Here is some very exciting news!  Everyone at Century 21 should be very energized about this HUGE Superbowl ad that the company has coming up!  Big names are being featured in this ad…  Donald Trump!  Deion Sanders!  Apolo Ohno!  Here are the details from Bev Thorne…

It is my pleasure to share a feature written by Stuart Elliott, veteran reporter for the world’s top ranked newspaper, The New York Times, that announces the super star talent appearing in our  CENTURY 21 Super Bowl commercial!  In his piece titled “For Super Bowl XLVI, a Bigger Batch of First-Time Advertisers”, Elliott describes the ads planned by a few stand out brands who are advertising during the big game for the first time. When talking about the CENTURY 21 spot, Elliott reveals:

“CENTURY 21 is also sprinkling stardust on its spot, created by the Red Tettemer & Partners agency in Philadelphia. The 30-second spot, to run in the third quarter, will use Donald J. Trump and two athletes, Deion Sanders and Apolo Ohno, to demonstrate that CENTURY 21 agents are Smarter. Bolder. Faster.”

In addition to the celebrity talent and the focus on the brand’s Smarter. Bolder. Faster. agents, the spot also serves a larger purpose, which is to send a message about the brand’s position in 2012.  As I explained to Elliott:   “The Super Bowl comes just before the spring selling season, making it a perfect time to signal our confidence in our agents and in the American real estate market.”

There’s the news for today!  On Sunday February 5^th, during the third quarter of the game, Donald J. Trump, Deion Sanders and Apolo Ohno will help the Super Bowl audience to understand how CENTURY 21 agents are Smarter, Bolder and Faster than ever. Share this exciting news with your friends, family and clients! Also let them know we’ll be sharing sneak peeks of the commercial before it airs on our C21 blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.  Now is the time to be sure you’re following!

Best Regards,
Bev Thorne
Chief Marketing Officer
Century 21 Real Estate LLC

Having just had my 50^th Birthday, I celebrated experiences that life has brought me over the past 50 years; some actually help me to solve issues that are re-occurring—hmmm, like the Housing Crisis?  You bet.  When I started in Real Estate Sales at age eighteen, Jimmy Carter was President and we had a massive housing crisis—we were deep into a recession and mortgage interest rates hit a high of 21% (It was like buying a home with a bad credit card).

Then, in 1978, a little old lady, named Cynthia Wellenkamp sued Bank of America, and won.  Within a couple of years, the court decision took hold and it was at the peak of the Housing Crisis—when suddenly, in the State of California, all loans could be assumed–by anyone—without qualifying!  It didn’t take long before the California Housing Crisis was effectively over.  Buyers were coming out of the woodwork to buy every piece of real estate that they could and they took full advantage of the “assumable feature” that all loans in the State now enjoyed.  The market flourished, at least until the “Garn St. Germain Decision” reversed the “Wellenkamp Decision”, thereby re-enforcing the due-on-sale provision—the market sputtered once again, at least until mortgage interest rates dropped back into affordable territory.

Today, as the housing market continues its troubled path; I can’t help but think how a national decision to make all loans assumable would put an end to the housing crisis–fast.  But how, you might wonder?  It’s simple—there is a huge buyer demand that cannot partake in today’s market.  Qualified—and I mean QUALIFIED buyers that cannot get a loan.  These Qualified buyers would take every opportunity to purchase property (even over-encumbered properties), if they could simply take over the loans.  These are buyers that may have too many loans already in their name, and as a result, exceed the new lower guideline limits to the number of outstanding loans, in order to obtain a new loan; or these could be buyers that are self employed, or have inconsistent income or even sources of income that don’t qualify for a new loan.  There are countless qualified (to make payment) buyers that would most certainly pay a premium for real estate if they could only obtain the financing.  These buyers are currently “locked out” of the market, if released to the marketplace to buy-up, by their sheer numbers and size of this group, this  would help in stabilizing the housing market—stabilize the pricing—stabilize the neighborhoods and take the housing crisis to full recovery.

