Do YOU Matter to This Crazy World???

Sometimes it seems that we are helpless to make a difference in the world. Things are changing quicker than we can even comprehend -- much less impact.

So, do we surrender to being a victim of whatever happens?

Do we leave it up to others to "do something" about it?

Shall we simply forget about changing reality in favor of "reality TV"?

Let me introduce you to Sue Thompson.

We have a pretty long history between us.  In fact, I think we have been "soul sisters" long before we met about 1997.  She moved to our area after being a successful real estate agent in Dallas.  Her high energy and vitality attracts many friends wherever she goes.


When she was checking out the new office, I suggested that she share an office with me. I confessed that many found my laughter to be too loud, my bubbly optimism to be annoying and my long conversations with clients to be downright TOO MUCH!


That invitation was the beginning of a friendship that is full of love.  You could say we have a "mutual admiration society."

Why I admire Sue...

This could be a very long blog post if I told you ALL the reasons she has my respect and love...so let me tell you just one of them.

In 1999 Sue was team leader of our real estate company.  She was impressive in her ability to keep everyone pulling together.  She resolved conflicts quickly, motivated us to accomplish more than we would otherwise and made certain that we had a great deal of fun while doing it.  Imagine our shock when she shared her diagnosis of bone marrow cancer.

The prognosis was grim.  Doctors gave little hope and the owner of the company seemed to accept that expectation and made it harder for her to keep her position.  Everyone that loved Sue pulled together to offer anything and everything we could find to share.

I will fast-forward from that tragic experience to today.  This woman, armed with more power in her true grit than the power of the medical profession has overcome all symptoms.  An oncologist in Dallas calls her "walking miracle poster child”. 

She has taken her natural enthusiasm...her incredible story of beating cancer...and her sincere passion for helping others and created "H.O.P.E. Talks".  If you know of a group that needs inspiration, I encourage you to contact her through her website: http://www.zeal4life.net/ 

How Sue feels about me...

Almost every time I talk to Sue she tells me that she tells others how much I helped her overcome cancer.  Honestly, I always ask her to tell me why.  It is not because of my pride...in fact, it is just the oposite.  I see her passion and success - yet I have trouble remembering anything I could offer to make her life any easier.


Patiently, she explains again what little thing I did that made a big difference to her.

You see, I admire Sue for her unending generosity.  She literally exudes love, caring and support to everyone she meets.  According to her story, when things seemed really bleak, I told her..."Sue, you have spent your entire life helping others.  You give and give and it is about time that you allowed others to give to you."

She tells me (and others) that a simple encouraging remark like that made a huge difference in her life.  She inspires others to recognize that an expression of love and caring can sometimes make a huge difference in the lives of others.  "You never know when the words you say can make all the world of difference in the lives of another person" says Sue.

Remember the "Highest and Best" use of your communication skills is to be encouraging, loving and positive.  You can be a mirror to them - allowing them to see how others percieve them - showing them their highest good.  We often see the goodness of others and need someone else to point out the value we bring to the world.

Live your life as a reflection of the very best that others offer.  Help them to recognize their value.  Spread "good rumors" about people.  I know it sounds a bit "Polyannish" - but I truly believe you can change the world by giving your love away.  If I am wrong, I am absolutley certain that life is more fun when you see the very best in others. 

As another friend is always saying...

"COUNT IT ALL JOY!"

Restricted and Unrestricted Communities Clash!

Houston Unrestricted Property Clashes

with Deed-Restricted Neighbors.

There are many differences between a "Restricted" community and "Unrestricted" property.  This blog is committed to opening the conversation about such differences.  However, purchasing your home or building lot in a restricted community does not give you all the protections you may have expected.

This photo was taken on FM 2978, the road that runs along the most western side of The Woodlands.  The lot is usually muddy.  The highlight of the property is the large, dimpled and damaged dumpster.  And to the back of the lot, you can see the only plumbing facility...and it is portable.  While the seller of the property is maximizing his right to the "Highest and Best" use of the property until a buyer is found - the situation is not good for everyone.

The sad fact is that the "port-a-potty" is placed very close to a really nice house that you can see through the narrow strip of trees.  Can you see it in the background of the picture above?

When you come around to the other side, this is the home of some unsuspecting family.  Little did they know that the hard work done to create a great, private place in the restricted community of Westwood would become the backdrop for the metal roofed shed you can see beyond the trees from here.

