart of Buckhead. The Property Detailers Group managed by associate broker Patrice Penn, are positioned to be an explosive addition to the Atlanta Market. Property Detailers also have a strong servicing of Dekalb, where it has established itself in Property Management thru Property Manager Monique Keith. Monique and Clarence Brown have worked together as a productive team in the rental market. Monique and assistant Tachara Lane are even taking an extra step in starting a "Buyers Bootcamp" aimed at turning potential renters and first time buyers into home owners . In an effort to sell Atlanta, which is Pat Penn's native home, she has pitched a Relocation network service "Points Beyond". Look to hear more from this dynamic team in 2006. We specialize in meeting the needs of investors and first time home buyers alike.

 

FROM DAPHINE HOLLAND – BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – No Report

FROM TONY THEVIS – ATLANTA, GEORGIA – LUXURY HOME DIVISION – No report.

FROM MICHAEL ROSS – GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA – No report.

 

Mortgage Department

 

Briggith Ross, James Hill, and Fernandis Adams are available to prequalify any of your prospects. All are available at (O) 877-734-3674.

 

Third Party Article Of The Month

National real estate foreclosures up in 2005


Florida, Colorado, Utah post highest foreclosure rates

Inman News

National real estate foreclosures increased in every quarter of 2005, according to an industry report released today.

RealtyTrac, which provides an online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today released year-end data showing that 846,982 properties nationwide entered some stage of foreclosure in 2005, and there was a 25 percent increase in the number of new foreclosures from the first quarter to the fourth quarter.

"Overall, U.S. foreclosure numbers climbed steadily over the course of the year, with more new foreclosures reported in every quarter," said James J. Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac. "This trend appears to be moving the real estate foreclosure market back to its historic levels."

 

Saccacio noted that the number of 2005 foreclosures needed to be kept in context. "Even with almost 850,000 properties entering some stage of foreclosure across the country over the course of the year, this represents less than 1 percent of all U.S. households. And the increase in U.S. foreclosures from Q3 to Q4 was just below 5 percent."

Report highlights included:

  • Despite a 29 percent decrease in new foreclosures from the first quarter to the fourth quarter, Florida documented the nation's highest foreclosure rate and accounted for more than 14 percent of the nation's new foreclosures in 2005. The state reported 121,843 properties entering some stage of foreclosure -- 1.67 percent of the state's households.
  • New foreclosures in Colorado decreased 4 percent from the first quarter to the fourth quarter, but the state's annual foreclosure rate ranked second highest nationwide thanks to consistently high foreclosure numbers throughout the year. A total of 29,630 Colorado properties entered some stage of foreclosure in 2005 -- 1.62 percent of the state's households.
  • 1.5 percent of Utah households entered some stage of foreclosure in 2005, the nation's third-highest annual foreclosure rate. The state reported 11,536 properties entering some stage of foreclosure during the year, but new foreclosures dropped 27 percent from the first quarter to the fourth quarter.
  • New foreclosures in Texas increased 54 percent from the first quarter to the fourth quarter, and the state documented the nation's fourth highest annual foreclosure rate. A total of 115,643 Texas properties entered some stage of foreclosure in 2005 -- 1.44 percent of the state's households and more than 13 percent of the nation's new foreclosures in 2005.
  • Other states with foreclosure rates ranking among the 10 highest nationwide were Georgia, Arizona, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio and Tennessee. All of these state documented annual foreclosure rates of at least 1 percent of total households and reported new foreclosures increasing from the first quarter to the fourth quarter
  • Although their foreclosure rates ranked below the nation's 10 highest, California, Illinois, New York and Michigan were among the 10 states reporting the most new foreclosures in 2005. California reported 61,563 properties entering some stage of foreclosure, and new foreclosures increased 16 percent from the first quarter to the fourth quarter. Illinois reported 46,723 properties entering some stage of foreclosure, and new foreclosures decreased 14 percent from the first quarter to the fourth quarter. New York reported 37,068 properties entering some stage of foreclosure, and the state reported more than twice as many new foreclosures in the fourth quarter as in the first quarter.

"Over the past few years, we've seen historically low mortgage rates, consistently escalating home prices and steady, strong employment," Saccacio said. "This has translated into relatively low levels of foreclosure properties -- particularly bank-owned properties. With interest rates rising and an apparent slowing of property valuations in most markets, we'll be watching closely to see if there's a material effect on the number of foreclosures in 2006."

RealtyTrac publishes a national database of pre-foreclosure and foreclosure properties, with more than 550,000 properties in nearly 2,000 counties across the country.

The RealtyTrac 2005 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report provides the total number of homes entering some stage of foreclosure nationwide and by state for each quarter of 2005. The report includes properties in all three phases of foreclosure: pre-foreclosures – notice of default (NOD) and lis pendens (LIS); foreclosures – notice of trustee sale and notice of foreclosure sale (NTS and NFS); and real estate owned, or REO properties (that have been re-purchased by a bank).

Send tips or a Letter to the Editor to jessica@inman.com or call (510) 658-9252, ext. 133.

How Not to Ruin Your Life

by Ben Stein

Finance Home > How Not to Ruin Your Life > Living Hand to Mouth -- and Barely Getting By

Living Hand to Mouth -- and Barely Getting By

by Ben Stein

Utility Links

Monday, February 6, 2006

A word of warning: This article is not going to contain any stock suggestions or tips. This column is warning of a different sort -- about the U.S. economy and the problems it faces.

