Happy Monday night everyone!

We’re finally at the end of another

loooong Monday…

luckily mine was also action packed:D

After my normal routine of dropping off my nieces & nephews I had the pleasure of taking Ms. Deliliah to the doctors office. Over the weekend she decided she wanted to use one of those “ear tips” as she calls Q-tips, but stuck the tip in a little too far. No one knew what she had done until she complained of blood dripping out from her ear. (**YIKES**) Of course we were all kinda freaked so we took her in just to get things “checked out.”

Long story short, after a 90 minute wait the doctor referred us to a ear, nose & throat specialist. She hadn’t seen where the bleeding originated & there was liquid building up so, “better safe than sorry!” Now Terry will just have to negotiate w/the insurance company for a specialist on file for her insurance plan:D Gotta love it…*Giggles

Next stop was Tavares & RALSC Govt. Affairs committee meeting. Everyone got to see each other after the long holiday break, make a game plan for the upcoming year & just basically recharge off each others combined energy. I was delighted to find out that Bill Deese, Barbara Stamm & Debbie had all already earned their way into the $99 Club! As RPAC chair this year, it sure does make my job easier to have such educated leaders on my team:D CLICK HERE to learn more–> RPAC

Last but not least, I made that gorgeous drive back to Clermont using the drive time to contact several new clients & update past clients. I even had a chance to pick up e-mail/voice mail early & I found a trend in the subject matter…

“WHY ARE YOU HAVING YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE ELKS LODGE???”

Well, I’m actually glad you asked…

During the holidays we all seem to catch the spirit of giving & have holiday parties w/toy drop offs or canned food drives, which usually keep us feeling all warm & fuzzy until the next holiday season.  My friend Jeff Royle had such good turnout at his birthday/holiday party, Toys for Tots thought he was a large company!

I really loved Jeff’s idea and others who use their birthdays as just another venue to give a little something back to the community. On my birthday I think the greatest gift anyone could give me would be just to come share their night with me at the Elks Lodge. Together we will celebrate all the gifts & blessings I have been given in life (such as friends & family).

I chose the Elks lodge as the perfect place to have my birthday party because as we all enjoy the festivities, our money is going to a worthy cause, the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. A nonprofit organization with deep roots in our community, history & charity.

OUR MISSION:To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share. CLICK –>ELKS WEBSITE

So remember…I could go anywhere in the world to celebrate my birthday, but there’s no place I’ld rather be than surrounded by the Best People On Earth, (BPOE).  The Elks Lodge is located at 705 W Minneola Ave. Clermont Fl 34711, I hope you can join me make this a year to remember!

“Don’t forget, the ELKS is not only a wonderful organization that provides much needed scholarships & Veteran services, it’s a great place to PARTY!”

Kim, Terry & Eileen’s Birthday Party

Friday Jan. 15th

6pm to 2 am

RSVP to 407-575-7078

or kim@kimberanna.com

FaceBook EVENT LINK—> CLICK HERE

*FREE ADMISSION TO INVITED GUESTS

The ELKS will be having

$10.00 STEAK NIGHT

(Steak, potato, salad & roll)

$12.00 Steak & Shrimp

(Steak, Shrimp, Potato, salad, & roll)

*Must reserve meals by Wednesday 1/13/10

$1.00 Jello Shots

$2.00 Bottle Beers

$4.00 Blue & Apple Martinis

***JOIN US FOR ALL THE FUN***

KARAOKE (bring your guitar)

DANCING

POOL/DARTS/POKER

DRAWINGS/PRIZES

Subscribe in a reader

“With FEAR of on-line identity theft

on the rise…

and  MARKETING budget dollars decreasing,

are Social Networking sites like FaceBook

and Twitter the ANSWER?”

Just wanted to share with you some helpful marketing info I discovered while researching Social Networking via Face Book and Twitter.
1. When setting up your profile, be sure to leave information you would normally include in a traditional print ad for job recruiting purposes visible. Work phone number & e-mail address should be marked “visible by everyone” to ensure possible employees searching your name are able to find you *quickly.”
2. Create both a work FB profile that you want visible to the general public & a personal friends & family account. This allows you to share as much or as little information with the world as you feel comfortable.
3. Remember FB & all social networking site are just a more interactive version of the phone book. A virtual yellow pages to the world that is completely FREE. Just remember, every good thing must be used in moderation & with a specific goal in mind.
If you found this information helpful, please visit my website http://www.kimberanna.com/category/real-estate for more useful information. I hope 2010 brings you many blessings & marketing success.