Many of these buyers and investors would truly be the best buyers in the market today—why—they are willing to “rent properties out to tenants”.  They know how to do it and make it profitable.  They understand the nuances of renting property and realize the tax benefits and long term equity building benefits of owning real estate, yet, in today’s mortgage climate, they cannot obtain the purchase financing to buy real estate.  Assumable loans would open the market up to this flood of buyers and bring in fresh buyer competition to absorb the excess inventory of REO and short sale properties, thus stabilizing the real estate markets across the country.

Best of all, the banks stop their financial hemorrhage—short pay sales would slow to a crawl and the banks would actually be able to carry full mortgage balances on their financials.  Many investors could buy homes with “built-in” tenants (former owners that never could have qualified for the loans on their properties—and quite frankly would be better off as renters, not owners).  Run-down neighborhoods currently filled with vacant REO properties would be replaced with much needed affordable rental real estate owned by investors that understand the benefits of owning investment properties.

To overcome the fear that banks would have that scammers would assume loans—move in tenant—collect rents and not make payments, the banks would have to utilize tight assumability agreements that simply add the new equitable property owner to the loan, making them credit accountable, so they are equally affected should there ever be a default on that property loan.  The investors also have the motivation to repair, fix-up and increase the value of their newly obtained real estate investments—it’s called adding upside value to their real estate investment.

There is little to no downside.  Right now, the banks are writing off huge losses to accept short sales.  Worse yet—if the short sale doesn’t materialize, the banks take even bigger and sometimes unquantifiable losses in the foreclosure process.  Once foreclosed, the banks are responsible for occupancy, maintenance, liability, damage, utilities, HOA Dues, Taxes, etc., etc., all affecting their bottom line.  These enormous losses can be eliminated by the banks and institutions by keeping loans in-tact and allowing buyers to assume them.

This is the surest way to solve the housing crisis and stabilize the National Housing market—once and for all!

Ron Prechtl, Broker-Owner of Century 21 All Moves, the largest Century 21 Real Estate office in The San Fernando Valley,  also owner of Prellis Property Management, Prellis Escrow and Prellis Real Estate School.  Ron started his career in Real Estate Sales, ranked as the #2 Sales Agent in the World with Century 21 International; today as a Broker, his experience in the real estate field spans nearly 35 years.  Graduated California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate and Finance.   Ron can be reached at: 818-491-0121, Ron@Prellis.com

The Federal Reserve sent investors lurching from worry to hope as it warned that the economy would remain weak for some time but said it was prepared to take further steps to shore it up.

The Fed’s statement, which included plans to keep interest rates near zero for at least the next two years, ultimately sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 4%, its biggest daily gain since March 2009. Yields on Treasury bonds dropped as investor demand pushed up prices.

Just yesterday, a prospective client asked me the question; is this a good time to buy real estate?—I thought about it and here’s how I answered:  I have been in real estate sales and investing since 1979, and I have not experienced a real estate market this good—ever.  Why is this such a great time to buy real estate, she asked?  Interest rates remain at the lowest rates that we have seen in over 40 years; prices are lower than their peak levels by 30-60%, depending on the markets, and current inventory includes motivated, distressed sellers, that MUST SELL!  All this means more buyers that could not afford to purchase real estate over the past several years can now qualify to buy real estate with payments that may be less than what they pay to rent the home they are living in now.  She then asked…why invest in real estate when stocks and other investments look appealing too (although at time of writing this, stocks have been on a tumultuous roller-coaster)?  It’s actually very simple—real estate has utility value—an investment in real estate provides an investment that you can live in and enjoy; something that cannot be done with a stock or bond, as they have no utility benefit, per se.  Also, investment real estate provides rental income and cash flow in addition to all the tax benefits of real estate investments.  For years, real estate investors have been reaping the benefits of depreciation, which serves as a paper loss that offsets income—all designed to benefit investors’ bottom line.  Of course, you will need to consult with a tax specialist to see all the great benefits of real estate investment.

Today, you can purchase investment property that cash-flow with a 15 year loan.  Imagine that over the next fifteen years, every property that you own is being paid off by a tenant that is forcing a savings plan in your name!  Best of all, at the end of the fifteenth year, the loan is paid in full, but the rental cash-flow continues.  You have achieved financial independence!

In short, whether you are buying a home to live in, or an investment property to generate long term financial security, right now is the best time to buy real estate.

