March 20, 2015 BrevardElite.com
Links & Content In This Issue: March Training Calendar Relay For Life Common Pest in Your Home Be The Person ‘You Could Have Been’ Now What Happens If I Don’t Consume Enough Sodium Home of the Week Brevard County Sheriff’s Animal Services Top RE/MAX Agents in Brevard Awards Recognition Pinterest – Spring’s New Arrivals Top 10 Individuals YTD Top 10 Teams YTD 3 Often Overlooked Real Estate Tax Breaks Belle Helton Dances and Sings at R4 Birthdays & Anniversaries Property Management Division Supporting Staff
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Happy National Ravioli Day Website Links: Training Center RE/MAX Mainstreet Paperless Pipeline ShowingTime RE/MAX University The ABOVE Magazine BrevardElite.com
*AUTO *HOME *LIFE *BUSINESS www.SuntreeInsurance.com
Paul McDonough
3199 Suntree Blvd., Suite 2 Rockledge, FL 32955 Phone: 622.5333 Fax: 622.5336
Vynn Pechart
2014 Awards Luncheon and Celebrating another AWESOME First Quarter - 2015 Tuesday April 14th 12 – 2pm Details to follow BrevardElite.com
March Training Calendar
“Boot Camp – Open House” March 25 at the Melbourne Office Training Room 9:00 AM
“Boot Camp – Open House” March 30 at the Cocoa Beach Office Noon
April calendar coming soon
RSVP Susan Lewis at: Susan.BrevardElite@gmail.com BrevardElite.com
Take your business to new heights with
Agent Development Schedule your one-on-one 30 minute consultation with Susan Lewis please call 321-775-8110 Susan will be placing an emphasis on consulting, training and accountability. "Our first consultation focused on developing my action plan for areas I want to improve on for 2015. We covered Farming, FSBO's, Personal Marketing Promotions and effectively using Social Media so I'm not wasting my time. We picked up where we left off in our follow up session and reviewed progress on activities. We also talked scripts/dialogues for "problem" customers. My mindset is in action mode and Susan is helping me stay accountable towards my goals.“ ~ Barb Mihalik "Our meeting with Susan was well worth the time
we spent with her. She opened our eyes to the simple things that we knew we should be doing, but just don't ever seem to find the time to get it done. She gave us some great ideas that we plan on implementing into our 2015 business plan. Thank you Susan for the great one-on-one time!" ~ Lou Ann Janke We promised to never stop looking at ways to improve as a company no matter how successful we become. BrevardElite.com
RELAY FOR LIFE is a fundraising walk made up of teams. Our team is Team RE/MAX Elite. You can walk for 10 minutes or 2 hours. The sign up sheet is located at the front desk of all RE/MAX Elite offices. Date: April 10th Time: 4 PM to 11:30 PM Where: Eau Gallie High School
We need donations!! Ask your neighbors, friends, family, church group anyone and everyone. Pocket change adds up, no amount is too small.
Family and friends are welcome to join us. If you have any questions please contact Ronda Chandler at: ronda.brevardelite@gmail.com Sorry no pets. BrevardElite.com
Prestige Title
Prestige Title of Brevard has the knowledge, experience, and resources to get your real estate transaction closed. So whether you’re a buyer, seller, mortgage broker, lending institution, or real estate professional we want to be your preferred title insurance provider of choice!