*In November of 2009 Google incorporated social networking sites Twitter & Google into their web optimization search engines. This allows Google users to access real time information from millions of sources. (Savvy FB & Twitter users soon discovered their profiles became increasingly higher in searches as a direct result of their individual network usage (tweets/FB status changes) , making traditional web optimization practices outdated. What used to cost companies thousands of dollars can now be accomplished using current employees downtime to tweet or network.)

Thank you,
Kimber

Kim Johnson
2010 Lake County RPAC Chair
2008-2009 REALTOR Honor Society
2009 SLWCR Finance & Budget Chair

Ambassador South Lake ELks Lodge

Kiwanis International

Past Ambassador South Lake Chamber of Commerce

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY FACE BOOK—> http://www.facebook.com/Kimberanna

“Each of us has a VOICE, each must MAKE the CHOICE to USE IT: take the CHANCE & MAKE a DIFFERENCE.”

Subscribe in a reader

WORLD…

ONE CAUSE

AT A TIME!

Did you know you can recycle almost

anything & help raise money for local

charities?

BJOERN GLOBAL, RECYCLE BEAUTIFULLY & COSTELLO EVENTS wants to TEAM UP with you to help save the planet for OUR CHILDREN!

To Learn more about how you can “HELP SAVE THE WORLD,” contact:

KIM@KIMBERANNA.COM

407-575-7078

Subscribe in a reader

*SAVE THE DATE PLEASE*

ELKS LODGE #1848
FATHER’S DAY BREAKFAST!
That’s Right…it TOMORROW:D

The South Lake Elks Lodge is located at 705 W Minneola Ave, Clermont, FL 34711. Across from Jenkins next to the Little Theatre in historic Downtown Clermont.

This Sunday from 9 until noon, our members WELCOME you to join us in our ELKS LODGE celebration of Father’s Day. Our Elk of the Year Larry & Exhalted Ruler Bruce will be keeping the grill sizzling so everyone can enjoy this Father’s Day together. Perfect for us working mom’s out there. (Ladies EARN those brownie points by treating him to an ALL-U-CAN eat breakfast treat!)

• ALL-U-CAN EAT FATHER’S DAY TREAT is only $8
  
• includes three different breakfast meats, eggs, biscuits& gravy w/potatoes on the side. Coffee or juice.
  
• Elks Dad’s get FREE breakfast & of course members get a $3 discount

Why fight the crowds at the BIG name brand places? Come on down to Historic Downtown Clermont and eat with your local Elks. Take Highway 50 W until you see the the GREEN City Hall signs & then take a RIGHT on 7TH St. Follow it all the way down past Montrose Farmer’s Market, ELKS LODGE 1848 will be on your left next to the Little Theater. Follow the FLAGS!!!

Every dad deserves to feel like a MOVIE STAR on Father’s Day!
Join US at the Elks for breakfast & each dad get’s a free handmade paper rose made by our children’s volunteer crew.

*WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

Kim@LCRC.US
Clermont Florida 34711.

Subscribe in a reader

As #REALTOR s it is our responsibility to both EDUCATE & PROTECT the consumer.

The question that crosses most of our minds is HOW?

More & more of you have heard the most recent BUZZ word in mass media today, TWITTER.  From President Obama giving TWITTER a nod by using it as a vital part of his SUCCESSFUL election campaign to CNBC & even CONGRESS jumping on the bandwagon to grab up TWITTER user names before they are all TAKEN, TWITTER has become a BRAND name.

“Ask anyone you know if they have heard of TWITTER, most will answer “YES”.  Ask those same people if they know what it is & the answers will surprise you.” Many people have no clue what TWITTER really is,  nor what it is capable of!

TWITTER is the ideal format to provide Americans & #REALTOR s all over the world with the #FORMAT required to EDUCATE & COMMUNICATE.  Like, “GETTING UP ON A SOAPBOX,” Twittering is a way for you to STAND UP & tell the WORLD what you have to say.  Just like in the “REAL WORLD”, people do not have to listen to you.  If your message is HONEST & truly #HELP s people, then it will SPREAD like a VIRUS;  EDUCATING society while allowing you to put VALUE back into our profession.

“All of us learned in REAL ESTATE 101: PRICE is determined by two factors, SUPPLY vs DEMAND,  Demand being what people are willing to pay for something.”