This is one SCREAMING EXAMPLE of how quickly a real estate investment can become worth much less because of the actions of others.  Please know - I do not know the owners of either property.  But I would be willing to bet that the proud people who built this home did not anticipate having a muddy, unsightly commercial tract in their back yard.

Can this kind of financial mistake be avoided? The answer is YES!

One of the many things I have learned from decades serving real estate clients is that purchasing property on the perimeter of a restricted community can often expose the buyer to the risks of unrestricted property.  I spoke about those risks in a previous post, "3 Huge Pitfalls of Unrestricted Property", on November 28, 2009.  Although I am a champion for the benefits of owning Houston unrestricted property, I will be the first to tell you that there are HUGE mistakes that can easily be made by the inexperienced buyer.

3 Darn Good Reasons to Sell Your Unrestricted Property

Have you ever heard of the

"Law of Diminishing Returns"???

When you own unrestricted property in the Greater Houston area,

sooner or later you must ask yourself if it is time to sell. 

THINGS CHANGE

Your life changes and your needs change with it.

Your community changes and it no longer feels like home.

When you see that it may be time to cash in the value of your unrestricted property, it may not be an easy decision.  After all, you may have inherited this property from family.  You may have raised your children on this land and it holds many memories for you. 

A move is never easy...but when it involves something as personal as your private estate in an unrestricted area of Houston...it may be even tougher.  The number of good reasons to sell are as endless as the number of people who are blessed with living in a place defined by them and their family - the UNRESTRICTED tracts. 

Below you will see 3 of the
most common reasons to sell:

• 
  
  The area is too Busy - Crowded - different than when you bought your property.  With the growth in and around Houston, things are changing rapidly.  However, one thing you can count on is the increase of traffic.  Many people who enjoyed the peace and quiet of a country lifestyle near their work are now spending twice the time making the commute and it begs the question about whether it is worth it anymore.  People are moving from the City of Houston into the outlying areas in large numbers.  In fact, these Ruralpolitans are creating many cottage industries providing fresh herbs, cheese, home-baked goods, etc at Farmer's Markets all over the area.
  
  
  
• 
  
  The Land is Worth More than the improvements.  If you have a piece of property that is worth more than the house and other improvements, you may be "throwing away" every dollar you invest in the tract.  It seems unfair that the fact you now own an extremely valuable piece of real estate may be the reason why you really MUST consider selling.  If you put a new roof on an old house located on a property located on a road with high traffic - it could be that every cent you spent would be better invested in a vacation or charity because it will never be recouped in the real estate market.
  
  
  
• 
  
  You have the desire to re-create the Laid-Back Lifestyle you used to enjoy.  People who own unrestricted property are a unique lot.  More often than not, they would abhor the experience of living in a nice, deed-restricted community.  The idea of having neighbors that are very, very close is offensive enough.  But when you add the fact that they use architectural control committees to dominate your decisions about what you do with your property - these hearty, independant souls will run the other way quickly.  These people want to do what they want on the property they have paid for - even if they have to drive some distance to have that lifestyle.
  
  
  

If you are considering your choices about the unrestricted property you own, remember that our team specializes in this specific type of real estate.  We can help you determine the HIGHEST and Best use for the property AND whether remaining owner is the HIGHEST and Best use of your assets.  You may have many more attractive options and we can help you explore them.  There is no obligation - just a conversation.

A Star is Born - What About YOU!

How is a star born?

What does that have to do with YOU?

Furthermore, what does it have to do with a blog focused on the

HIGHEST and Best?

Bear with me for just a moment while I try to pull these seemingly disparate concepts together.

First, let's consider how a star is born.  For those of you who want a scientific explantion, you should read the Scientific American blog post by Richard Brill.  (The image to the right is from the Hubble telescope and from that blog post.)  Allow me to explain it in simple, much less educated terms, this is what I understand:

Cosmic rubbish from older stars and clouds of gas come together until gravitational pull attracts more particles.  The gas and particles build - the temperature rises - the material collapes into itself - and when the temperature and pressue is great enough - A STAR IS BORN!!!

With the new camera recently installed by NASA, witnessing this incredible event is much easier than ever before.  The Science Daily has a wonderful images in their article published on November 8, 2009. 

