Service For Life!!!

Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living – View in browser Jim Mauldwin's... Service For Life! ®   Inside This Issue...   Advantages & Problems With Store Credit Cards... Try These Substitutes For Common Food Sensitivities... Fun Facts and Laughs: Sleep Better With Your Smartphone, Popular Restaurant Review Websites, And More... Trivia Challenge: Win A free coffee card!!! Real Estate Q&A: How Can I Stage My Home So It Sells Quickly For A Price I Want?   If you're not already a subscriber to my free e–newsletter email me to sign–up   Jim Mauldwin "Real Estate Sales By Referral" Intero RFeal Estate Services BRE #  01125380 - since 1991 Phone / text: 408-482-0992 Email: jmrealestate@wwdb.org www.jimmauldwin.com   Dear Friends, It seems like every store offers a store credit card now, but is it worth it? In today’s Service For Life!® Free consumer newsletter you’ll learn the advantages and problems of opening a store card so you can better see what makes sense for you. You’ll also learn what to substitute when you (or a friend) can’t eat certain foods, three apps to sleep better – plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more. But first...  When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide? They may be people with a graduating senior and they want to buy an investment property while their child is in college. You can mention my Free Consumer Report: "8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding, Buying and Financing Your Next Home" Or, request a copy for a friend by simply emailing me atjmrealestate@wwdb.org or you can call me direct at 408-482-0992...   Today's Brain Teaser . . . Mary takes her car to the hotel, and immediately upon arriving is declared bankrupt. How has Mary gotten herself in this situation?   (see answer below) Is Opening A Store Credit Card Worth It? That store card the clerk offers you at the checkout line sounds great, but is it a good choice? Store credit cards are branded with the store’s name and they often come with a large discount off your first purchase, a percentage off all purchases, 0% financing, or other incentives like free shipping at online storefronts. Here are the pros and cons to see what’s best for you... Reasons why a store card would BENEFIT you:   If you’re saving 20% each visit at a store you visit often, and pay off purchases so you don’t carry a balance, the higher interest rate won’t affect your savings.  If you have a low credit score, stores are more likely to approve your application than regular credit card companies. It can be a good way to start rebuilding your credit.  Some store cards can be used at places outside the store. If you qualify for a card that also has a MasterCard, Discover, Visa, or American Express logo, it can be used anywhere you shop outside the store. For example, Costco and Sam’s Club credit cards offer cash back on any dining and at any gas stations. DRAWBACKS to store cards:   Store credit card interest rates are high – regular cards are around 15%, and store cards are over 20%. If you carry a balance, you can pay much more for purchases in the long run. You may even have money to pay off the balance but forget to pay the bill for a card you don’t use often.  Store cards can negatively impact your credit score. If you plan to apply for large loans like auto or home loans in the next few months, it’s not a good idea to apply as opening the card may temporarily lower your credit score.  Some are only good for purchases at the store. If you can’t use the store card at other places like a regular credit card, you may be better off getting a card that you can use anywhere with a lower interest rate. Forward this to a friend   Thinking Of Selling Your Home Soon? Don’t attempt to sell your home without my Free Consumer Guide, “6 Steps For Selling Your Home For TOP DOLLAR.”My exclusive report will give you all the facts for a fast, top dollar sale. To request your copy, email me by clicking here. Best Substitutes If You Know Someone With Food Sensitivities It seems like everyone has a food allergy or sensitivity these days, especially kids. But what do you prepare instead to get the same nutritional benefits of a food you or guests at your dinner party can’t eat?   Can’t eat fish? Fish is high in protein, low in fat, and provides omega-3 fatty acids: necessary for your body, and can help with joint pain, asthma, possibly brain function, and lower your blood fats. Luckily, this important nutrient is available from: walnuts, canola oil, flax seeds, chia seeds, soy beans, and pumpkin seeds. Try to eat a variety of these foods.  Can’t have dairy? Dairy foods like cheese and yogurt are high in protein and contain lots of calcium, which is great for your bones. The good news is, stores now offer lots of options including: soy milk, coconut milk, and even cashew milk. Find one you like and you’ll get most of the same health benefits.  