In relationship to the recent housing bubble, we saw first hand how fast things can change when there is too much or too little supply, but also how misinformation can lead the #MARKET down the wrong path.  As #REALTOR s we must put VALUE back into our profession by being EDUCATORS, protecting the PUBLIC from being misled by false or inaccurate information.  We CAN NOT allow ourselves to give in to the temptation of simply using LOW PRICED FORECLOSURE to sell our listing & help us recover from the market collapse.

Don’t limit yourself by focusing your marketing on PRICE alone.  SUCCESSFUL #REALTOR s know that the key to selling a home is “Price it right the first time,” but also “KNOW your product.” FACT: Consumers are willing to pay more money for items they know & trust as opposed to something untried. BRAND NAME items such as CLOROX bleach, KLEENEX tissues, XEROX copies & now GOOGLE it! The reason for this is VALUE. We use these products daily because we know that they are good quality & reliable. I believe TWITTER is not far behind.

WHY? TWITTER it is a completely FREE website which allows you to send & receive short 140 character MESSAGES to the WORLD.  Like TEXT messages from your phone, TWITTER is a simple way to get a message across to someone quickly & to the point. NO BULL…NO FRILLS…JUST the FACTS.

“Twitter to me is a “stock market ticker” of what’s on people’s minds

around the world in REAL TIME.”

Much like the tale of MIDAS whose secret was

whispered into a jar, the urge to TELL someone

your thoughts is overwhelming.

In today’s ECONOMY the public wants us to PROVE IT!  Everyone EXPECTS to get the best possible value for their money but honestly may not know what that is, leading to unreasonable expectations.  The SUPPLY of good quality #REALTOR s is dwindling. Lack of funds, due in part to loss of income stemming from the foreclosure CRISIS has forced many of us to go back to CORPORATE AMERICA in search of  VERIFIABLE income. #REALTOR s still in the market today are the best & the brightest, #SURVIVOR!  We have been able to adjust with this difficult  #MARKET by listening to our consumers & giving them what they really need: EDUCATED ADVICE from experienced professionals who have learned the answers the hard way, WE LIVE IT!

#REALTORS: PLEASE use informational websites like this to get FREE updates on Twitter & other social networking mediums.  BUILD on the STRONG foundation you already have by adding the internet to your marketing “TOOL KIT.“  *87% of Americans used the internet to find the home they purchased.  Shouldn’t your marketing be focused where your clients are looking for you?

“NAR 2008 President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said consumers rely heavily on the expertise of real estate agents to navigate the market. “This is the biggest transaction most people are ever involved in, so the qualities they’re looking for in a real estate agent include reputation, honesty, integrity and knowledge of the market,” he said. “Both buyers and sellers want agents to provide context, advice and know-how. The vast majority would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others.”

WANT TO READ THE FULL STORY? Visit the National Association of Realtors website http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/11/home_buyer_and_seller_survey_shows

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR #REALTORs ?

Want to add Twitter to your marketing “TOOL KIT?” Please e-mail Kim@kimberanna.com

#THANK YOU,

Kim Johnson
REALTOR, Watson Realty Corp.

Finance & Budget Committee Chair South Lake Women’s Council of REALTORS
Ambassador, South Lake Chamber of Commerce

Active member of Elks http://www.elks.org/

Kiwanis http://www.kiwanis.org/

For REAL TIME updates

FOLLOW ME:

kimberanna_com

Subscribe in a reader

“Just getting home after my long stay in Denmark,  trying to catch up on everything I missed as quickly as possible.  Being a Realtor, I have so many calls lately it is hard to keep my voice mail box empty!  The Obama team finally came up with a “finance plan” that seems to make Wall Street and Main Street happy so business is booming…”

Being a mother and active community leader, I was stunned to hear my teenage son complain that he wishes we could move so he could play high school football, as soon as I got home!

“What are you talking about?” I asked my son Jeffrey?

“Everyone is talking about the budget cuts. Lake County Schools are running out of money so they have to fire a bunch of teachers and taking away JV football! It totally sucks here…let’s move!” My son heard parts of reports in his political science class & on the news regarding budget cuts.  He was truly upset so I told him I would check it out and see what I could do to help.

What I discovered shocked me.  Due to the foreclosure crisis, schools across the nation are facing critical budget cuts.  Less homeowners paying taxes = less tax $ for our children & schools.

“Lake County School District is facing a mega slash in their budget, amounting to around $30 million for the budget of the 09-’10 school year which begins on July 1, 2009.The massive budget cut puts more than 110 school employees at risk for losing their jobs, that includes 62 teachers.

The cuts are coming from many areas, including state cuts, a decline in property tax collections, as well as rising utility costs. School workers met Monday as at session to discuss the pending cuts.

