Do you accept "gifts" from anyone you share business with?  Does an insurance agent or mortgage broker or realtor send you a gift card for each referral?  Does a mortgage lender/broker pay for your advertising?   Do you have a mortgage lender or an insurance agent or a title company (or anyone you share referrals with) renting space from you for greater than the market rent?  Do you provide a "referral fee" to anyone who provides business to you? If you responded "YES" to any of these questions, you may very well be guilty of RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) violations in this industry.  I highly recommend you read the law:  http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/res/respamor.cfm#HT The mortgage industry has gone, and is going, through a lot of changes, hopefully, for the bett... 12/10/2009

If you get excited just with the thought of an idea, then you have sales in your BLOOD!   If you lay awake in bed thinking of new sales ideas, sales is in your BLOOD!   If you are constantly seeking new ways of generating business, sales is in your BLOOD!   If you enjoy people and despise sitting in your  office, sales is in your BLOOD!   If you are more of a listener than a talker, sales is in your BLOOD AND you are GREAT at it!   If you enjoy(ed) playing all those strategy games, i.e. Monopoly, well you were born a sales person.   Selling is a lifestyle.  It is not a job as one reads about.  It is a self-motivated, self-driven lifestyle which is not for the weak of heart.  Some days are good, others, not-so-good.  The real salesperson understands this and accepts it and even relishes ... 12/09/2009

"You are what you think. Think that you are a being of peace - and peace will become your personality. Share good news with others. Always have something interesting prepared to share with those you meet. Remember to have a peaceful thought at least once a day."   If you think you can't, you won't.  If you think you can, you will.  Easy, right?  But, yet, so hard.  Negative things happen to all of us.  The economy is terrible, but complaining all day will get us nowhere.  We need to "stand up and fight" as McCain said so often on the campaign trail. Keep moving and BELIEVE in YOURSELF and in our country. And if you cannot think positively most of the day, at least at some point of the day, think of something peaceful.  What can you think of right now that is calming to you?   Share with... 12/08/2009

Credit Repair in Rhode Island National Credit Fixers: 330 Roberts Street Suite 402 East Hartford CT 06108 phone: 860-282-6181. National Credit Fixers boasts of 13 years experience repairing low FICO scores. Whether your credit has been damaged by a foreclosure, bankruptcy, slow credit, collections, judgments, repossessions, etc. we can help. We are the experts in credit restoration and credit repair. We have helped numerous residents of Rhode Island. We are experts in Rhode Island Credit Repair. I believe that going the extra mile is necessary to ensure maximum results and success. Most credit repair companies or "law firms" only send out some generic form of dispute letter which you could do yourself at home. The problem with this method is that there is only about a 10% chance anythin... 12/07/2009

"The more you appreciate your own qualities the stronger they will become."   Knowing your strengths will enhance your ability to succeed.  Focus on what you do well.  Your weaknesses will be diminished if you focus on what you know and/or do well.   For example, if you enjoy working with buyers and do not like to go on listing appointments and deal with sellers, then make yourself focus on the buyers.  Or vice-versa.  You do not need to be everywhere to be successful.  Lucky are those who can be everywhere and do it all well, but it is not necessary for success.   Ann Sabbagh   Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 401-782-1012 or 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Financing MLO10920     "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who ... 12/07/2009

Is the middle class eroding ?  I see either a lot  of money for a down payment or I see very little: 3.5% down.  Where are the 20% down borrowers?  Are they staying in their homes or ???   With all the foreclosures and high unemployment in this country, we were bound to see erosion of a class of people in regards to the financial arena.    What is everyone else seeing in your county/state?     Ann Sabbagh   Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 401-782-1012 or 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Financing MLO10920     "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about YOUR financial strength." 12/06/2009

"Man is so made that whenever anything FIRES his soul  - impossibilities VANISH." Jean de la Fontaine   Follow your PASSION in everything you do : be it work or play.  If you do not like your job, you will not be  as successful as you could be if you LOVED your job. When you relax/play, choose an activity you REALLY want to do so you can successfully re-energize your batteries.   PASSION is the key to your success and to your happiness AND well=being.   Ann Sabbagh   Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 401-782-1012 or 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Financing MLO10920     "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about YOUR financial strength." 12/05/2009