Staying away from gluten? Whole grains are high in fiber, contain important vitamins, and may reduce your risk for heart disease and digestive problems. Grains that are gluten-free and provide similar benefits include: rice, oats, and quinoa. With the popularity of the gluten-free diet, there are many more options for gluten-free foods that contain other grains. Forward this to a friend   Here’s A Free, Valuable Resource... Now You Can Search The Home Market, Get Helpful Community Information, AND Receive Important Resources For Saving Time And Money When Buying Or Selling At www.jimmauldwin.com Fun Facts and Laughs Sleep Better With Your Smartphone . . .  Hate that morning alarm wake –up? There’s an app for that! Sleep Cycle monitors your movements to determine what sleep phase you are in. Then, you are awakened during your lightest sleep phase so you can wake refreshed. Sleep Cycle is available on iTunes or Google Play for $0.99. Sleepbot can act as a simple time log or track your every movement and record sound! Sleepbot is available on iTunes and Google Play for free. Sleep As Android is a sleep cycle tracker and an alarm clock. It provides sleep deficit stats and lets you know when it’s time for bed. It even plays nature sounds to help you sleep. The trial version lasts for two weeks. If you want to continue to use it, you can unlock it on Google Play or Amazon App Store for $2.99. Forward this to a friend Most-Used Restaurant Review Websites . . . www.yelp.com – Read and place honest reviews regarding local restaurants – you can even post pictures of your food. www.urbanspoon.com – Find restaurant rankings and sort based on the location, cuisine, times, etc. www.opentable.com – Reviews and rankings of top restaurants and you can make a reservation right from your mobile phone. Forward this to a friend Quotes To Live By . . . Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back. –Babe Ruth Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it. –Julia Child Forward this to a friend Have A Laugh – Funny Real-life Ads . . . FOR SALE: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything. Three-year-old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred. Nordic Track $300 hardly used, call Chubby. Free puppies: 1/2 cocker spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor’s dog. Forward this to a friend   Please Welcome New Clients And Good Friends Into Our Real Estate Family... I’d like to take a moment to personally introduce and welcome a few of my newest clients and good friends who have supported my business over the years. And special thanks for everyone who thought of me with your referrals! Jon Drew, Steve Schmidt, Greg Krisfalusy Trivia Challenge for the Month... “Who Else Wants To Win A free coffee card!!!?” Every month we will have a trivia question with one lucky winner. Be the first to contact me and you can win a $5.00 coffee card.  Good luck!!! What does S.O.S. stands for? a) Save Our Souls b) Save Our Ship c) Send Out Succor d) SOS does not stand for anything EMAIL ME BY: Clicking Here OR Call Me At 408-482-0992 And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!   Brain Teaser Answer: Mary is playing the board game Monopoly and her game piece is the car. She landed on a hotel spot and didn’t have enough money to pay the rent, so she’s bankrupt! Thanks For Thinking of Me! Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals...and spreading the word about my services. Real Estate Q & A . . . Q.  How can I “stage” my home so it sells quickly for the price I want?   A. Make sure you address both the outside and the inside of the house by cleaning and de-cluttering everything, from the front yard to the garage to the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement. Put away your personal items so buyers can imagine themselves living there. One way to take years off your home is with paint. Check the home’s exterior paint job, and don’t forget the front door, mailbox, garage doors, and walkways. In the interior, remove the pictures from the walls (as well as old wallpaper) and paint the walls in a neutral color. Also, consider these tips if you want to sell your home fast for a good price: a) Hire professional cleaners to do the work; b) Get a home inspection before you put it on the market; and c) Make your landscaping look sharp. For a list of the specific steps you should take, ask for my Free Consumer Report called “4 Steps To Stage Your Home For A Fast Sale.” I’ll send a copy right over to you. Do you have a real estate question you want answered? Feel free to call me at 408-482-0992 or email me by clicking here. Perhaps I’ll feature it in my next issue! Forward this to a friend   THANK YOU... for reading my Service For Life!® personal newsletter.  I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you.  Help your friends get more out of life by forwarding this email to them...