The real estate sales professionals at Century 21 All Moves are trained and prepared to help you with all your real estate buying and selling needs.  I would be happy to discuss investment opportunities with you, just call me at: 818-491-0121.

It was 1971, when March Fisher and Art Bartlett met in Southern California to form a new concept in real estate—a franchise concept that allowed independent real estate offices to work together under a common banner that allowed for recognition and growth.  In 1971, Century 21 was born and within weeks, they began selling franchises, with the first franchises sold in the San Fernando Valley.  Three brokers got together and purchased a franchise for their Granada Hills office and named the office, Century 21 LWL (representing their initials, Lenzion, White and Lowers).

Within a year, the growth was explosive—Century 21 offices were popping up everywhere and it spread across the county.  Soon the franchise brand spread to Canada, then other countries.  Today, forty years later, the brand is now over 8000 offices strong, with over 121,000 sales associates in 78 countries and territories around the globe.  Century 21 is the largest real estate organization in the world.  Century 21, together with several other brands, including Sotheby’s International, Coldwell Banker, ERA and Better Homes and Garden’s Realty, are all owned by Realogy.

Remember that original office—Century 21 LWL?  In 1979, Ron Prechtl joined that office as an agent, working under the direction of the original owner, Zeldia Lowers, as his broker.  Ron was affiliated with the office for several years before moving to Chuck Lamb’s Century 21 Lamb office to build a strong sales career as Century 21’s #2 Sales Associate in the World.  In 1996, Zeldia Lowers was ready to retire, so Ron returned to purchase the Century 21 LWL office and renamed the office, Century 21 All Moves—still under the same original Granada Hills Franchise agreement.  Zeldia Lowers and her daughter, Janet Strouse, remained licensed as agents at the office and Ron continued on to build the office to over 200 sales associates and the #1 producing Century 21 Office in The San Fernando Valley; also one of the largest and most productive offices in Southern California.

This year, the Century 21 brand marks a milestone—it’s 40^th Birthday.  Century 21 All Moves in Granada Hills is the original and oldest Century 21 franchise in the World; of over 8000 offices!  At the International Convention in March 2011, Ron Prechtl was the only Broker-Owner recognized on stage when “Buddy” the “Cake Boss” brought in the largest cake he had ever made to celebrate Century 21’s 40^th Birthday.  Buddy made a spectacular cake, designed to highlight the global company that Century 21 has become—and large enough to feed 4000 people in attendance at the International Convention in Las Vegas.  The event was televised for a summer showing on “Cake Boss”, on the TLC Channel.

Ron Prechtl is focused on the continued growth of his Century 21 company.  Although Century 21 All Moves is the original franchise, it is truly one of the most “high-tech” and cutting edge offices in the system today.  The Century 21 system is focused on Brighter, Bolder and Smarter agents that are positioned to serve their clients real estate needs with the most sophisticated technology tools available and Ron’s San Fernando Valley office is doing just that—training the agents and providing the resources that help the agents to succeed in their professional sales careers.  You can contact Ron Prechtl for a confidential interview and more information about a professional sales career with Century 21, at 818-491-0121 or 818-681-1764.

Too many agents are using Social Networking sites akin to standing on a mountain top and shouting out their message.  While it is one way to be heard, the effective real estate agents understand that social networking is a “listening tool” to get listings!

Join Facebook and other social media sites and pay attention, (LISTEN) to what’s going on in people’s lives.  You won’t hear them say…”I need a real estate agent to sell my house”, but you will hear them say…”I’m upset, Bob lost his job”…or…”Chris is off to college…our big house is feeling empty”….or…”We just had a baby girl”…or…”I’m so excited, we’re retiring next month”.  Well, you get the idea.  People are excited to tell you what is going on in their lives and in the process–you are able to find the true motivation.  Every great salesperson will tell you that knowing a client’s motivation is the greatest sales advantage they could ever wish for!

Agents understand that these social network conversations indicate future business.  Think about any of these announcements.  Do they indicate that a possible move may be in the works?  If it sounds like there may be a need for your professional real estate services, then it’s time to step in with some helpful solutions and information and to remind them that you are in the real estate business!

Happy prospecting and social networking as you grow your professional real estate career.

Ron Prechtl
Broker-Owner of Century 21 All Moves