Duane Gomer’s claim to fame is real estate education. If you need to renew your license, you’ll wanna talk with him. Read these snippets. I’m sure youu’ll find a gem hidden there. I did
About a month ago I sent you my recent Facebook postings. The response was so great I am doing it again. Enjoy.
If you would like to read them daily, go to www.DuaneGomer.com/DuaneGomerSeminars and press the like button. You will have to be registered with Facebook which will take you just a few minutes.
By the way, if you want to renew a Real Estate License or a Notary Commission or get a Sales or Broker License or MLO Courses, call 800-439-4909 or go to www.DuaneGomer.com. We are ready to help. That is our business.
BUSINESS GIFTS
One gift that has been well received by our clients is a year’s subscription to Sunset Magazine. 12 issues with your name on every issue. We have been receiving copies for years from Terry Yapp, Mission Viejo Realtor, and D.J. and I appreciate them greatly. One strong selling point. The cost is only about $16.00 per year. Well worth it. Other gifts we have used successfully are movie tickets, Danish Kringles, Gas Cards and James Salt Water Taffy.
CONGRATULATIONS LINDSEY
This month Lindsey Virginia Gomer gets her degree from CSUN with a Real Estate Major. She passed her DRE Sales test in June, 2010 and now has all her broker courses done. Since she has a four-year degree she needs no experience and will take her Brokers Test soon. Hopefully, she will follow in the footsteps of her father, David Gomer, also a CSUN Real Estate Major and now a Reverse Mortgage Specialist, and Grandpa Duane, a Real Estate Speaker. Look out world here comes Lindsey.
GREAT JOBS
A student said recently, “I would love your job, you just talk all day.” I’ve had some great jobs. One in Germany years ago was Athletic Director for USAF Germany, running Sports Events all over Europe. At Indiana University, I worked nights in the Girl’s Dorms making sandwiches, milk shakes, etc. Had a seminar student the other day who had been one of my customers. BTW, doing seminars is not as easy as it looks. Most of the work is before you start talking. Still, it is the greatest of all possible jobs.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Thank you all who have written recommendations for my Facebook page Duane Gomer Seminars. It is sincerely appreciated. You are the best. BTW, is it against Facebook Policies to have a drawing for all my recommenders at the end of the year and give prizes? I am not an expert about all the Facebook Policies, and I sure don’t want to be eliminated from the program.
MOVIE AWARDS
Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nominations were released this week. It is clearly evident that five movies will be around at Oscar time. They are Help (civil rights in the South), Descendants (George Clooney), Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen), Bridesmaids (raunchy female comedy) and the Artist (an ode to silent movies). Fortunately Help and Bridesmaids are available on DVD and Midnight in Paris will be available next week. Other touted movies include Moneyball, Hugo, War Horse, My Week With Marilyn, Ides of March, 50-50. So many to see so little time.
R.E. AGENTS
I have an idea for you. Homeowners just paid their taxes December 12th. They have heard all the gossip about distressed property sales with low prices and their assessed value is higher. Send your clients, friends, relatives, prospects, etc. information about your County Assessor’s website and URL where they can request a lowered assessment. Tell them that you can help them with comps. Some might appreciate the reminder and remember you when someone has a real estate problem.
NOTARY FACTS
1 – To become a Notary you have to pass a 30 question multiple choice exam with a grade of 70% plus do a 6 hour course. 2 – The maximum fee for each signature is $10.00. 3 – A real estate agent can notarize documents for a deal in which they are receiving a commission. 4 – People can look at your Journal by giving you a written request and paying $.30 per item. 5 – A person does not have to sign a trust deed in front of the Notary. Want to be a Notary? Call me – (800) 439-4909.
END OF THE YEAR
Time to estimate how much you’ll make in 2012. You need to know so you can determine whether you should pay more expenses this year or not and if possible whether you should take income this year or not. Also, make more charity donations in 2011 or wait till 2012. I am positive your religious donation recipients wouldn’t mind a little prepayment. You can pay your April Tax Installment, etc. No handy money. If you use a credit card in December, you can deduct the expense. Talk to your CPA before doing anything. I bet they might have time to talk right around this time of year.
TRAVELING
Years ago we could not get a room at our go-to hotel in Berkeley (The Durant) so they told us about a small hotel nearby. It was 9:00 pm-ish so we grabbed our 4 bags and walked into the small lobby. We didn’t see a reception desk. A couple came out from a side room; when we asked them where the desk was they said, “The hotel is next door this is our home.” As we retreated, I overheard one say, “We have to be sure to lock the door in the future.”
