Friday, January 30, 2009

Maria Mak - Burnaby Real Estate Agents - Homeowners in line for renovation rebate



Canadians who want to sod their lawns or renovate their bathrooms will get a tax break worth up to $1,350 as a key plank of the government’s effort to inspire spending.

For a certain sector of consumers, 2009 could become the year of the reno, following the announcement yesterday of a Home Renovation Tax Credit that lets taxpayers claim 15% of their fixups until Feb. 1, 2010.

The federal government said the incentive will provide about $3-billion in tax relief to some 4.6 million families.

The tax credit, which is available for homes and cottages effective immediately, is designed to boost construction, forestry and other industries.

Taxpayers can claim renovations on their 2009 tax returns on costs over $1,000, but not exceeding $10,000.

The list of eligible expenses for the tax credit includes renovating kitchens, bathrooms or basements; new carpeting or flooring; building additions, decks, or retaining walls; installing furnaces or water heaters; interior and exterior painting; or driveway resurfacing.

Routine maintenance does not qualify.

Such things as new furniture, appliances, tools, carpet cleaning and snow removal are excluded.

Also on the home front, the government will put an extra $300-million over two years into energy retrofits, raise to $25,000 the amount first-time homebuyers can borrow from RRSPs, and provide up to $750 in tax relief to help with their purchases.

It’s time to start your renvoation projects that have been put aside for awhile. For all your real estate services, please contact Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty at 604-839-6368, you’ll be smiling too!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Maria Mak - Burnaby Real Estate Agent - 20 ways to sell your home faster


 
Contact Maria Mak and her elite team @ Sutton Centre Realty @ 604-839-6368 for all your premium professional real estate services or visit her website www.mariamak.com

Maria has been serving her clients in Metro Vancouver for over 25 years with a big heart and with a big smile .THANK YOU .

Sutton Centre Realty
3010 Boundary Road
Burnaby BC V5M 4A1
(Office): 604-435-9477
(Cell): 604-839-6368
Maria Mak - Burnaby Realtor/Vancouver Real Estate Agent - 20 ways to sell your home faster

When selling a home , the marketing effort must be coordinated on all fronts. It also must be superior to the competition. This is especially true in a buyers' market where the homes sitting on the market seemingly outnumber the potential home buyers. In such an environment, you must lift your home out from this crowd and highlight it in the best way possible. You must out-think the competition.


All good marketing efforts begin life as a sound, basic plan and then evolves to fit the particular property and situation. Cut from whole cloth and then tailor-made, such a plan will incorporate innovative new ideas and "rearrange" old ones.

1. Select a Quality Realtor . There are also some who are little more than "order takers" who literally can't properly write out a contract, much less have the hard-won knowledge needed to position your home in the most appropriate and effective way for your particular market. So how do you find such an experienced, market aggressive realtor? Ask around. Check with friends and get some names. When selling in today's market, you need to be in the hands of a practicing "doctor" and not someone eager to practice on you.

2. Focus on the three best referrals, ask each of these realtors to come out, have them put together a marketing evaluation and then give you his/her specific action plan as to what he/she will do to sell your home. Make sure it's in writing. Remember: realtors come in a couple of basic flavors. While there are always exceptions, in general a "low-key" yet thorough realtor is best when it comes to helping you buy a home; his or her pragmatic knowledge will help keep your feet firmly on the ground. When selling a home however, look for a high-energy, dynamic realtor whose enthusiasm might be "infectious" enough to enthuse a potential buyer.

3. The market evaluation should compare your home with at least three currently active competitive listings, three recent competitive sales and three competitive and now inactive listings which didn't sell. Drive over and check out these benchmark properties yourself to ensure the realtor has put your home in the right "ballpark". If you disagree, find out the reasoning as to why the realtor has so placed your home. The reasons could be good ones indeed. (Or vice versa.)

4. Once you've vetted all three choices, go with the realtor whose combination of experience, proven performance and action-plan for your home is the most impressive. But be careful not to confuse impressive with unattainable.

5. Ensure your home is listed on the realtor's personal website and other media like ethnic newspaper and magazine. The more exposure, the better.

6. List your home with the chosen realtor for 90 days. If the realtor suggests you list with him or her for a longer period, tell him or her you will renew if, in your opinion, all the realtor's written promises have meanwhile been adhered to and met all the previously agreed upon elements of the action plan. If not, tough luck. Find another realtor.