“It pains me to sit here and talk about what could be reduced,” said superintendent Susan Moxley. “It’s a sad day in Florida.

In addition to the 62 potential teacher layoffs, 55 administrative and support staff face receiving the axe- which includes assistant principals, teacher assistants, guidance counselors, and food service workers.

Other options of cutting costs were discussed, such as reducing the summer school week from five days to four,  taking money from athletics and bands, cutting overtime, and charging for transportation for field trips and athletics.

These cuts have the potential to save the district $27.5 million, which would still leave the district a $2.5 gap to be filled.”

“What can a single mother &

Florida Realtor do to help?”

“What can any of us do when faced by

budget cuts that affect our children?”

TAKE A STAND: Make you voice heard by the Lake County School Board…e-mail, call or write them to know that the program or teacher you love may be cut and you want to know how to stop it!  Beware, the answer may not be what you want to hear. You will be able to better understand the challenges we are facing and may help us solve these problems!  None of us has all the answers but “it takes a community to raise a child!”  If we all work together we can make things happen.

Invest in your community.  If you have a stable job, buy a home now!  Home prices & interest rates are at historic lows…why pay someone else’s mortgage by renting?  Home ownership comes bundled with voting rights & privileges.  Paying property taxes helps support your lifestyle and your children’s future.

Don’t stop there.  Become a good neighbor by taking an active roll in your community! Attend city or county commission meetings to hear about how your local government runs.  Join civic organizations that support causes that interest you; Elks Lodge, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, Women\’s Council of Realtors, Rotary International etc.

“The American Dream is alive in well…we just each need to play our part in this the land of Fairy tales.”

Anyone can sit back and complain about how bad things are getting.  I’ve always believed, “you’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.” I chose to be an agent of change!  Join me and help make America great again.

We can do it, Yes we can!

Subscribe in a reader

“As a Realtor, I have a vested interest in how the existing home sales numbers come out!”

Today, however, I think most of America is watching! Waiting to see how Wall Street translates the news this time… Most “experts” perdict a slight decline in numbers but this girl has faith that my profession has helped Americans invest in Real Estate wisely! Taking advantage of historic low interest rates on fixed rate mortgages.

Here are the facts I picked up when the news broke on the News channel CNBC, www.cnbc.com. Click—>Full Story from CNBC

“Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose at their fastest pace in nearly six years in February, data showed on Monday, providing some good news for the recession hit-economy.”

Existing home sales rising…
Sales rose 5.1 percent in February to a 4.72 million-unit annual rate, notching their largest gain since July 2003, the National Association of Realtors said, but about 45 percent of the sales were foreclosure or short-sale transactions.

Economists polled by Reuters were expecting home resales to slip to a 4.45 million-unit pace, from the 4.49 million rate initially reported for January.

“Our analysis shows that distressed homes typically are selling for 20 percent less than normal market price, and this naturally is drawing down the median price,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist.

The median national home price declined 15.5 percent from a year ago to $165,400, the second biggest decline on record.

Obama/Geitner: Working together to tackle economic challenges!

“While it’s good to see sales go up, it’s more important to see inventories go down. When that happens, only then can you start to talk about a housing correction,” he said.

The inventory of existing homes for sale rose 5.2 percent to 3.80 million from the 3.61 million overstock reported in January. That represented a 9.7 month supply at the current sales pace, unchanged from January.

The housing market is at the core of the economic and financial meltdown that has triggered a collapse in asset prices, severely damaging household wealth. Stability in the housing market is seen as a key ingredient for the economy’s recovery from a recession that started in December 2007.

The housing data added to the optimism sparked earlier by the unveiling of a U.S. government plan to relieve banks of money-losing assets to revive the recession-hit economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up over 2 while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index were up over 3 percent.
Copyright 2009 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

THINKING ABOUT BUYING?

…ASK ME HOW I CAN HELP!

http://www.myfloridahomesmls.com/kimjohnson

CLICK HERE—> to search through foreclosures & short sales for FREE!

www.kimjohnson@watsonrealtycorp

Kim & Terry, a winning team!

Subscribe in a reader

Jonna, Morten’s mom, was nice enough to take me for a stroll through the charming city of Aalborg. Along the way we discovered this amazing church. It looks like the amazing ones I always see on TV or in movies but being inside it in real life was just breath taking.

As I clicked pictures of the hand carved woodwork, Gothic ceilings and ornate doors I wondered at all the miracle and mysteries that might have surrounded this place over the hundreds of years it has been here.