CREDIT CHECK
Go to http://annualcreditreport.com and get your free credit report. While there, get a credit report for your minor children. They have a Social Security Number and agencies are finding identity theft on children. If you want to buy a credit score, go to Trans Union or Equifax. Costs about $15.00 and would be informative. Stay away from freecreditreport.com. They are the largest seller of personal information of any URL in the US of A.
UNEMPLOYED
Saw a great Wall Street Journal article the other day about recommendations for the unemployed. A couple I liked: Volunteer at some charity, etc. to be active. I would add, find charities that have networking possibilities. Stay fit: Exercise more now that your have time. Can it help? Can’t hurt. Consider going 1099. Find something entrepreneurial that costs nothing to try, for example H&R Block. I have been 1099 for almost 50 years. Also, take a trip to North Dakota – great employment possibilities.
SHOPPING TRENDS
Retail sales are up. That is good news. Corporations have more cash on hand than anytime in history. That is good news. Duane Gomer Seminars is still in business and planning 2012. That is extremely good news. Surveys are showing that more people are buying presents for themselves this year then in recent years past. We deserve it. Another good thing about buying for yourself, the sizes, color, style, etc. should be correct.
SEASONS GREETINGS
First, Seasons Greetings to everyone and Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, etc. For some foreign language speakers I say “Nollaig Shona Dhuit”; “Kala Christouyenna”; “Cestitamo Bozic”; “Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova”;”Feliz Navidad”; “Vrolijk kerstfeest en een gelukkig nieuw jaar” ; “Merry Keshmish”; Mele Kalikimaka Ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!”; Nadolig Llawen”; “Joyeux Noel”; “Buone Feste Natalizie” ; “Froehliche Weihnachten”;”Boas Festas”; God Jul”;”Gun Tso Sun Tan Gung Haw Sun”; “Merii Kurisumasu”; “Sung Tan Chuk Ha”; “Sawadee Pee Mai”; “Maligayang Pasko”. Sorry for any language we left out we will get them later. But best wishes to all. Duane and DJ Gomer.
NOISE
Relief is coming. Effective December 13, 2012 the Federal CALM Act goes into effect. What does this acronym mean? Commercial Advertising Loudness Mitigation. Finally, regulations that will penalize TV advertisers who crank up the sound on their commercials. If you have ever watched TV you know this. Commercial sound levels will have to be in a proper relationship to the sound levels of the shows they will be on. About time.
VETERANS
A Career Builder’s Survey illustrated that many companies are looking to hire military veterans. Why? 66% of the companies state that they are more disciplined; 65% understand teamwork; 58% are respectful, 56% leaders; 54% better problem solvers. I agree and another interesting stat – of all the different loan problems including Conventional, FHA, Fannie/Freddie, HOEPA etc., VA loans have the best payment records in every year that I have studied. Signed, Duane Gomer LTJG US Navy.
LOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST HOUSE
Rule #1 – There is no perfect house for you anywhere. Rule #2 – If you don’t find a perfect home with every item you want, remember Rule #1. My wife and I really looked for a long time in our last two purchases. We’ve been in our current house 14 years and growing and in our prior house 13 years. Was either home perfect and had every item from our “check list”? No, but they obviously had many attributes that we loved. So, you won’t find “perfect” but you will find “perfect” for you at this time.
ANNA POST
She is the great-great-grand daughter of Emily and the guru of etiquette. For Christmas thank you’s, she says even if you thank grandparents etc. in person send them a hand-written note. They will appreciate it. When is an email thank-you okay? Anna says, “When you are dealing with someone who does everything online.” A good theory I follow in business. If someone mails, I mail. If someone emails, I email. If someone phones, I phone. If someone faxes, I fax, etc. Seems to work for me. I hope.
REAL ESTATE NUMBERS
In the heyday there were 548,000+ licensees in California. Today there are under 440,000 and dropping about 36,000 a year. Divide 36 into 440 and you get in 12 years there will be no agents left. The number of DRE Loan Originators has dropped about 60%. What do you think this has done to an Education Company’s income? BTW, other companies have not faired well. For example, Kodak in 1988 had 145,000 employees; 2011 – 18,800 employees. Guess people aren’t buying film.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Duane Gomer Seminars would like to wish you a Happy, Joyous, Profitable and Fulfilling New Year. As we did on December 25th we want to express it in several other idioms. It is beyond my comprehension how many languages are spoken in our world. Shnorhavor nor Tari, Urte, Berri On, Xin Nian Kuai Le / Xin Nian Hao, Godt Nytar, Gelukkig Nieuwjaar, Bonne Annee, Prost Neujahr, Kali Chronia, Hauoli Makahiki Hou, Shana Tova, Buon Anno, Akemashite Omedeto, She Heh Bok Mani Bat Uh Seyo, Gody Nytarr, Sale No Mobarak, Szczesliwego Nowego Roku, Feliz Ana Novo, La Multi Ani, S Novim Godom, Feliz ano Nuevo, Gott Nytt Ar, Manigong Bagong Taon.