7. Underline to the realtor that you wish to be kept informed of the sales progress at least once a week during the entire listing period. Every time the home is shown to prospective buyers, ensure the realtor informs you in advance and also gives you a feedback as to the viewer's reaction to the home. On the other hand, don't overdo it. Be courteous and be careful not to nag the realtor. When dealing with a professional, be professional.

8. Price Your Home Right: Yes, we all need and want the best price. But be realistic. It might do wonders for the ego and daydreams, but a high price tag does little if it doesn't come accompanied with a sale. If anything, it has kept your home effectively out of the market. Once you and your realtor have agreed upon an asking price based upon the aforementioned market evaluation, bring in a reality check. Based on your understanding of the competition, is the pricing realistic? This is particularly important in a market where prices are falling.

9. Create a "Benefit and Feature" Sheet For Your Home: Reach back in time and remember why you bought the home in the first place. What caught your eye, what appealed to you? Write these reasons down; more often than not, new buyers will also be attracted to these same features. List every good point, every benefit, your property and your neighborhood enjoys. Today, people want information. Lots of it. Think about the basics and spell them out. A good agent will know the answers already, but nonetheless, these basic features should be highlighted in your feature sheet.

10. Place Your Home on the MLS: If a home is to sell, it must have maximum exposure. The Multiple Listing Service will give it that exposure. As well, ensure your home is put on the Agents Open or MLS Agents Tour so as to educate other realtors as to the home's potential. But two months is all you need to get on.

11. Buy Some Extra Enthusiasm: Human beings almost always act in their own self-interest first. Take advantage of this to promote some extra interest in your own property. Offer something special to encourage realtors to bring in those offers. Depending upon how hard it is to sell your home (higher price, tough area, unique features that appeal to few, future potential versus today's reality), offer extra commission to the realtor who brings in the sale...but only if he or she brings it in at the full asking price. As most offers are invariably lower, it's unlikely you'll actually end up paying the extra commission, but it does work as an incentive.

12. Advertise: Consider a cost-effective advertising campaign and review such a plan with your realtor. How big an advertisement? Placed where? How often? Review the ad itself with the realtor and test-market it past a few unbiased friends, associates and so forth. Keep your ego out of it.

13. Let Nothing Escape the Net: Insist that the realtor presents to you all and any offers that come in, no matter how low or seemingly impossible. If someone is willing to write an offer, be considerate enough to see it. Besides, it gives you a better idea of just how the market is reacting to your property.

14. First Impressions Do Count: Fix up your home but do it with "resale" in mind: take care of the eye-catching areas and don't waste the effort (and money) on the rest. The first thing a potential buyers sees is the front porch or entrance. Fix that wobbly front step or squeaky door. Repaint the front door, bathrooms and kitchen. Use off-white or general neutral colors only. If the rug is frayed or stained, consider removing them and going with hardwood floors (assuming you've got them and they're in reasonable shape). Again, sell the "idea" of the place's renovation potential but don't waste the effort to carry it through and do the actual doing. Let the new owners do it. But with that said, there are certain largish renovations which may add more cost-effective resale value than others.

15. Spread the Word: Hand out the feature sheet and unique offer/special commission information to everyone you know, including your secretaries, part-time staff and whomever. You never know who the information will get passed on to next.

16. Persistence Versus the Big Pay Off: Rather than blowing off money for large weekend ads in a single newspaper, run a smaller two-line daily ad in all relevant newspapers. Don't forget the community papers. This is very effective for out-of-town properties. Be on the look out for new "vehicles" and different ways to advertise your home.

17. Don't be afraid to be Different: Agents regularly send out "I Just Listed" flyers to other homes in the neighborhood in the hope of engendering new business. Fine, but check out the flyer and make sure he or she lists the special features and special incentives of your home and not just the standard ubiquitous "vanilla-flavored" preprinted card. Be different. Again, you never know who ends up reading this detailed information. And again, nothing succeeds like success.
18. Take a Real Interest in the Buyer: Cheer them up by offering a "buy down" on the mortgage. (For example, the actual cost to you to buy down a $100,000 mortgage by two per cent is less than $2,000.) Don't worry about the cost. Instead, work it into the asking price. This allows your realtor to brandish a strong headline trumpeting the abode's special (assumable on approved credit) low mortgage interest rate while costing you nothing extra..Take a Real Piece Out of the Paper: Offer to pay the legal costs of the sales transaction and (in British Columbia) the one-per cent Property Transfer Tax (PTT). Again, this allows your realtor to promote the deal as something special. Again, consider building the cost into your asking price.
19. Declutter and then declutter again. Depersonalize and neutralize. The first items that should go in those packing boxes: family photos, collections and just about anything else that says "you." Show the home from its best possible side. Have people see how they would feel if they owned the home. Developers have show suites and show homes for a reason.