5120 N. Highway US 1, Suite 102 Palm Shores, FL Phone: 321.242.7660 Fax: 321.242.1675
Tiffany Fortenberry 321.288.8931 Shawn Fortenberry www.prestigeclosings.com 321.302.0031 BrevardElite.com
Common Pests and Your Home The list of new responsibilities can seem overwhelming when you buy a home or become a first-time homeowner. One responsibility that tends to get overlooked until it becomes a larger issue is that of household pests. A household pest is "a destructive insect or other animal that attacks" your home. Pests range throughout the U.S., but the most common pests are those that have become almost commonplace in our lives. Here are some of the most common pests encountered by homeowners throughout the U.S., and what you can do to help prevent pests in your home. Ants: Ants are the most common household pests in the north central states. They are social insects, and they have a wide variety of nesting habits. Ants can build nests in soil, behind moldings, baseboards and counter tops, and some types nest in decaying or moisture damaged wood. Ants will feed on all types of food, and ant damage varies. Most ants cause little damage, but carpenter ants can weaken wood structures similar to termites, and the majority of ants don't transmit diseases. Flies: Flies are some of the most annoying pests in the home. They land on almost every surface, and their diet includes a wide variety of foods: human food, animal food, animal carcasses, garbage and excrement. Flies also carry germs and diseases. They are known to transfer over 100 pathogens, some of which include salmonella, anthrax, tuberculosis, and the eggs of parasitic worms. Spiders: Spiders are generally not harmful and they do feed on other insects like flies and other spiders. Most spiders found in the home are not venomous, but there are some that homeowners don't want to find inside their house. The Black Widow and Brown Recluse are two of the most talked about spiders homeowners do not want to find in their homes. Black Widows can be found throughout the U.S., and Brown Recluse are predominately found in the Midwestern States, most notably Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. All spiders have the ability to travel to all states by ways of hiding in boxes, packages and produce Termites: Termites are generally grouped by their nesting and feeding habits: subterranean, soil-dwelling, dry wood, damp wood and grass-feeding. They feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaves, soil and animal dung. Termites can cause significant structural damage to buildings. Those classified as subterranean and dry wood are those that are responsible for the damage to homes. BrevardElite.com
Kim Osman Insurance Group, Inc. 474 N Harbor City Blvd, Suite 4 Melbourne, Fl 32935
Call Today! 321.549.0678
Pete Osman
posman1@kimosmanins.com
Find out why It's Always A Great Day at the Kim Osman Agency
Kim Osman
kosman1@kimosmanins.com
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Be the Person you ‘could have been’ now Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University, interviewed more than a thousand older Americans from different economic, educational, and occupational backgrounds and asked them to share the most valuable lessons they’d learned. Overwhelmingly, the focus wasn’t on what they did, but what they didn’t do. Of a thousand people in the later stages of life, what dominated their advice on the lessons of life was regret. One man in his late eighties was asked: “If you could come back and live the life of anyone, who would you want to come back as?” His answer: “I would want to come back as the man I could have been, but never was.” He went on to say, “This time I’d act with more courage. I wouldn’t allow my fear to turn me away from opportunities I didn’t take. I’d risk more; I’d take the chances I wish I had. I’d allow myself to fail more, love more, and laugh more. This time I’d be sure to live more.” Wow. Don’t wait until you’re eighty and filled with regret. Be the person you “could have been” now. Click to view Action for today: Grab a pen and piece of paper. Now, imagine that you are the hero or heroine of the movie that is your life. What characteristics or traits would that person embody? Would your hero or heroine be... -Brave? -Passionate? -the one that shines the brightest in a room of people? -the leader of the pack? -an inventor of great ideas? -the most loving parent a child can conceive of? -a compassionate humanitarian? -a bold risk taker? Whatever you desire for your hero, write it down. Then, start becoming that person now. Camera's rolling.. Your Daily Mentor, -Darren To get your Daily Dose of Darren's Motivational Medicine, click the following link to register: http://www.darrendaily.com BrevardElite.com
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Visit Our RE/MAX Elite Exclusive Site pods.com/remaxelite
RE/MAX Elite Clients Can Save Up to 10% promo code: REMAXELITE 866-556-9595
"I can't balance a blimp, but I can help you balance your portfolio" Bob DiBella, CLTC Financial Services Representative Registered Representative Investment Advisor Representative
www.rdibella.metlife.com 321.610.9934 321.255.1480 rdibella@metlife.com BrevardElite.com
