I don't want to blog today...

It's true...I don't. I mean I read some great stuff and think, "WOW! That would be something worth sharing with my readers"...but, eh...I just don't feel like it. Also, I have some pretty good ideas...you know for marketing, some tried and true and others with a bit of spin on them. I especially like the idea of "Contrarian Marketing" but to spend anymore time on it would, well offend a few people who are watching my blog...Hmmmm, maybe I should start an anonymous blog?

As a blogger you often get this feeling that your blog isn't really making any huge impact. Which is one of the reasons many bloggers fail? For me, that's not the case. I've been blogging in one fashion or another since about 2003. Here are a couple of things I've learned.

1. For me blogging is therapeutic - At times it gives me a chance to get things off my chest or to clear my head. Often I find my mind running a 1000 miles an hour with ideas. Blogging allows me a chance to flesh those ideas out and better yet to have a record of it.
2. People don't always comment - Get used to it. Just because they don't comment doesn't mean they don't like it. As a matter of fact most of your comments will be from people who don't like what you said and most of them will be anonymous. So take that for what it's worth.
3. You need breaks - No one expects you to blog all day everyday and they don't mind if you take some time off. Plus you need the time. I don't buy into the idea that you need to write just to be writing. If you've got nothing to say...then don't.
4. Content, Content, Content - Golden rule "if you would not read it...don't publish it"

How can I or this blog better serve you?

Got and Idea? Shoot me an email scott[at]scottbridwell[dot com] or give me a call 360.216.1762

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Are People Walking Away From Their Mortgage? Yes, But Who??

Well, I've said it before (see related posts below) that for the most part homeowners will attempt to stay in their home. Speculators and investors...now, that's a different story. Well it seems that the Los Angeles Times thinks the same thing.

"...media reports and Internet postings are rife with stories about the trend and a supposed sea change in American attitudes toward debt. But there's a major problem with all this talk about the phenomenon of solvent homeowners "walking away": There doesn't appear to be any hard evidence that it's actually happening.

When pressed for the number of borrowers who could afford their mortgage payments, major banks and lender groups could not produce numbers figures.

Nor could the Mortgage Bankers Assn., the leading trade group for housing lenders. Spokesman John Mechem said he believed that walkaways by homeowners who could afford their payments were "becoming more prevalent." But he said that was based on "anecdotes we're hearing from our members and what we're reading in the newspapers."

Further down in the story it says...

"At Fannie Mae, the government-chartered company that owns or guarantees billions of dollars in home mortgages, Senior Vice President Marianne Sullivan conceded that there was growing "folklore" about residential walkaways but said that the phenomenon was more likely connected to investors than people who live in their homes, or "owner-occupants."" (read full story)

Yes, there are homeowners who are waking away. But is it an epidemic? No, I don't think so and it seems some pretty well informed people think that as well.

Banks could and should begin doing a better job of communicating and working with borrowers. A common story we hear is that the borrower gets in trouble (for whatever reason) calls the bank and gets pushed from cubicle monkey to cubicle monkey before finding someone who can make a decision. By that time several months have passed and fees have accumulated and the snowball just gets bigger.

(By the way - Banks if you want some ideas on things you could do better read my post "Borrowers Walk Away From Home, (Foreclosure, Short Sale, Credit Crisis)" you can also call me and for a small consulting fee I'd be happy to help you out.

Related Posts...

• Borrowers Walk Away From Home, (Foreclosure, Short Sale, Credit Crisis)
• File this one under...You Really Need to Grow Up (you couldn't pay your mortgage, the bank foreclosed...leave with some dignity)
• Buyer Fraud?!? Say it ain't so!!

Hat Tip: The Mess That Greenspan Made: Is "walking away" a myth?

Got a question for Scott? Feel free to call him directly at 360.216.1762

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Customer Service 101 teaches us that when you are with someone

Be with them - They should feel that you value there time and for that moment in time you are their number one priority.

That rule being re-affirmed let me say this.

“Take the blue tooth out of your ear! Are you really that much more
important than the person you are with?”

Really? Because of all of the really important people I know in life, I have never seen them talking to someone face to face with a blue tooth in their ear.

It frustrates me to no end to see someone sitting at a table with a client or worse his family and there is a blinking blue light in his ear. "Hey Bluetooth boy!" You know what you just told them…They are important to you, but they might not be as important as that next phone call.

I get it if you're driving, I get it if your at your desk and need a hands free solution. But when you are meeting with someone? That's just RUDE!

Ahhh!!!! That feels better...no on to enjoy the rest of my Friday Eve!!!!

Got a question for Scott? Feel free to call him directly at 360.216.1762

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I'm Sad :o( I'm Selling my Motorcycle

UPDATE: SOLD!!!!!

This is a Great Bike and I'm going to Miss it! (here's the Craigslist ad)

It's Shaft Driven, Water Cooled and Fuel Injected. It has always been serviced at the dealership, as a matter of fact there are a few months left on the maintenance contract which includes a NEW set of tires.

There is a second seat that goes with the bike that is not pictured and I also have two helmets that I can sell you at $50.00 each.

As of the May 6th there are 7,797 original miles on the bike.

Is it a fair price? Well compare it with these Boulevard's.

As of the May 6th there are 7,797 original miles on the bike.

Got a question for Scott? Feel free to call him directly at 360.216.1762

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State of Washington just passed law on "Distressed Properties"

Nine Most feared words in the English Language

"I'm from the government and I'm hear to help" Ronald Regan

Bottom line - I have a bit of a libertarian streak within me and as a result I believe that there are very few things that the government can fix, as a matter of fact I believe that more often than not it tends to make things worse.

It seems that the State of Washington has proposed a new law that is intended to protect owners of homes that are considered "Distressed Properties"

The Washington Association of Realtors (WAR - I love that acronym) has some good information that they are passing to all of their agents.

What is the purpose of the law?

The Distressed Property Law was passed during the 2008 Legislative session and signed into law by the Governor on March 30 for the purpose of protecting vulnerable property owners from scam artists who seek to steal the property owner's equity.

What properties are considered to be “distressed homes?”

A distressed home is owned by a person who falls into any of the following categories:

1. the homeowner is at risk of losing the home due to nonpayment of taxes;


2. the homeowner is at least 30 days late on a mortgage payment;


3. the homeowner is in default of any mortgage term such that the lender could accelerate the balance owing; or


4. the homeowner believes they are likely to default on the mortgage within 4 months and tells this to, among others, a real estate agent.

A quick Google Search this morning found these related links:

Washington REALTORS®
The Distressed Property Law was passed during the 2008 Legislative session and ... The Washington REALTORS® is working with the Washington State Attorney ...www.warealtor.org/distressed_properties.asp - 23k

Real Estate Blog - Getting the word out of the classes gor new law ...
Distressed Property Law. A new law goes into effect June 12, ... The classes will be offered at no charge at locations across the state with the hope that ...activerain.com/blogsview/497518/Getting-the-word-out - 22 hours ago -

Real estate, mortgage and interest rate trends - UpDownRide.com
... short sales and distressed property in Washington State. The Distressed Property Law was passed during the 2008 Legislative session and signed into law ...updownride.com/feed.php?channel=72&iid=122074&y=2008&m=05&d=06 - 7 hours ago -

So, I'm curious...do you think this will help or hurt the process.

Got a question for Scott? Feel free to call him directly at 360.216.1762

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