20. Stage your home! Have a professional come in and help. Stand in the doorway to find each room's focal point, and use furniture placement to highlight that. The back of your sofa shouldn't block the view of the fireplace, for example. Remove any extraneous pieces of furniture. "Re-position" them into another room ... or into storage altogether. A wingback chair that's crowding the family room might help create a nice reading nook in the master bedroom.

There are a number of reasons why homes don't sell: overpriced, poor location, poor condition, intense competition as many similar homes similarly priced are all fighting for attention. Homes that do sell are those that are tended diligently by the professional realtor, are priced right (as in just below the competition) and have something unique about them that attracts the buyer's attention in the first place.
You have the right to demand an attentive, professional, upbeat realtor, a person who creates a solid, comprehensive action plan (in writing) and does so in a measurable way (number of showings, numbers of interested buyers, etc.). A good realtor keeps you informed all the way. Be focused. Insist that your realtor be equally as focused. There is no such thing as accidental success. It's always earned and always comes with a price.

For all your real estate services, please contact Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty at 604-839-6368 or visit my website at http://www.mariamak.com/, you'll be smiling too!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Maria Mak - Burnaby Realtor - Happy Holidays 2008


 
Contact Maria Mak and her elite team @ Sutton Centre Realty @ 604-839-6368 for all your premium professional real estate services or visit her website www.mariamak.com

Maria has been serving her clients in Metro Vancouver for over 25 years with a big heart and with a big smile .THANK YOU .
Maria Mak - Burnaby Realtor - Wishing all my good friends and clients Happy Holidays!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Maria Mak - Vancouver Realtor - Mortgage rates heading for record Lows...


With mortgage rates heading for record lows, is this a good time to be taking a variable rate mortgage?

This is a great opportunity to pay off some principal and anyone who is sitting in a variable rate mortgage below 3% today should take advantage of that over the next year and not lock in. Consumers who are buying a home right now want to know if they should take a long-term or variable mortgage.

The cost of a variable rate mortgage is still expensive for the banks and as such, they are charging up to 1% premium on Prime and locking in is starting to look very attractive.

All indicators are that liquidity is returning to the markets which will help ease the pricing on the variable rate mortgages - so I'm still a big fan of taking a 12-month convertible mortgage today with the ability to convert it to a variable at no cost when the discounts return. Prime rate is not going to stay this low forever. Consumers want to know when to expect to see rates rise.

As soon as the Bank of Canada feels that we have weathered the storm and shifts their focus from stimulation back to inflation, be prepared for a 1 - 3% rise in rates. So anyone floating should be prepared to lock in at that point - and if having to worry about that concerns you - lock in at today's 4 year rate until the next US election and you might just time it right for another dip in rates when it comes time to renew.

If you need any creative financing, please contact Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty at 604-839-6368 or visit my website at http://www.mariamak.com/, you will be smiling too!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Maria Mak - Burnaby Realtor - We can make Impossible Possible

Maria Mak - Burnaby Real Estate Agent

Maria Mak - Artsy Real Estate Asian - Burnaby Realtor/Vancouver Real Estate Agent
Sutton Centre Realty

3010 Boundary Road
Burnaby BC V5M 4A1
(Office): 604-435-9477
(Cell): 604-839-6368




I was so glad to see the warm sun did pierce through the thick muddy cold fog this morning and started dancing happily on my desk while I was writing this blog.

The whole world was excited as today was the day of the inaugaration of the 44th President of the United States. I was deeply moved by Obama’s heartfelt address, I sincerely wish "HOPE" will bring the "Change" and the Change will eventually lead us out of the darkest chapter in our journey. It is real tough but we will get there.

I truly believe if we hold on to our dreams, we can make Impossible Possible…someday, somewhere, somehow, we will make it work, it will be , have to be!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Maria Mak - Burnaby Realtor - Stop Focusing on your competion...focus on YOU


            
 
Contact Maria Mak and her elite team @ Sutton Centre Realty @ 604-839-6368 for all your premium professional real estate services or visit her website www.mariamak.com

Maria has been serving her clients in Metro Vancouver for over 25 years with a big heart and with a big smile .THANK YOU .
Jim Rohn said it best when he said, “Don’t wish for things to be easier, wish for YOU to be better!” This is advice I think a lot of us could use more in our lives. If you study the law of attraction, you learn that when you worry and focus on your competition, you attract more competition, SO STOP DOING IT!