What Happens if I Don't Consume Enough Sodium? As long as you eat enough food every day, it's unlikely you'll become deficient in sodium, even if you avoid heavily processed foods and salt (including sea salt). Small amounts of sodium occur naturally in vegetables, meat, seafood, milk, cheese, and breads. Sodium Deficiency While a dietary deficiency is unlikely, you can drive your blood levels of sodium down to dangerous levels if you drink too much water too quickly, resulting in a condition called hyponatremia. These dangerously low sodium levels cause muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and if not treated, can lead to shock and coma. According to the Merck Manual, it would take six gallons of water on a regular daily basis to affect a healthy young adult. If you have certain heart, liver kidney problems, you may be at a greater risk of hyponatremia and should speak to your doctor about how much water to drink every day. What About Sweating? You lose a little sodium every day when you sweat, but your diet provides enough sodium to replace the amount lost. It's possible to become deficient in sodium if you sweat too much, like when you over-exert yourself on a sweltering day. You can prevent sodium loss by drinking sports drinks that contain electrolytes. How Much Sodium Do I Need? According to the United States Institute of Medicine, you need about 1,500 milligrams per day to replace what you normally lose. You can easily get that much by eating a healthy diet. A cup of milk has around 140 milligrams of sodium, four ounces of beef has about 60 milligrams, and a large stalk of celery has about 50 milligrams. These are all considered low in sodium because they're at or below 140 milligrams per serving, but you can see how they'd still add up during the day. Processed foods are high in sodium. It's common for people to eat in excess of 3,000 milligrams daily. If you don't have high blood pressure (or are at a high risk of getting high blood pressure), you can have up to 2,400 milligrams per day. The IOM sets 1,500 milligrams as the target for anyone with high blood pressure or is over the age of fifty as well as African-Americans of all ages. Why Is Sodium Important? There's so much written about cutting back on sodium that it can be difficult to remember that it's an essential nutrient. Sodium is an electrolyte, which means it helps keep your fluid levels in balance by working with water, potassium and chloride. You also need sodium for normal nerve and muscle function. BrevardElite.com
605 Washington Ave #2 , Cape Canaveral, FL Listed by Ron Wallen with RE/MAX Elite
Elevator BrevardElite.com
Important FICO credit score changes coming soon! There are new changes in how FICO scores are calculated. I’m happy to let everyone know that these changes are for the better! It’s often very difficult to understand how someone’s credit score is determined. Many factors are used to calculate a credit score; these include late payments, collections (medical and non-medical), foreclosures, judgments, short sales, number of inquiries, amount of credit outstanding compared to the amount of credit available, number of trade lines, length of time credit has been reported, etc. One of the main issues that consumers have is with collections, especially medical bills. Here is a summary of the new FICO changes: •Unpaid medical collections will have virtually no reduction in credit score. •Consumers who currently have unpaid medical collections should see their score go up by 25 points under the new system. •All collections which are paid off will no longer reduce the consumer’s credit score substantially (often times paid collections will now have no negative effect on their score). This is good news for consumers who want to buy a home but have not been able to because of unpaid medical collections or paid off collections. The end result will be more consumers will be able to purchase a home and get better interest rates and terms (the higher the credit score the lower the rate). Keep in mind that lenders will still carefully review the entire credit report, not just the score. If the collections are unpaid and a substantial amount (over $5,000) that could still be an issue in qualifying for a home loan. Each customer’s situation will be different-even though their score will be higher with the new rules they will still need to meet loan program guidelines (especially on FHA and VA). The FICO score changes will not occur overnight, but over the next few months these changes will improve consumer’s credit scores. For more information please go to www.fico.com. If you have any buyers that you’ve been working with and they “just missed” being able to qualify because their credit score did not quite meet loan program guidelines may now be eligible very soon. Please contact Dyer Mortgage Group with any questions. We would be happy to review these changes with your clients and assist them with getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Thank you for choosing the Dyer Mortgage Group.
Bobbie Dyer Division President 321-215-4419 bdyer@dyermtg.com
www.dyermortgagegroup.com BrevardElite.com
The Elite Transaction Management Department can help!! An agent averages 19 hours of their time on a transaction from contract to closing. We are giving you back most of that time, so that you can focus on activities that drive in more income for your business! We have established exclusive pricing for these services and you only pay at closing.
$250 for 1 side or $300 for both! Providing the processing, organizing and communications you need to manage your transactions with accuracy, speed and the highest level of professionalism.
For more information contact:
Jill Mickey
321.505-0700 JMickey.brevard@gmail.com
Meet Jill Mickey! We have partnered with Jill to offer Transaction Management Services for our company. Jill originally hails from South Florida where she started in the Real Estate/Title Insurance business and worked as legal assistant to a real estate attorney. She spent 10 years in Colorado working in the title insurance industry and as a mobile notary before returning home to Florida for sunshine and family. Since settling in Brevard County, she worked for a local title company before creating her own Transaction Coordination Service in 2014. Jill prides herself on her real estate knowledge and customer service skills. BrevardElite.com
Veteran-owned company Established 2000 Happyhomeinspection.com
Work Smarter. Smart-Targeting focuses you on the homes most likely to sell.