NEW JOBS
Everyone today was saying “Happy New Year” and in my mind I kept paraphrasing Tennessee Ernie Ford’s song, “16 Tons.” “You do 200 seminars and what do you get, another year older, and deeper in debt, Saint Peter please can’t I be free, I owe my soul to DRE.” Side note: In my long ago Certified Property Manager days, I once managed a building for Mr. Ford. Not one of my favorite memories. Some favorites: Ann Margaret and her husband Roger; Richard Carson, Johnnie’s brother; etc. Feliz año nuevo.
BIRTHDAYS
I am a Capricorn so my birthday is around now. As you know, identity security experts recommend that publishing your birthday and even more so your birthdate is not good, so I’m not. Some other ideas I learned again at an ID session. When away from home, stop newspapers and mail; no announcements of your absence; put some inside lights on timers in different rooms; don’t neglect front lawns; have friendly neighbors to check periodically, put locks on breaker cabinets and gates.
RESOLUTIONS FOR YOU IN 2012
Get a real estate license, you never know when you might need one; if you have a real estate license – study and get your Broker license; already have a Broker license – become a Notary; already a Notary and Broker – become a CRS (outstanding NAR designation), already a Broker, Notary and CRS, call me for more tips. Where should you do all this? Duane Gomer Seminars, your friendly education and information source; check www.DuaneGomer.com .
ROSE BOWL
When I lived in Wisconsin we would watch the Rose Bowl on black and white TV from our snowbound home and marvel at the weather and the beauty of the Rose Bowl. This year was another great tableau of the San Gabriel Mountains and now it is in living 3D color. Temperatures on the 1st dropped to -9 degrees in North Dakota and -53 degrees in Alaska. Do you think anyone out in the cold made plans to leave for California this week? Let’s hope they bring jobs with them.
I’M LUCKY
I am so fortunate that I’ve never been in a hospital for treatment, never had to wear a cast, etc. However, many friends and family are gone, and now I would love to ask them some questions – my Grandparents; “What do you remember about coming from Germany?” my Parents; “How did you two meet?”; my Uncle; “What was it like fighting in WWII, etc., etc., etc. My point, all you elderly (over 62) start recording and make your memories available to family and friends.
CLOONEY
I’m writing this note from memory so I may be off but: In the movie, “Descendants”, George Clooney is extremely wealthy. He said, “It is good to give your offspring enough so they can do something but not enough so they can do nothing.” Buffet and Gates seem to agree with that as they are donating so much to charity. I want to run out of breath and money at the same time working on my own short sales.
EPILOGUE
This newsletter is sent to my past students and other real estate professionals. If you are not interested in receiving them, please opt-out at the bottom of this email and please accept my apology for any inconvenience. I would like to mention that we receive many outstanding comments about our information. Try us, you might like us.
Duane
Real Estate, Notary Public & MLO Education
DRE Sponsor #0054 & NMLS Provider #1400388
Duane@DuaneGomer.com
23312 Madero St. #J, Mission Viejo, 92691
WEB: www.DuaneGomer.com
BLOG: www.DuaneGomer.info
FACEBOOK: Duane Gomer Seminars
(800) 439-4909 or (949) 457-8930
Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
DRE LICENSE CONTINUING EDUCATION REVIEW SEMINARS
Cerritos – Wed., Feb. 22 – 9 a.m. Call 562-860-5656 to register by 2/20
Corona – Mon., Feb. 6th – 9 a.m. Call 951-735-5121 to register by 2/3
Chula Vista – Mon., Jan. 23rd – 9 a.m. Call 619-421-7811 to register by 1/20
Downey – Thurs., Feb. 9th – 9 a.m. Call 562-861-0915 to register by 2/7
Laguna Hills – Thurs., Jan. 26th – 1 p.m. Call 949-457-8930 to register by 1/24
Long Beach – Tues., Jan. 24th – 9 a.m. Call 800-439-4909 to register by 1/19
Mission Viejo – Mon., Jan. 30th – 9 a.m. Call 949-457-8930 to register by 1/27
Newport Beach – Wed., Feb. 15th – 9 a.m. Call 949-722-2300 to register by 2/13
Oxnard – Fri., Feb. 10th – 9 a.m. Call 805-981-2100 to register by 2/8
