Tuesday, February 28, 2012

8 Steps for Achieving Your 2012 Goals


8 Steps for Achieving Your 2012 Goals 

It’s just about that time when most of us start losing steam with our well-intended goals we set just after the New Year. Here are 8 tips for achieving your goals this year – and how to keep you focused and on track!

Spend time day dreaming:  anytime we set out to do something great it usually starts with a little day dream. Goals need to be big enough that we have a drive or need to accomplish them but also realistic so we do not set ourselves up for failure before we even begin. Day dreams can come true if you have a plan!

Give your goals a GPS System: statistics will tell us that goals which have been clearly defined and written down somewhere, even if it’s on a napkin during a brainstorming session over lunch, have a better chance of coming to fruition then a goal that is not. Think of it like this: you would not get in a car to drive across country without having a road map or in our modern world today, a GPS system to get you there safely. Your goals need their own GPS system too.

Do what you love: your goals should always align with your core values in life. Setting a goal that doesn’t give you fulfillment will be difficult to accomplish – and they aren’t much fun either. The more passionate you are about your goals, the more excited you will be to achieve them – and that is fun!

See the end result: some goals may be long term achievements and some goals might only require a short time before you can check them off the Bucklist. Any goal you set should have a beginning and an ending date or time frame in mind, if possible.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help: not all goals are easy and some will require a support system to help us get there. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – your friends and family can become your personal cheer squad and you never know, you might inspire them to set goals of their own!

Share your plan: talking about your goals will make them real. Share them with people who will get excited with you and who will want to support you in your success. Speaking about your goals as if they have already happened will give you an extra kick and you’ll be celebrating your accomplishment before you know it.

Hang out with your goals: a lot of times we start out the New Year with great intentions to make changes in our lives. Then we get busy or distracted and our goals get shoved in a drawer and forgotten about. Statistics tell us that written goals have a better chance of coming true – so do goals that are visited on a regular basis. Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes each day hanging out with your goals.

Create a plan: take a current assessment of where you are now in your life and what you would like to improve or change and why. Then spend some time considering the actions you will need to take in order to succeed. If you combine all of these tips together you will achieve all your 2012 goals!

For more help with your personal goals and achievements, please visit my colleague Sarah Bliss, Success Coach with Bliss Career Development. You can visit her online at www.BlissCareerDevelopment.com. 

Luisa Ramirez, RE/MAX Professionals
Luisa.Ramirez@remax.net
623-687-7827
"Like Me" on FaceBook!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Top 5 Tips for First Time Home Buyers

Top 5 Tips for First Time Home Buyers
 
1.) Have a spending plan:  saving money for a down payment is only one step in purchasing home. You will need at least 3.5 percent for your down payment and depending on what type of loan you decide on, you could need up to 20 percent down payment for conventional mortgages. It is also a good idea to have a nest egg of cash tucked away for unexpected expenses. Although a real estate professional can help you map out your home buying budget, there will be unavoidable things that pop up out of the blue. If you have a little extra cash on hand, it will help reduce stress and help you create a positive home buying experience.

2.) Figure out what you qualify for: although you may be comfortable paying a certain dollar amount now for rent, owning a home has other built-in monthly expenses. You will need to consider property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, landscaping or pool services, for example. A typical mortgage has what we call “P.I.T.I.” which stands for “principle, interest, taxes and insurance.” A qualified mortgage specialist can assist you with figuring out exactly how much you can afford each month for a mortgage payment. With property prices as low as they are today, you will be surprised at how much you might be able to save on a mortgage payment verse paying rent.

3.) Picking your mortgage: there are a lot of options out there when it comes to a lender, a mortgage company and what type of mortgage to use. Not all lenders are alike and not all mortgage companies will provide you with the best service and options available to you. It is important to work with a reputable company and mortgage specialist – the last thing you want is to have your American Dream tarnished by a bad loan experience. As a real estate professional, I have connections with lenders who will help you get the best interest rate and terms and provide excellent service along the way.

4.) Location, Location, Location! this is an essential piece to purchasing a home. First of all, you will want to identify what is important to you – is it a particular school district, convenient commute to work, historic community, close to parks or shopping and dining? Secondly, you want to consider future resale value. I know at first, you may think you will live in this home forever and who cares about selling it now when you haven’t even bought it yet. But there will come a time when you will want to or have to sell and you’ll be glad you took the time to make a purchase that has the best possible resale value.

5.) Choosing a REALTOR: a professional, full-time, experienced REALTOR is a must when purchasing a home – especially your first time buying. As a RE/MAX agent, I am highly trained and I have the local knowledge you need to make a well informed, smart decision regarding your home purchase. In addition, I have the advantage of working with the largest real estate network in the world – no other real estate company sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a home, please give me a call. There has never been a better time to make a move than in today’s real estate market. Let’s get started today and get you moving tomorrow!

Luisa Ramirez, RE/MAX Professionals
623-687-7827
Luisa.Ramirez@remax.net