Coming from America I seem to appreciate the history and age of this building more than the people who get to see it every day. I marvel at how well preserved everything is, wondering if a child had ever scratched their initials into the pews during service like I always thought of but never tried.

“How many grandpas have fallen asleep under those high ceilings only to be smacked in the back of the head by grandmas.” Giggles…

As I stand before God in this holy place I feel somehow smaller, yet bigger at the same time. No matter what time or place, we all were drawn to this church for a reason. Just standing in these walls I have now become a tiny part of it’s history and it mine. My heart feels fuller…my soul less empty.

Mom and I step back onto the street and everything is brighter. I feel almost surprised that life has gone on while we were inside the tiny treasure of a church. People are hurrying through the streets and passing by it’s doors without a second look…I smile and look at my mother in law. Somehow I feel we share a secret that everyone else around us will never understand because they did not take the time to walk inside those doors as we did.
Our steps are light as we continue our search for adventure:D

Want to see all the pictures in a slide show?

CLICK HERE—>Little Church in Aalborg Slideshow

Subscribe in a reader

Brass Rail Lounge:

4356 US Hwy 27 Davenport, FL 33837

thebrass_rail@yahoo.com,

myspace.com/thebrassraillounge

See the Slideshows

CLICK HERE–>Shots @ Brass Rail

CLICK HERE–>Dustin Fox @ Brass Rail

CLICK HERE–>Line Dancing at the Brass Rail

CLICK HERE–>Birthday\’s are special @ the Brass Rail

*LIVE MUSIC*

Subscribe in a reader

Want to see what I see…

CLICK HERE–> KIMBERANNA streaming pics

Ladies and Gentleman this is the portion of the show

where I pretend to be the voice for unknown Realtors

out there everywhere, when actually I am more of a RT,

for those twitter bugs out there. What I mean in plain English is,

I am repeating information to you that I hear someplace else.

Want to see what I’m talking about…

CLICK THIS–> Real Estate Crisis in a Nut Shell

In this instance I feel the need to be the voice for Realtors out there that are just like me, but not quite as vocal or educated enough in Blogging and this newer internet technology. Please understand me when I say, it’s ok for some of us to not be internet savy.  It’s not a bad thing or a crime, we are just working our butts off; working and don’t have access to people who are willing to help us understand the internet culture and language let alone resources to own a computer at this time. Many of them plug into this blog when they can. These are bright, good people with limited means. We all are. We’re realtors. <—CLICK THAT to know more.

Some of us are the lucky ones, who are good at picking things up and have no lives other than work, a husband in Denmark (think that may actually be a million miles aways) and my only child, Jeffrey.  I started Kimberanna.com/Realty Reality out of frustration.  I love my profession, I love my Country and I love my community. I’m just trying to understand how we as Realtors can help ourselves and pretty much the rest of the world get through this housing crisis.   Big talk for a little fish in one of the biggest most polluted pools around but I’m not going to let that stop me.  Even if one person reads what I have say and it gives them the strength to stand up and claim their ground, I’m making a difference. Just like Tom Cruise in Far and Away. Giggles.

CLICK THIS–>Far and Away…my thoughts in a Nut Shell

Like sticking a flag into the ground of new found land,  we are claiming our rights to our community and our roles in it.

We do a service to this country and how we do our jobs shapes and impacts the outcome of all of our futures.

We need to build on the momentum OBAMA and his spirit of change brings, but we must educate ourselves and the world in the process.  Transparency.

CLICK THIS—>FAR & AWAY…Fight for your FLAG!

“We we need to take this time to truly educate ourselves; our communities, our clients..hell anyone who will listen!  Give them the truth and it will set them free. Not only educate them on the facts with print outs and numbers but also how the process works. Give them the tools and links so they can investigate it. FEED A MAN A FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR LIFE.” Want to hear more?

Click here–>FISH QUOTE

It’s not going to be easy and this is not going to be a quick fix, but believe me when I tell you, “YOU are worth it.”  All we have in life of value is either TIME or MONEY.  If you have the time, educate yourself on whatever it is you need help with. What you can’t do, find someone who can and pester them until they will help you or kick you out. Then go to the next person on your list and do the same thing. If you have the    money,  spend it wisely.  Educate yourself before you spend a dime and remember if it is a safe investment it will not change by the time it takes to fully understand it.

*WHETHER YOU ARE CHOOSING PEOPLE TO WORK WITH OR BUILDING A LEGACY: “MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE”*

Be the change…

*KK

Custom Search

Subscribe in a reader