What's new about getting your house sold???

2015 is here and we are experiencing a shortage of listing inventory in the greater San Jose area.  That being said, I am still seeing homes expire from the market.  Many of these homes are very nice to the eye and most of them should be sold.  Since January 1st, there have been 56 homes that have expired.   (  approximately 9.5%  ).  As of today there have been only 103 homes that have sold in the same time frame (  approximately 17.5 % ). The current inventory of homes for sale in my local area which include houses, town homes and condos is 594 homes. On average, 73% of the homes for sale are sitting on the market and not selling.  This is a very curious phenomenon. By the way, the homes that are expiring range in price from $3,599,000 all the way down to $275,000.  Every price range in subject to improper marketing, over pricing and poor showing instructions.  Selling a home is like creating and baking a great soufflé. It takes the right ingredients as well as the proper heat of the over and the proper container to bake it in. If you remove one of the ingredients or cook it at a slightly higher or lower heat, your dish is ruined. The same goes for selling a home.  There is a proper recipe to get a home sold.  Most of the time seller's try to short cut one or two of the key ingredients and the result is almost always a disaster. I put together a 194 step program to getting homes sold.  If you follow each step and then implement the key ingredients you come out with a winner every time.

Feel free to give me a call to talk about your situation.

Jim Mauldwin
Intero Real Estate Services
BRE # 01125380 - since 1991
408-482-0992

Good News Report – Feng Shui Edition # 1

I am reading a great mini book called Fung Shui – The Art of Living.  I will take some information from the book and also give you some of my personal observations.

“Feng Shui is an ancient and respected Chinese art, the essence of which is living in harmony with our surroundings.  Our outer life reflects our inner life and hence, by creating the correct balance In our living and work environments, we create inner peace and improve the flow of energy in our daily lives.” 

Yesterday I visited a real estate money lender at an offsite office building.  There was a side office with 3 cubicles as I entered the building.  The room consisted of one solid wall and the rest of the room was filled with floor to ceiling windows that were not so clean.  This small office was devoid of all energy and it made me feel sick just looking at it.  I do not think that anyone would have a chance of being successful at selling or following up with a client in that room. The room I described above had no window coverings, dirty windows, many sharp corners and florescent lights. That being said, it is crucial to be evaluating and reevaluating all areas that you both work and live in.  If we do not pay attention, we may just be sabotaging ourselves.  The key is to pay attention enough to see what is right in front of your face.   Here is a great example of using a plant to harness the energy of a glass office.

Good News Report!!!

Life is all about giving and getting.  I think many people think life is about getting and getting a little more. I have a June Referral Goal.  I would like to give out 10 referrals and receive 5 referrals into my real estate practice.   Do you know whom I can help or can I help you? Give me a call and let me know what you or someone else might need. I will go to work getting you the perfect referral.   Many people is sales have been taught the (A’B’C’s of selling) Always Be Closing.  I believe that everyone should focus on the A,B,C’s with a slight twist. Always Be Contributing.

Be encouraged and always be looking for ways to increase the life of those you are in contact with.  This week think about Collaboration with others verses Competing with others.  Be encouraged….

Good News Report # 56

August 17, 2013

 

Happy Saturday Afternoon,

 

Here are 7 Simple Steps To

Happiness And Success!

 

Are you feeling stuck on the roadmap of life? Have you longed for

greater success and happiness, but haven’t yet hooked the brass ring?

Albert Schweitzer once wrote, “Success is not the key to happiness.

Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will

be successful.” Here are seven steps you can take today to achieve more

happiness and success in your life:

 

1. Believe In Yourself. Identify your natural talents and abilities. Do what you

enjoy and what you do best. Truly successful and happy people find joy in

their working lives. Invest your time in what you do best. Focus on your

strengths and not your weaknesses.

2. Develop a Vision. First, define your path and start working your plan. Write

down a vision for yourself and your life. Be specific. What do you want to

accomplish? What do you want your life to look like in 5 years, 10 years?

 

3. Develop Good Habits. Happy and successful people choose good habits. If

you’re watching too much TV, chronically late, or eating poorly, make a

commitment to change your bad habits into habits consistent with your goals.

 

4. Show Gratitude. The happiest people are also the most grateful people.

Count your blessings frequently and you’ll quickly start seeing a change in

yourself and the world around you.

5. Take A Chance. Seize opportunities!

Success and happiness does not come to those who sit and wait for it to be brought

to them.