It is fascinating to immerse ourselves in this marvelous scientic data.  We can see all the really amazing things happening "out there" and apart from our every day life.  But I am going to take a chance by sharing some of my personal philosophy with you.

First, as Jesse Jennings shared with his audience at Creative Life, it seems to me that we capable of transforming our "cosmic rubbish" into something just as incredible.  In fact, in one of the training programs you'll find this statement, "The Mind that made a Star is the same Mind the You use."  I believe that each of us can tap into that source of power and create something very useful to the world too.

Now, to the 3rd question.  "What does it have to do with a blog focused on the HIGHEST and Best?

I will quote a friend of mine, Mike Logan, who says "The largest resource that is wasted in our world is the waste of Human Potential." 

If this blog is about the "HIGHEST and Best"...isn't it fitting to talk about how the highest and best use of our time (and our own personal "cosmic rubbish") is to attract the resources into our lives that will magnetize the life we want?

Look around you and imagine that everything you see is available to your "highest and best".  In fact, Albert Einstien is quoted as saying, "The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe." 

For me, knowing the universe is a friendly place gives me a great deal of joy and satisfaction.  I know that when something seems to not work out right, it is not done.  There is always another choice to be made that will lead me to something judged as success.

My real estate clients benefit from my optimism because I am always in search of the best way to serve their needs.  I try to never get caught up in the many problems that crop up in the course of my day and focus on getting the highest and best outcome for those that trust me in their real estate transactions.

3 Terrific Reasons to Buy Unrestricted Property

#1 - FREEDOM

The most common reason people choose the Ruralpolitan lifestyle and purchase unrestricted property is the ability to do what they want on property they have paid good money to own.  They cannot imagine spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and then surrender their ideas of how to use the property to someone else.  These are the free spirited people who place a high value on their FREEDOM.

I "googled" the phrase - what is the value of freedom - and found an interesting article on this site. http://www.ivu.org/congress/wvc96/freedom.html

Many peopel in the Greater Houston area are committed to an independant way of life.  It is hard to describe the deep emotional attachment we have for freedom.  For some people it is downright essential to their existence...even though the majority of people migrate to the safety of deed restrictions.  They follow the philosophy of Albert Camus when he said, "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”

#2 - SPACE - Room to Roam

I have had clients claim that they would not move into a community where they could "shake the hand" of the neighbor from the kitchen window.  Although I'm certain that that activity is a little exaggerated, there are many subdivisions that compress the space between homes in order to keep prices low.  Since many people find comfort in having others close by, the lack of space does not really inhibit the sales in those communities.

But for those that place a high value on space, unrestricted property can be the perfect answer.  Most unrestricted property does not have the luxury of public water and sewer systems.  So that means that the minimum size of the building site must be larger.  For the most part, the minimum size is more than one full acre and sometimes more.  It depends largely on the requirements for sanitation and water supply.

#3 - Potential Value Increase

I know that in the last post, I suggested that purchasing unrestricted property can be a gamble when it comes to equity growth.  But the truth is equity gain potential can be inverse to privacy in unrestricted land.  Let me see if I can make that clearer with an example.

Many people have made huge financial gains by purchasing a tract located on a busy road (...or one that may not be busy now, but has potential to become a big thouroughfare in the future.)  With this kind of vision and forethought, an investor can use the property any way that they wish - including as a primary residence - with confidence that the value is growing rapidly as the traffic count grows.

Unrestricted property not found on highly visible roads can still be the perfect location for small business too.  Although the profits may not be a certain as on a busy road, the peaceful experience of being "off the beaten path" has a lot of value in itself.  As the mass of population moves closer to your unrestricted site, the number of small business owners needing a place to conduct their trade increases.

Selecting an unrestricted property that will meet your current and future needs requires some careful thought and experienced counsel.  If you plan, search and purchase with your ultimate goals in mind - you may find that unrestricted property is the perfect solution to creating the perfect environment for your enjoyment and also your profit.

Pursuing Happiness - Biochemistry explores

I have a firm belief that the "Highest and Best" use of our time is to spend it in happiness.  The question arises how to accomplish that goal.  Biochemist Matthieu Ricard gives a presentation on http://www.ted.com/ that gives insight on how that can be done.



I am blessed with a sense of natural happiness.  Even when my life has been full of turmoil or stressful situations, I have been able to find more happiness than sadness.  For that I am deeply grateful.