"You are not beaten, until you admit it." George S. Patton Jr.   Ok, so you lost the listing or you lost the loan application to a competing lender.  Maybe this happened to you more than once in a week, or, worse, more than once in a day! Do you give up?  Do you admit defeat?  Or do you RE-GROUP like a field of soldiers and determine what you did wrong and ensure this does not happen again? "Giving up" is NOT an optin when you are  passioante aabout what you do.  It should encite you to become BETTER and show the world you know how to pick yourself up and start anew!       Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 401-782-1012 or 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Financing MLO10920     "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planne... 12/05/2009

Are you calm enough for the real estate industry?  Can you handle the stress MOST of the time?   "The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom." James Allen (1864-1912), Author of "As A Man Thinketh"   According to James Allen, the calmer one is, the more successful one is.  Yes, it is difficult at times, especially when you work so hard on a deal and something/someone comes along and creates a "bump in the road" to the close.  Staying calm will, usually, help to keep others calm.  If everyone is "flipping out", the road to the close will be very bumpy and may end at a "dead end".   Are you calm?     Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 508-243-1190 Residentia... 12/04/2009

  Hello again,                   I am posting this blog today because of two pieces of valuable information I wanted to pass on to you. Firstly, as you are well aware, the mortgage lending world has consisted of mortgage brokers and mortgage lenders for over three decades. Both formats have served the real estate community with distinction. Unfortunately, dramatic changes throughout the mortgage delivery system have severely handicapped the ability of the mortgage broker to execute in a competitive manner. In January of 2010, the restrictions on broker activities will be extended even further.  Simply put, mortgage brokers will not be able to effectively deliver in the home purchase market. Secondly, as a mortgage professional I saw this coming and made the decision to move from a mortg... 11/07/2009

                           An AWESOME MUSICAL EXPERIENCE My follow-up to the Annual Halloween College Concert held at  Rhode Island College on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 8:00 pm in the Auditorium in Roberts Hall put on by the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance and sponsored by the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Music Education was AWESOME. We, as audience members, were encouraged to dress in the spirit of Halloween since the Performers would appear in costume as they performed their many ensembles. It would be Free Admission if we were in Costume. or pay $10.00 at the door. Mark wore his Indiana Jones, John was Uncle Sam and I was a Mardi Gras  lady.                                                                The show began with all the performers in costum... 11/02/2009

  Boo Bash Saturday, October 31, 2009Providence Children's Museum100 SOUTH STREET, PROVIDENCE, RI 02903  | (401) 273-54371:00 PM - 4:00 PMAges 3 - 11 A tiny bit spooky, a whole lot of fun! Play bewitching games galore, have hands-on fun with imaginative arts and "witch crafts," explore an eerie environment, mix it up in the mad scientist's laboratory and much more. Come in costume and have a blast at the biggest Halloween bash around!   The Annual Halloween College ConcertRhode Island CollegeFriday, October 30, 20098:00pm General Admission: $7.00 General Admission, Free If In Costume Department of Music, Theatre, and DanceWhere: The Auditorium in Roberts Hall The Annual Halloween College Concert held on Oct. 30 offers performances from a variety of RIC ensembles. Performers appear in co... 10/23/2009

To those of us who consider Providence the best thing to happen since sliced bread, it can come as a bit of a blow to the ego when one's response to "where do you live?" is met with puzzled looks and reactions such as "Huh? Where? Is that near New York or Miami? Rhode Island is a STATE?"  Those are just the sort of responses George, Gia and I had to respond to during our travels through Cyprus, one of the Mediterranean's largest islands and European who's-who hotspot.  Our somewhat impractical goal: to show the rest of the world why Providence is the best place on earth, and that everyone would be wise to invest there, right now. Our back-up plan: to show the rest of the world how close Providence is to New York and Boston, and that, therefore, everyone should invest there, right now. I... 08/31/2009

Condo in two family house located on the historic East Side of Providence. Convenient to transportation route. Convenient to Brown, RSDI, Providence College and JWU. 234 Pleasant Street, off Hope Street. Home has 5 bedrooms and two full baths on two levels. Entry opens into a front living room, family room and the dining room into fully redone kitchen with stainless appliances. Two bedrooms and one bath on first floor. Upstairs three bedrooms and bath that lead to kitchen or back door exit. Small back yard and front garden. Off street parking. Washer and Dryer as well as storage in basement. Condo fees include condo insurance, water and sewer 250 month. To directly access this property, use this shortcut: http://www.fizber.com/rhode-island-buy-condo-townhome-co-op-home-11647304.html 08/29/2009