If you subscribe to the idea that there is plenty of whatever it is you do out there for everyone, you stop worrying about competition. When I am out and about at events and businesses, I hear a lot of business owners and real estate professionals talk about their competition, and typically in a negative way.

There are two main reasons not to do this. Number one is if you subscribe to the idea of the law of attraction, which I do, you understand that energy flows where attention goes and you focusing on your competition only creates more competition for you! A great example is elections. The media talks about how bad someone is and they end up winning!

The second main reason is when you talk about people or competition, you are reducing the amount of time you can think and talk about your own business. I don’t care who you are, your business can always be improved! Spend your time and energy thinking of how to make your own business better and that is time well spent!

I work with a lot of real estate investors and I see a lot of investors spend their time focusing on their competition. I recall one time I had a property for sale and I emailed it out to my database. The next day, another investor had taken that property and resent it out to his database telling everyone how bad of a deal it was! The great thing -- he had a link to my website in his email! The next two days I had more than a 20% increase in hits on my website than normal and I have to think that investor had a lot to do with it! Now, not all competition stories are that clear cut where focusing on the competition was a dumb decision but just know that each minute you spend focusing on things you cannot control, you lose control of the things you do!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this but also realize that reading, studying and knowledge is not power, but only potential power. Action is true power.

ACT NOW and pick up the phone to call Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty at 604-839-6368 or email me at mmak@sutton.com or visit my website at http://www.mariamak.com/ for all your real estate needs, you’ll be smiling too

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Maria Mak - Burnaby Real Estate Agents - What is Greenrealestate?

Greenrealestate is in the business of making home energy conservation an intrinsic part of everyday life through the marketing and sales of more energy efficient new and resale homes. A synopsis then provides that Greenrealestate™ goals are to:

help reduce energy waste through increased energy conservation,

promote environmental awareness,

reduce monthly home energy costs,

lead to increased sale prices of Greenrealestate™ certified homes,

help leave the world a better place for future generations,

reduce energy reliance on offshore interests.

Greenrealestate understands how to maximize the economic value of your clients property by emphasizing energy conservation strategies that increase your clients homes resale value.

Greenrealestate is an innovative program designed to set your clients home apart from the rest, increase its selling price, reduce its selling time while helping to green the planet.

Whether you clients are thinking of selling today or in the future the Greenrealestate™ program makes good economic cents:

1 Saving money on energy costs in the short term,

2. Selling your clients home for more money in the long term,

3. Helping to fight climate change ,

4. Protecting the natural environment ,

5. Improving air quality.


Did You Know?

Homes that are older than 25 years could potentially save an average of
35% of their current energy use, and that homes that are 50 years old and
older can save an average of 38%. That’s a significant savings.



If you're interested to get an free energy conservation kit, or if you are thinking of buying and selling real estate, please contact Maria Mak at Sutton Centre Realty at 604-839-6368 or email me at mmak@sutton.com, you'll be smiling too!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Maria Mak - Burnaby Realtor - Attitude is from within



Maria Mak - Artsy Real Estate Asian - Burnaby Realtor/Vancouver Real Estate Agent
Sutton Centre Realty

3010 Boundary Road
Burnaby BC V5M 4A1
(Office): 604-435-9477
(Cell): 604-839-6368



Why do we often think we have it worse than the next person? Why is it so easy to get discouraged when markets change and actions that were working for us suddenly become ineffective? Most people tend to always look for the worst in every situation and instead of adapting; they wait for things to go back to the way they were before the changes. The reality of life, economic cycles, and change in general is this: those who wait are left behind and those who adapt are ready to take advantage of the moment and the future.

The history of the world is the story of men and women who took adversity and created success. The worst diseases were cured at the height of epidemics, and the greatest advancements in technology were made during wars. What makes some people victorious during times of adversity and others hopeless?

In a single word: "attitude." Attitude is a confusing word to many people. It is often viewed as something that comes from the outside created by positive situations, good fortune, or even luck! Nothing could be further from the truth.