I hope this video either confirms the way you approach life - and happiness - or gives some guidance on how to train your mind to be happy.  It is well worth the effort

Texas Pioneer Families

Stories abound about Texas families that came to our beautiful part of the world and laid down roots in the rich soil of the forests north of Houston.  These are strong families with deep and abiding ties to their parents, and grandparents; aunts, uncles and cousins; and unending of circles in connection to each other.

Land that has been handed down for generations carries a value that simply cannot be reduced to money alone.  Each tree has meaning.  Either it was planted by an ancestor - or - it was spared being cut down because of some carefully considered decision of someone that was related.

Sometimes the buildings housed those family members who have passed and those that are left feel a sense of responsibility to cherish those buildings.  So when some high and mighty commercial real estate agent comes along and tries to dangle a fistfull of dollars in front of them - the experience feels like he is asking you to violate that memory.

I have great empathy for those hearty souls that are so dedicated to the land and the people of their family that came before them.  I respect their desire to honor the past.  I think that it is respectful of the family to consider other possibilities.

What is the highest and best use of this precious family estate (precious because of the connection to family - no matter the financial value)?

Is it time to stop looking back to the history of the family on this piece of land? 

Is it time to become a real estate seller?

Is it time to begin looking forward to the future of the family that can begin again in a place that will offer the lifestyle that is important to them?

Highest is NOT always BEST!

As a real estate agent, I have a number of instances where I need to work with my client to determine the highest and best.

Some people mistakenly think that the highest offer for a piece of real estate is always the best one for the seller. Often, it is a very big mistake to make that assumption.

So how does a prospective buyer make an offer that is the BEST without having to offer the highest dollar amount to the seller?

ANSWER: By learning what motivates them.

Here are a few things that may cause an offer to be chosen:

• The offer that yields the most money at closing…obviously.

• An offer that meets the Seller’s time parameters (Remember that a quick closing is not always desired. In fact, sometimes allowing the seller to take their time to move is the desired circumstance.)

• An offer that includes something of value which is not money. (For example, when a buyer is willing to do some of the make-ready tasks, it can often be quite attractive to a seller.)

• Meeting spiritual needs becomes important when there is a sense of what is the “right” use of the property. When a buyer has an intended use that makes the seller feel good. (Even though the seller is liquidating their investment, it does not always mean that the “heart and soul” invested in the house can be reduced to dollars.)

• A sale that meets the emotional needs of a Seller (Often a seller is willing to take much less than the market price in order to see it owned by a friend or family member.

Uniting Lovingly with the World

Pause...

Take the time to notice.

There are awesome things happening all around you that you MAY be too busy to notice!

This morning, I witnessed an amazing sunrise!

My dog Shadow causes me to experience some good things every morning.  I walk her and she walks me.  I observe the joy that she gets from the little things - like having my attention for about half hour. She wags her tail with unrestricted joy.  She looks for my lead and knows that I will protect her.

Some mornings, our joined experience is taken up another level.  Because we walk sometime from 4:30 to 7am, our opportunity to witness nature varies. Some mornings, we watch the deer or rabbits.  This morning, we watched the sunrise.

This blog is about the "Highest and Best" and let me tell you...the highest and best use of your time and attention is often missed.  There is no doubt that I have missed many the marvelous sunset, countless observations of our wild animals, and loads of opportunity to "stop and smell the roses."

NOW - Today...I commit to letting those moments soak in to my reality.  I want to feel connected to the things that are not busy...too busy to enjoy and marvel...committed to a "to-do" list instead of a "to-be" awareness.

My ACIM lesson today said, "...we offer a blessing to all things, uniting lovingly with all the world,"  How appropriate!

BTW: The pic is not my own, but a stock photo from Microsoft Clipart.  I did not have my camera.  And besides that, the sunrise I saw was too magnificient to capture anyway.

Get the Maximum $$$ by Deciding on Highest and Best Use

You cannot have great results in your garden until you decide what you want to plant. AND, likewise - You can't sell unrestricted property at the highest and best price and terms unless you first determine the highest and best use of the property.

This analogy may sound a bit facetious when it comes to marketing and pricing real estate - but I believe it rings quite true. Let me see if I can give you a few examples that may drive my point.