 

6. Give to Others. Studies reveal that the happiest people are also the most generous.

Do, say, or give something nice to another and see how your own life improves.

 

7. Take Responsibility. You hold the key to your future. Take responsibility for your

actions. Choose the work you like to do, and do it well. Ultimately, you are the

master of your fate. You choose your own future by the decisions you make and the actions you take.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

 

Thanks to YOU the word is spreading. Thanks to all of my clients and friends who graciously referred me to your friends, neighbors and co-workers last month! See, rather than pester people with unwanted calls and visits, I build my business based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you. I just couldn’t do it without you.

 

      ***(Thank you to Jennifer Malone for referring her co-worker Ryan M. to me.)***

 

 

 

 

 Real Estate Corner…

 

Q. We’ve purchased a new house, and are selling our existing home.

We don’t have a lot of money to fix up our existing home before

selling it. Do you have any inexpensive suggestions?

 

My first suggestion is to deep-clean the house and “make it sparkle!” Here

are a few more tricks of the trade to help you get the most for your money:

 

*If your master bedroom looks drab, add new linens, pillows, and shams

to spice it up the bedroom and add a little color.

*Buy a bright colored shower curtain and rug to perk up a dull bathroom.

Re-grout if your bathroom grout is chipped or discolored.

*Eliminate clutter. Remove photos, knickknacks, refrigerator magnets

and other personal items. Organize your cabinets and closets.

*Clear off kitchen and bathroom counter tops. Put away appliances.

*Arrange your furniture so it focuses on your home’s strongest feature (it

may a view, a garden, flowers, or a painting). Remove excess furniture.

Create a “model home” look, clean, attractive with well-place items.

*Dress up your rooms with attractive area rugs and framed prints.

*Install new light fixtures if they’re damaged or unappealing.

*Paint your walls in neutral tones. Paint the front door if needed.

*Trim bushes and make sure the outside landscaping is neat and clean.

 

 

<<Jim Mauldwin’s…>>

Insider’s FREE Money-Saving Resources

“Here’s Free Advice And Services For My Friends And Clients To Help Save You

Valuable Time And Money. Never Feel Obligated, I’m Here To Help…”

 

Free Consumer Reports: (order one or all)

(__) Special Home Seller’s Booklet: “27 Valuable Tips You Should Know To Get Your Home SOLD FAST and for TOP DOLLAR.”

(__) Special Home Seller’s Booklet: “11 Things You Need To Know To Pass Your Home Inspection.”

(__) Special Home Seller’s Booklet: “The 9 Step System To Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar.”

(__) Special Home Buyer’s Booklet: “6 Things You Must Know Before You Buy.”

 

 

Free Consumer Resources: (money-saving guidance is just a phone call or e-mail away!)

 

(__) Please send me your special <<Insider’s Market Analysis>> showing home features, listing and sales prices for the most recent homes listed and sold in ________________________ (area or street).

 

(__) Please call me to share your Free, no obligation <> to determine the top dollar market value of my home, and share strategies for selling it fast.

 

(__) Please call me to talk about your Free, no obligation <<Preferred Home Locator Service>> where your computers will search the market on an on-going basis for homes meeting the exact features, prices and areas I’m looking for.

 

(__) Please tell me the listing price for the home at

______________________________________ .

(__) Please tell me how much the home at ______________________________________ sold for.

 

(__) Please call me to talk about the many ways to affordably finance my next home.

(__) I need help finding a competent Service Provider for __________________________________.

Call me with any real estate questions or needs.

Jim Mauldwin
Intero Real Estate Services
408-863-3020
jmauldwin@interorealestate.com
www.jimmauldwin.com
BRE # 01125380 since 1991

Here is a funny cartoon I just found in Realtor Magazine. Enjoy!!

Good News Report # 49

Happy Friday Morning.