Attitude comes from within and it is created from the fierce determination not to be defeated. People often say that attitude is a choice, but it is more than that. Attitude is a conviction. It works independently of most choices and comes from a far deeper place- a place that says to us, "I will not be defeated, I will not give up, and I will not fail!" The results of the "right attitude" are an unrelenting focus that seldom varies from day-to-day. It is so deeply ingrained that nothing will stop it and nothing will change it. It is this "right attitude" that will carry you through your darkest hours.

Attitude is not deterred by sadness, tragedy, depression, anger, or obstacles. In fact, there are only two things that can defeat the "right attitude:" lack of consistent action and loss of hope. In fact, failing to take unrelenting action will eventually lead to a loss of hope. My definition of hope is the belief in what has not happened and has not been seen. It can be mystical or logical but what is hoped for exists beyond the present and current conditions.

America's renowned psychologist William James said, "The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."

Is there a formula for the "attitude shift" necessary to change our lives? There is and it is this:

1. Whatever it is you want, you must want it with intensity and passion.

2. Once you know what you want, focus on it with positive thoughts and affirmations. Negative thinking will produce failure.

3. Determine the daily actions that must be taken, break them into small actions, and simply do them!

4. When you are faced with obstacles and failure, take more action and remain focused and hopeful of your success.

5. Never quit and never surrender. Nothing that can defeat persistence!


It is the best time to get into the market while the housing prices are very affordable and all time lowest mortgage rates, there are lot of goodies out there, for all your creative financing, please contact Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty 604-839-6368 , or visit my website at http://www.mariamak.com/, you’ll be smiling too!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Maria Mak - Vancouver Real Estate Agents - Don't blame Real Estate



Recent reports have suggested a direct correlation between a sharp rise in bankruptcies with the drop in house prices, but we should be careful not to draw this conclusion. Consumers need to be aware that the drop in real estate values is not the real culprit here. I know it's easy for people to look at the drop in home values and the sudden increase in bankruptcies and come to the conclusion that one causes the other.

However, when you think of it - it's not the drop in the value of your home that causes financial stress, it's your ability to service your mortgage and that's a factor of the sharp rise in unemployment, not the drop in home values. Quite frankly, you qualified to make payments on your home in the first place, so once your mortgage is in place, what happens to the value of your home after that has little relevance to your ability to continue making those payments.

So the real cause for concern for most Canadians should be rising unemployment - not home values. So Please don't blame real estate, this is not a proper timing to point fingers at whoever, whatever.etc. Our economy will pull through, just like a roller coaster, it will be UP again one day.

If you're thinking of buying and selling real estate, contact Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty at 604-839-6368, or visit my website at http://www.mariamak.com/, you'll be smiling too!

Maria Mak - Burnaby Realtors - Good morning Mother

Good Morning Mother, how I wish I could greet her every morning.

The armchair she liked so much and used to sit on it every morning, it looks like a skeletion staring at me now... no choice I am staring back at it,  maybe we are exchanging that hollow looks for the sake of my emptiness.

Ever sine she is gone with the favonian wind , there is always an empty hanger hanging in my closet...just for her, just for my mom.

It was her who told me everytime if I could save a dime, put it in my piggy bank and started saving and buying LAND. I have to thank my mom for stopping me to go to Paris to pursue my childish dream to become a painter.

I have been serving my clients with a big heart and with a big smile in Metro Vancouver since 1989. I am learning everyday to become a better realtor in order to serve my clients better.

For all your premium real estate services, contact Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Reatly at 604-839-6368, you'll be smiling too or visity my website at http://www.mariamak.com/

Monday, January 5, 2009

2008 Brought improved housing affordability to Greater Vancouver

VANCOUVER, B.C. – January 5, 2009 – The record-breaking real estate market cycle in Greater Vancouver, longer than normal at seven consecutive years, ended in 2008 amidst global economic challenges. The change brought relief from rising prices that saw benchmark prices escalate from $357,770 for a single family detached home in December 2001 to $648,421 by December 2008.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that sales of detached, attached and apartment properties decreased 35.3 per cent in 2008 to 24,626 sales compared to 38,050 sales in 2007. Property listings for the year increased 13.9 per cent to 62,561 compared to 2007 when 54,945 new properties were listed.

“Trends in the latter half of 2008 showed a consistent month-over-month decrease in residential housing prices, adeparture from the rising home prices and record-breaking sales that were experienced in Greater Vancouver for much of this decade,” said REBGV president, Dave Watt.

