Feb 1 - Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday Morning to you. We flew in from Florida yesterday to several inches of snow. I guess we timed that little get-away just right! My parents were wonderful hosts to our gang. It was just warm enough to squeak in a little pool and beach time and a trip to Busch Gardens.


My newsletter is going out today with the chart above from our MLS. It has some interesting statistics on year over year data. Inventory of new listings is down overall while closed and pending transactions are up – that’s good! Days on Market for new listings is also down. The Pending Sales is an interesting statistic when you consider how long it takes for short sales to close. Remember, a “Short Sale” is when an owner is attempting to sell their house for less than what they owe the bank. They must get approval from the bank in order to sell the property. Pending Sales account for many of these short sales which have been under contract for months – sometimes 7+ months! We have not seen a surge in our inventory levels yet, but the Spring Market is just heating up. If you are a seller, don't delay.

Have a wonderful week and enjoy the coffee. ~Lisa
*The "coffee" is a bit that I find on the internet each week.

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"A man's reputation is the opinion people have of him; his character is what he really is."
- Jack Miner, conservationist (1865-1944)

HOW'S YOUR CREDIT?

Ever hear someone say, "I have good credit"? They are probably referring to their credit "rating" - a score bestowed upon them by creditors, banks or rating agencies. Simply stating, "I have good credit" changes nothing, nor does the statement merit the attention of creditors. Credit can only be given by others for service to them, i.e. paying them on time.

So, credit is the result of serving others - in many ways. You cannot claim education, victory, experience, success, reputation, or a suave demeanor. Each of these is a gift from others, as a result of your service to them. Friends recognize your courage as a result of your being cool under pressure. Your success is recognized by others only once you have served them well. Knowledge of your career field is recognized by others only after it's been applied to situations in the form of more service.

In the accounting world of income and expense, a debit is something paid out, while a credit is something received. Thus all credits are received from others - not by our own making. The debits - what we pay out - are our efforts, persistence, and service. How they are rated is not under our control, but is determined by those served.

Without service, there are few rewards. Yet, you've seen those who insist on getting more attention than they deserve. They feel they're being short-changed, that they are not appreciated, that they are always the victim. If you look more closely at their contributions, you are also likely to see the dearth of service they are offering.

With service, credit follows. It may be subtle or quite visible - but it always follows. Concentrate on what you have to offer and forget the rewards. Those who are served will pick up the tab!