We have plans and expectations for situations and for people and since they are not “us” there is always a chance that things may end up differently than we anticipated. We do our best to plant the right type of seeds and expect that those seeds to take root and then grow the way we expected them to. Weather you are in business for yourself, dealing with a job, boss or with your family, we are always sewing seeds. We must always be sewing the correct seeds and be sewing them on fertile ground. By doing this, we will reap a bountiful harvest. The bible tells us that we will not see our seeds grow if we plant them on the dry ground or rocky soil. The seeds may begin to grow but they will be withered away because of no moisture. See Luke 8: 5-8. This is great to ponder as we invest our time in people, projects and situations in our lives. Be encouraged and plant some great seeds today!!!!

This is the last week of the first chapter of “The Greatest Secret in The World” by Og Mandino. My favorite lines from Scroll Marked II are as follows: “ I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I speak? I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout it from the roofs.”


Real Estate at a glance…….

This week I want to show the contrast between the real estate market activities in San Jose verses the Cupertino landscape.

Currently there are:

(San Jose single family homes)

• 168 - Newly Listed Homes for Sale (last week)

• 32 - Price Changes of Previously Listed Homes (last week)

• 122 - Sold Homes (last week)

Overall Property Inventory Statistics for Single Family, Condos and Townhouses:

• 1377 - Total Number of Properties Currently For Sale in San Jose

• 22% of the total number of homes (308 properties) for sale in San Jose are distressed sales (REO, Short Sale)

• 31 - Total number REO's (Bank Owned) properties for sale in San Jose

• 277 - Short Sales - Total number of properties trying to complete a short sale in San Jose



(Cupertino single family homes)

• 46 - Total Number of Properties Currently For Sale in Cupertino

• 0 Properties are distressed sales (0 - REO, 0 - Short Sale Market activity during the last 7 days (single family homes):

• 13 - Newly Listed Homes for Sale (last week)

• 0 - Price Changes of Previously Listed Homes (last week)

• 5 - Sold Homes

If you have any questions about the market you are in or if you would like to investigate another market in detail, please do give me a call at 408-863-3020. I look forward to talking to you and hope you have a great weekend!!


Jim Mauldwin
"Real Estate Sales By Referral"
408-863-3020
jmrealestate@wwdb.org
www.jimmauldwin.com

Good News Report # 23

Good morning,

I started reading a great book a few days ago. It is called The Love Dare by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. This book was published in 2008 and they even made a movie based on the book. This book is written for both a husband and wife to grow their love for one another. I can also see this book having great applications with your children and even your co-workers. In theory this Dare / Challenge is designed to take place in 40 days. That is if the person accepting the challenge can actually meet the criteria of the daily challenges. Chapter 1 is fairly simple. The first dare is to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. Once you can go an entire day without saying anything negative you can check it off in the book and then proceed to day 2. Day 2 takes a little different twist. In addition to saying nothing negative, you are to do at least one unexpected gesture as an act on kindness. Now we arrive at day 3. Along with restraining from negative comments, you are to buy your spouse something that says, “I was thinking of you today.” These things appear easy when I am reading them. However, I am noticing that those little negative comments seem to find their way into my mind and onto my tongue almost every day. These comments are not necessarily about anything or anyone in particular, they just seem to be there. And the challenge says no negative comments at all. This means I am to refrain from saying any type of negative comment at all about anything or anyone to my spouse. I am only a few days into the challenge and I definitely have my work cut out for me.

Proverbs 23:7 says it the best. “ As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The Bible means exactly what it says-a man is what he thinks. When garbage or negative is coming out of my mouth, this means that garbage or negative must be residing somewhere in my mind to begin with. The challenge this week is to take a serious look at what we are allowing to filter into our minds and take refuge there.

This week in real estate has been quite interesting. Quantum Easing 3 (QE3) took place.
The policy, known as quantitative easing and often abbreviated as QE3, entails buying $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month. The end date remains up in the air, as the Fed will re-evaluate the strength of the economy in coming months. What does this mean for sellers and buyers?? This is going to keep interest rates low. This will allow buyers to get the loans they need to purchase the homes they are placing offers on. This is good news for both buyers and sellers. Feel free to give me a call if you have any real estate questions or needs. I can be reached directly at 408-482-0992. Have a great day.

James E. ( JIM ) Mauldwin
“Real Estate Sales By Referral “
Intero Real Estate Services
12900 Saratoga Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
408-863-3020 – office
408-482-0992 – cell
jmauldwin@interorealestate.com
http://www.jimmauldwin.com