Website: www.smartzip.com BrevardElite.com
A 50% Discount for RE/MAX
Make tax-time less taxing!
RE/MAX Associates Automate your financial tacking Never miss another tax deduction Watch you tax savings grow Eliminate tax-time anxiety
Join NOW! approved supplier Each supplier independently owned and operated. BrevardElite.com
Dick Blodin 321-544-1317 Email: rblodin@cfl.rr.com www.CloudViewAerial.com
Give us a call today! 321-698-5370 Florida License # HI 8266 Melbourne & Surrounding Areas BrevardElite.com
3 Often-Overlooked Real Estate Tax Breaks 1. State and local tax breaks for green home improvements Most of us focus on federal income tax deductions, because these taxes seem like the biggest bank account drain. In fact, some state tax rates can reach as high as 15 percent of annual income! As the recession recovery made its way into full swing back in 2013, many homeowners began embarking down a path Of improving their home’s energy efficiency for a variety of reasons, including cash savings on utility bills. Many of those improvements are eligible for state, county, and/or city tax credits — or tax breaks. If you’ve installed dual-paned windows, insulation, low-flow plumbing appliances, tankless water heaters, or solar panels last year, dig up your receipts. (Trust us, it’s worth the time.) Then talk with your tax preparer or visit your state, county, and city government websites to research tax advantages for which you might already be eligible. 2. Mortgage interest tax break Many homebuyers expressly call out the mortgage interest tax deduction as a major motivation behind their desire to own a home. The ability to write off interest on up to $1 million of mortgage debt shifts the affordability equation and makes buying more financially compelling than renting for thousands of homeowners every year. So it’s a shock and surprise every time I read the numbers of homeowners who simply don’t take the mortgage interest deduction every year. According to the American Institute for Economics Research, only about 63% of homeowners itemize deductions — a prerequisite to taking the mortgage interest deduction and its cousin, the property tax deduction. Now, there are a number of owners whose income tax liability is simply so low that itemizing their tax deductions doesn’t add up. That just means that some people’s holistic financial picture, including the income they earn and the mortgage interest they deduct, renders the standard deduction larger than the tax break they would receive by virtue of the mortgage interest and other itemized deductions. However, many homeowners who could be eligible for great benefits from itemizing don’t fully appreciate what they stand to gain or simply don’t feel up to the task of determining whether they have sufficient non-mortgage-related deductions to itemize, so they do their own taxes and take the standard interest deduction to minimize the work. >>>>Read more
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Contact: Kelly Cox 321.751.8711 Pillartopost.com
• Leader in our industry in home inspections • Comprehensive & Accurate Reports
Brand Transfer & Storage 1731 Cogswell St. Rockledge, FL 32955 321.632.5020 Ext. 102 www.brandtransfer.com
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We at H.I.P. Construction are dedicated to creating an organizational culture that encourages honesty, integrity, and professionalism by adopting and enforcing the following practices: 1.
Emphasize, through staff training, that the organization expects its employees to be honest, have a sense of integrity, and behave professionally. Convey these same expectations to vendors, consultants, volunteers, and anyone else who performs paid or unpaid work for the organization.
2.
Explicitly require "honesty, integrity, and professionalism" in all job descriptions, staff contracts, volunteer policies, performance evaluations, and labor agreements.
3.
Inform employees, contractors, and the general public of established policies, procedures, and expectations regarding honesty, integrity, and professionalism.
4.
Commend and reinforce behavior that exemplifies high ethical expectations.
5.
Never tolerate dishonest, corrupt, or unprincipled behavior in the workplace, regardless of job type or level of authority.