Expert Credit Repair in Rhode Island National Credit Fixers: 330 Roberts Street 4th Floor East Hartford CT 06108 phone: 860-282-6181 www.nationalcreditfixers.com National Credit Fixers boasts of 13 years experience repairing low FICO scores. Whether your credit has been damaged by a foreclosure, bankruptcy, slow credit, collections, judgments, repossessions, etc. we can help. We are the experts in credit restoration and Rhode Island credit repair. Tired of being turned down for a loan because of your credit score?  Want to do something about it?  Call National Credit Fixers today and let us do the work for you!  We're the best at what we do so come find out why! :) Matt Listro   Toll Free:        888-NCFIXER (623-4937) Toll Free Fax: 888-FAX-4020 (329-4020) Local:              860-282-6... 06/27/2009

This Saturday, after spending most of my day in New Hampshire at a school board meeting (I serve on the board of a private school there - more on that at another time, perhaps), I zipped back to Providence to volunteer again, this time at a Providence institution, WaterFire. I'm the co-chair of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce's Ambassadors, and for our spring / summer service event, we assembled a crew of over 20 ambassadors and friends to serve as ambassadors to WaterFire, staffing Ribbons of Light booths.  WaterFire is a Providence institution, was first lit for First Night 1994, and was so wildly popular that supporters rallied to make it an ongoing event. Since then, creator Barnaby Evans and his team of staff and volunteers have labored tirelessly to keep the organizatio... 06/16/2009

OPENS FOR THIRD SEASON IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND                                       “Movies On The Block” returns to Providence for 2009                                          FREE Thursday Movie Nights Throughout The Summer                                                           Event Admission is FREE to the public                                                            All shows begin at sundown                                                   For more DETAILS, call (401) 421-0254. Last Thursday, June 4th began the opening of Providence's only OUTDOOR SCREEN and will be running every THURSDAY through September 24th, Movies that are Pop hits, cult classics and even some short films from Rhode Island International Film Festival are screened at dusk located at Grant's Block... 06/09/2009

Providence Rhode Island Foreclosed and Bank Owned Real Estate In Rhode Island, lenders may foreclose on deeds of trusts or mortgages in default: 1) by using the judicial foreclosure process; 2) by filing a lawsuit seeking eviction; 3) by taking possession of the house; 4) by the borrower voluntarily giving up possession; or 5) by using the non-judicial foreclosure process. In most cases, when a homeowner defaults on his/her mortgage in Rhode Island, the lender will start the process of obtaining the right to sell that property at auction in order to satisfy the debt (balance owed on the mortgage). Purchasing a home at a foreclosure auction has many risks to a potential buyer (especially a first-time home buyer). There is commonly no opportunity to view the interior of the property, cond... 05/30/2009

Today I had the opportunity to catch up with some great friends and business associates of mine, I wanted to put there info out there for all Rhode Island, Massachusetts & Connecticut Realtors and consumers. I have worked with them in the past and highly recommend them, they have great attitudes and great work ethic, they are customer service oriented and strive on keeping everyone happy. If you or someone you know is looking for a mortgage guy call Mike Dutra @ Province Mortgage #401.490.4400 or visit Mike online at www.provincemai.com and all of you out there looking for an excellent attorney call John L. Coppolino @ 401.490.4008 or visit John online at www.jcoppolinolaw.com We all need a great team behind us, and I know with Mike and John on your team you will be very successful. I a... 05/07/2009

Creating a dialogue with clients and sources. Dialogue is not exactly like real conversation, you have an agenda in a dialogue, but it should sound like real conversation. Don't try to provide too much information (or ask for too much). Body language tells you how you are doing in your dialogue. Watch your client or source. It also can say things that are not in your agenda. Watch yourself. Silence is deafening. Know when to shut up! Remember attitude in your dialogue with clients and sources. How you are perceived as a person can be just as important as what you say. Break up dialogue with action. Go do something… Hands speak as loudly as any words. Be mindful of what your hands are doing. You can emphasize with them, they can warn, they can appeal. Less is more. Say it in as few words... 03/22/2009