There is a piece of real estate currently on the market that I would love to get the opportunity to sell. It is listed by another agent so I cannot share specific information about this property. But it could be a dozen other properties that suffer from the same predicament. This listing has been on the market for more than a year - with two listing agents doing what they feel is right to sell the property.

Location is excellent because it is less than a mile from a highly restricted and highly desired community. It does not have frontage on a major road, but for the appropriate buyer that would be an advantage. It has more than 15 acres of unrestricted land with 5 acres of it a tranquil, scenic pond. The home was built more than 3 decades ago, so many prospective buyers would eventually pull down the house because it does not serve their purpose. The 6 rental units (mostly mobile homes) are very limited in value to most prospective buyers.

OK - I might get myself into trouble here, but I am going to say it...
These listing agents have done it all WRONG!

The way this listing has been presented to the market is only slightly different than it would be marketed if it were in a remote location, poor neighborhood with bad access issues. The descriptions describe the residential and current cash flow benefits of the property. Yet the price is far above the range that would justify purely residential use. The method they are using is like planting green bean seeds and hoping that someone will pay them the price of endive.

I remember 14 years ago when I was learning commercial real estate around the conference table with some of Montgomery County's greatest commercial agents. One of the basic principles that was repeated over and over again is that you cannot establish a price or a marketing strategy until you have determined the "highest and best use" of the property.

I invite you to share your opinions about what the highest and best use would be for this property. I am thinking corporate training center, spiritual retreat, holistic healing community. The most likely buyer will be someone that wants the peaceful surroundings, yet places a high value on the fact that it is very near the face paced lifestyle of the nearby community.

What do you think?

BTW: If you might need a property like this, I can represent you as a buyer. If you own an unrestricted property in the Greater Houston area, contact me for a comprehensive Highest and Best Use Analysis.

Highest and Best...

It is a concept used in the real estate industry in many ways. As a residential specialist, it is most often used in relationship to a competing offer. Even in today's relatively tough market, we deal with competing offers on a regular basis.

When a listing agent (the one representing the seller) gets notification that more than one offer is being submitted, they will usually tell each of the buyer's agents to get the "highest and best offer". That way the seller knows that each of the prospective buyers have been given the opportunity to express the degree of interest in the property and give it their best shot.

A good agent develops a protocol for handling multiple offers that maximizes the benefit to their client. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you better hope that you have a strong negotiator working on your behalf if you find yourself faced with a competing offer. An uninformed decision about how to handle mulitple offers can lead to dissappointment and even the failure of the sale. (I could write pages in this blog sharing case studies of what works and what does not...and all the nuances where you have to simply take a chance. But that is not what I am posting today. Maybe sometime in the future. Let me know if you would like to see me share those case studies.)

These competing offer situations happen primarilly in two scenarios:


* Foreclosures: When an asset manager places a residential property on the market, if it is priced right it will often have more than one person attempting to purchase it within a week or two.

Please Note: I am speaking about the real estate market in the Greater Houston area...specifically The Woodlands and Spring. If you would like to learn more about what is happening in your market, simply let me know and I will connect you with an expert for your neighborhood.

* Smart Sellers: Many homeowners simply cannot grasp the extreme importance of preparing their home for the market. They look to the agent to obtain a buyer at "the highest possible price, in the shortest amount of time, and with the least hassle." I make that statement in quotes because it is a common promise that agents make to prospective sellers.

When markets were hot, the agents did not always have to share the cold hard fact that the seller has a huge role in whether a house sells or not - AND - how much money they will make in the sale. When markets soften...buyers are able to become extremely picky.

Today's buyers are well informed with all the internet data available. They know a good buy when they see one. They also recognize that the BEST ones seem to sell very quickly, so they have learned to monitor the market and move quickly when something well priced, well staged and well marketed shows up.

It creates two markets for the available inventory. The first market is full of "Smart Sellers." This group of properties often sell in less than two weeks and it is not unusual for there to be competing offers. The second market is the ones that are not snatched off the market by the well-informed and ready buyers. Unfortunately, those properties often linger on the market for months and months. (The statistics are easily gathered to see how the market is working in each community, so don't hesitate to ask for the data.)

This is only one of many areas of real estate where we use the term "highest and best". Keep coming back to this blog to learn about a range of other uses of this phrase. Don't hesitate to call or email me with your questions.