“It’s also important to note that our December statistics show a third consecutive month of a decrease in active property listings in Greater Vancouver. That means supply is coming down,” Watt said. “Last month was also the first time in 27 years that Greater Vancouver homes sales for December were higher than November.”

Residential benchmark prices, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, declined 10.9 per cent between Decembers 2007 and 2008. Since May 2008, the overall residential benchmark price has declined 14.8 per cent in Greater Vancouver to $484,211 from $568,411.

“For buyers, lower prices haven’t been a concern as much as the perception that prices are falling. It’s difficult to identify the ‘bottom’ of the market. The reality is that people tend to buy when prices are going up, not when they’re going down,” Watt said.

In December 2008, sales of detached, attached and apartment properties totalled 924, a decrease of 51.3 per cent compared to the 1,897 sales in December 2007.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined 8.6 per cent to 1,550 in December 2008 compared to December 2007 when 1,695 new units were listed. Total listings in December declined 17.2 per cent to 15,193 from the 18,348 total active listings in Greater Vancouver in November 2008.

Sales of detached properties in December 2008 declined 48.7 per cent to 348 from the 679 units sold during the same period in 2007. The benchmark price for detached properties declined 11.2 per cent from $730,399 in December 2007 to $648,421 in December 2008. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for a detached property in Greater Vancouver has declined 15.9 per cent.
Sales of apartment properties declined 53.7 per cent last month to 417 compared to 901 sales in December 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 11.7 per cent from $377,579 in December 2007 to $333,275 in December 2008. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for an apartment property in Greater Vancouver has declined 14.5 per cent.

Attached property sales in December 2008 decreased 49.8 per cent to 159, compared with the 317 sales in December 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit declined 7.4 per cent from $456,941 in December 2007 to $423,338 in December 2008. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for an attached property in Greater Vancouver has declined 11.6 per cent.

No doubt affordability in Greater Vancouver is imporved and for all the First time home buyers , this is the best time to buy and don't bother to rent anymore, take this good opportunity to build your equity today, Call Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty 604-839-6368 or visit my website at http://www.mariamak.com/, you'll be smiling too!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Maria Mak - Vancouver Realtor - Life is a state of mind


            
 
Contact Maria Mak and her elite team @ Sutton Centre Realty @ 604-839-6368 for all your premium professional real estate services or visit her website www.mariamak.com

Maria has been serving her clients in Metro Vancouver for over 25 years with a big heart and with a big smile .THANK YOU .
Woke up this morning to find another beautiful snowfall winter wonderland, looking out on my backyard, my mom's roses flowerbed is just like a giant cupcake with lots of white foamy cream cheese on it.

LIfe is a state of mind, if you see cupcake instead of roses flowerbed....check with your eye doctor or just retreat to your own little world, it is all up to you.

I am no bitch complaining about the weather even though I nearly had an accident yesterday when I was driving and showing homes to my clients. I just love the snow...so pure...so peaceful.

Whenever I feel down and out about my life, a good friend of mine says to me, "your life is someone else's dream". I have finally realized there is no doubt that…

…life is a state of mind!

I first heard this line in a Peter Sellers' movie, where the main character, a gardener named Chance, walks on water, seemingly because he doesn't know that walking on water is against the laws of nature. As he is not aware of the laws, he is not bound by them, or so the movie would have us believe.

The director is challenging our own sense of what we see and what we want to see. Are we prepared just to see the same view as others, or are we prepared to see beyond that …

What I would like you to think about as you watch the closing scene is that as business people, and more specifically, as salespeople, we determine our own fate. The way we see our situation can have a dramatic effect on our results.

If you want to be a top performer in the world of sales, this is what you need to do:

1) Find an industry you love – Real Estate…I do. If you do not like what you sell you will not be highly successful.

2) Find a company you respect.- Sutton Centre Realty…I do. If you do not believe or have confidence in your company, your prospects will sense it and your results will suffer.

3) Become an expert in the craft of selling, better than anyone in your company or your industry. Most people don't read a single book after they leave school. Be different! Read every book on selling that you can find. Your knowledge and competence will make you stand out.

4) Forget the laws of nature. Just because everyone in your industry makes "X" means nothing. Set your own goals and find a way to make them real...smile on!

For all your Real Estate services, contact Maria Mak and my team at Sutton Centre Realty 604-839-6368 or visit my website at http://www.mariamak.com/, You'll be smiling too!