Get started with your FREE estimate today! 321.775.8212
jason@trusthip.com
BrevardElite.com
HEATHER’S Page #1 RE/MAX Team and #1 RE/MAX Agent
2015 Awards Recognition
Mary Gowenlock
Silvia Mozer
Andy Barclay
Jennifer McCoy & Bobby Freeman BrevardElite.com
Spring has arrived
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BrevardElite.com
Congratulations to Our Top 10 Individuals YTD as of December 2014
#1 Silvia Mozer $16,159,471 64 Transactions
#2 Karen Osiniak $11,126,653 35 Transactions
#4 Pat Murphey $7,781,100 35 Transactions
#5 Sue Tillman $4,497,450 26 Transactions
#7 Theresa Friend $4,071,100 22 Transactions
#8 Peggy Penridge $4,040,165 24 Transactions
#3 Steve Vitani $11,111,607 34 Transactions
#6 Bruce Kwitny $4,330,700 28 Transactions
#9 Melinda Corns #10 Connie Trincali $3,385,400 $3,733,240 20 Transactions 17 Transactions BrevardElite.com
Congratulations to Our Top Teams YTD as of December 2014
#1 McCoy-Freeman Group $27,414,210 109 Transactions
#4 Joy Frankel Team $15,517,572 80 Transactions
#7 Brevard Real Estate Team $11,807,650 49 Transactions
#2 Platinum Realty Group $25,370,568 146 Transactions
#5 Barclay Group $12,524,000 48 Transactions
#8 321 Team $9,688,064 52 Transactions
#3 Coastal Estate Team $23,939,860 74 Transactions
#6 Kuhns Realty Group $12,261,865 66 Transactions
#9 Romano Team $8,186,819 29 Transactions
#10 Central Florida Team $3,987,118 35 Transactions BrevardElite.com
6 Ridiculously Easy SpringCleaning Shortcuts 1. Soak your oven racks in the tub Instead, line your bathtub with a towel and place the oven racks on top. Let the hot water run until the racks are covered, then add one cup of powdered laundry or dishwasher detergent. Swish it around until the soap dissolves, then let the racks sit overnight. Your racks will emerge grease-free without much, er, elbow grease. 2. Clean your bed with booze Simply fill a spray bottle with the cheap stuff (save the Grey Goose for your own swilling), add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (try lavender oil, which also has antifungal and antibacterial properties), and lightly spritz evenly across your mattress. Let it air-dry before making your bed. 3. Dust your ceiling fans with pillowcases Slip an old pillowcase over the fan blade and slowly pull it toward you. The dust will collect inside the case, leaving the fan — and your floor — ready for the white-glove treatment. 4. Say sayonara to soap scum If you’re mortified by the scum that rings your tub, simply rub a thin layer of baby oil along the grime lines on the sides of your tub, says Julie Edelman, author of The Accidental Housewife. Doing so causes future dirt and soap residue to bead up and run down the drain rather than sticking to the tub walls. 5. Give your pillows the fold-over test While it may be perfectly broken in, your pillow needs to be replaced every couple of years. To find out if yours is ready for a replacement, Melissa Maker suggests this simple test: try folding the pillow in half. If it springs back, it will live to see another slumber. If it stays in the folded position, it’s time to swap it for a new model. 6. Get streak-free windows, finally Forget balled-up newspaper. The easiest, most effective way to clean your windows is to fill a bucket with hot water, a teaspoon of dish soap, and one cup of white vinegar. Using a double-sided squeegee, clean sponge, or cloth, apply the mixture to the windows; use a blade squeegee to remove excess water. “No streaks, tons of time saved,” says Maker.
BrevardElite.com
Ten-year-old Belle Helton of Georgia sang and danced her way into everyone's hearts at R4 in Las Vegas. Watch to hear her story.
BrevardElite.com
Tom Hall – 03/05 Toni Jones – 03/11 Bobbi Dyer – 03/16 Breanne Brown – 03/19 Connie Trincali – 03/21 Dee Dee Sheffield – 03/23 Edwin Normandia – 03/23 Kristi Spencer – 03/29 Natalie Stroh – 03/29
Cheryl Kennedy – 1 year Jason McDaniels – 2 years Suzi Granger – 4 years Bruce Kwitny – 8 years BrevardElite.com
Our Property Management Division Your clients can fill out their credit application and pay online. It’s easy and menu driven. If you have any questions please call Sheryl at 321-863-7824 (cell) or 321-775-8122 (office).
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Click Here to see 321rentals.net Thank you for your support and referrals! 3117 Sir Hamilton Cir. #8, Titusville, FL listing by Patty Teachman
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Wishing you a fantastic Friday on behalf of your RE/MAX Elite Family!
321.752.5858 BrevardElite.com Your Supporting Staff
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