I can summarize the shape of the U.S. economy by telling an anecdote. One of my closest friends is a lovely 45-year-old woman whom I will call Vivian. She has a good job in real estate, a lovely rented apartment in a city in California, a sweet little car, and elegant clothing. She earns about $75,000 a year.

Not Thinking Ahead

A few days ago, I asked her if she had considered variable annuities, bought with a very sharp eye on fees, for her retirement portfolio (please see "Income That Lasts as Long as You Need It"). She looked shocked and asked, "What retirement portfolio? Do I look that old?"

"No," I answered. "You look shockingly youthful. But what are you doing about your retirement?"

"Well, nothing," she said. "I don't even have any money in my savings account and barely any in my checking account."

"Do you have a 401(k)? Or maybe a pension? Or IRAs?"

"No," she said defiantly.

"Well," I asked, "with all due respect, how are you going to provide for your retirement?"

"I don't know," she said.

"I think you should try to save maybe $500 a month starting right now in a very carefully chosen variable annuity, or else in a broad index fund I will help you choose," I told her.

"I can't," she said. "I don't have the money. Besides, $500 a month is nothing. It wouldn't amount to a thing. I might as well spend it at Nordstrom's."

I took out my calculator and punched some buttons. "I beg your pardon," said I, "but if you save $500 a month and earn an average of 8.5 percent on it for the next 20 years, you'll have $316,000 by the time you're 65. It's not a lot, but it's a lot more than nothing, which is what you have now."

She stared at me incredulously. "Do you think I'm going to work another 20 years?" she asked. "No way."

"Well, then what are you going to live on when you stop work?"

"Social Security," she answered.

"That won't kick in until you're 66 or 67," I said, "and it won't be more than a pittance by then."

"I'm leaving,' she said. "There's a sale at Nordstrom's. I have to buy something to distract myself from what you've been telling me."

Depression-Level Savings Rate

Vivian's story is the story of America writ small.

In a nation in the midst of a major economic boom, we're running a budget deficit of very roughly $400 billion. Most of that is being loaned to us by the Chinese and Japanese and by the world's major oil-producing nations.

At this point, foreigners run a trade surplus with the U.S. approximating $720 billion a year. That is, we're buying from the rest of the world about three-quarters of a trillion dollars more each year than we're selling to the rest of the world. The difference is made up by foreigners lending us money and acquiring American assets, especially Treasury bonds. At this point, America owes the rest of the world at least $3 trillion more than they owe us, and the sum is growing rapidly.

It's still a small fraction of total U.S. wealth of about $65 trillion, but the trend is extremely worrisome.

In a time of prosperity, American consumers' savings rate is in negative territory, roughly -1.5 percent of total consumer earnings -- the lowest it has been since the nadir of the Great Depression in 1933.

It gets worse. Total consumer spending last year was very roughly $8.5 trillion. Of this, about $700 billion came from home refinancing -- in other words, borrowing, supported by a residential real estate boom that seems to be coming to an end.

The long and short of it: We're only able to sustain the spending level we need to keep the economy at high employment by going deeply into debt to mortgage lenders, foreigners, and our children, the future taxpayers.

We, as a nation, are a lot like my pal, Vivian. We're living from paycheck to paycheck -- and barely getting by at that.

Boomers: Pitifully Unprepared for Retirement

But it gets even worse: Medicare is going to be bankrupt in about 11 years and maybe sooner. Its actuarially computed liabilities for the balance of the century, brought back to net present value, exceed the total wealth of the nation, by some calculations.

We are, in a way, already bankrupt just from Medicare.

Now, in the face of these extreme imbalances and uncertainties, you would expect Americans to be saving like crazy to prepare for the future and its risks.

But instead, we're going ever deeper into debt.

And the part that makes it especially relevant is this: The Baby Boomers are the single largest part of the population by generations. They're about 78 million men and women. They will need a staggering sum to maintain their lifestyles after retirement, especially with pension systems that promise defined benefits collapsing.

But the Baby Boom generation is pitifully unprepared for the future. The average savings for Baby Boom households is less than $50,000, not including their homes. Even including the equity in their homes, it's not much over $100,000. And roughly half of all boomer households have either little retirement savings or none.

Sounding a Financial Warning

Yes, we have a fairly buoyant stock market, corporate profits are extremely high, and Americans could save more. The average Chinese worker, with average wages roughly one-twentieth of the American wage (and maybe less), saves 40 percent of his or her pay to prepare for retirement. The average American saves less than zero.

This is a society that needs to wake up to the gravity of reality -- and very, very soon. Let this be a warning: We are, in every way, living on borrowed time.

Trivia Question

 

Andy Griffith Show – What is the name of the department store owner in Mayberry? The first correct answer will receive a free month’s dues. Please submit your answer to “Broker On Duty”

http://www.presentalloffers.com/brokeronduty.asp

 

Delinquent Members

 

If your name appears below, you need to contact the Corporate Office immediately. Please call Michael Redd at 877-522-5577 X. 8018 to discuss this problem.

 

Ryan Foles

Stacy Ritch

Andrea Belfon

Allison Worsham

Joelise Jones

Erica Paige

Leia Williams

Danny Goodwin

Elain M Danvers

Diedre Sligh

Tachara Lane

Donna Askew

Gwen Collins

Elizabeth Tennebar

Reggie Williams

Jon Atteberry

Judy Meer

 

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