Issue 24 - Nov/Dec 2017

November/December 2017

Norma Jean Opatik

ALSO INSIDE NEWS

COntents Created Exclusively for the Las Vegas Real Estate Agent

4

#VegasStrong

14 4 Immediate ways to be more productive

JC Melvin

Galit Ventura-Rozen

Publisher

6

Melodie C. Miller

No Excuses, Own Yourself

16

Andrew Wittman, PhD

Publisher@LVAgentMagazine.com

System Failure: What To Do When The Old Won’t Do Amber De La GarzaAt vollias

Copy editor Debbie Flessner

8

Porcelain Sink Chip Repair Mike Klimek

Ceditor@LVAgentMagazine.com

NEWS

GRAPHIC DESIGN Sho Labaco Art@LVAgentMagazine.com

Photography Connie Palen Photos@LVAgentMagazine.com

To view past issues, please visit

www.LVAgentMagazine.com

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22

Newsletter

10

Housing Stats

Norma Jean Opatik

COVER STORY For more information please email or call 702-530-5033.

Las Vegas Agent Magazine is distributed bi-monthly, via U.S. Mail to Realtors® in the Las Vegas Valley.

We welcome reader correspondence and are always looking for the best possible content to offer our subscribers. Please send all comments, suggestions and inquiries to Publisher@LVAgentMagazine.com Las Vegas Agent Magazine assumes no responsibility for, or endorses the thoughts expressed or advertised. No portion of Las Vegas Agent Magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Cover photo by: Connie Palen Copyright© 2017. All Rights Reserved

Las Vegas Agent Magazine: November/December 2017 702-530-5033 Las Vegas Agent Magazine

3

#VegasStrong By: JC Melvin

I

t is with a heavy heart that I veer from my regular topic of “leadership” as I reflect on what has happened in my home town of Las Vegas, Nevada.

possibly bring you comfort in your grief.

Speaking to the Las Vegas Metropolitan police department, thank you for sending hundreds of officers to the scene the minute you became aware. To the offduty offices who heard the calls on the radio, thank you for rushing to the scene, even though you were off.

The unthinkable, despicable and down right hatef ul and misguided act of one individual which can only be described as horrific, has affected and changed the lives of thousands of people directly and millions of people indirectly. With 58 killed and hundreds of others shot and/or otherwise wounded, this became the worst mass shooting on American soil in modern history.

To the firefighters and paramedics, thank you for working fast and all through the night to care for over 500 people. To the uber and cab drivers that became carriers taking people to the hospitals, thank you.

While the experts will turn every stone, in an effort, to figure out the why, the how and what could have possibly been done to prevent this, the rest of us mourn and wonder what could have been.

To Mandalay Bay secu r it y g ua rd , Jesus Compos, and others thank you for quickly identifying the floor and position of the shooter. This may have put pressure on him and saved hundreds or thousands of lives.

Sometimes, in life, there is no clear answer or apparent reason for the actions of a crazed individual or group. While the shock, outrage, and sorrow for what has transpired seems too much to bear, the human spirit has a natural way of bringing people together in times like these.

The experts will develop the best strategies which can be reasonably implemented to curb this type of incident in the future and most of us recognize that there is no way to make everyone and everyplace safe, all the time.

This is where the concept of #VegasStrong is born. This could just as easily be #AmericaStrong. The statement means that “you can’t knock us down” and “we are a team” and “you are making is stronger” and perhaps mostly, “you will not stop us from living” and “we will not live in fear.”

themselves in the role of a first responder.

These folks stepped up and acted with character, saving lives, protecting people and in some cases, giving their own lives to save others. These scenarios unfold and take place in the blink of an eye. It’s only when we have the time to assess what has happened, after the fact, that we learn the deep story of the human spirit and who the unspoken heroes were on that fateful evening.

Speaking to all the families that lost a loved one that evening, we are so very sorry for your loss and know that no words can

The statement today is about Las Vegas because this horrific act took place at a Jason Aldean concert as a part of the Route 91 Harvest Festival, but, it could have happened anywhere.

A huge shout out to all the first responders and a huge shout out to all those men and women who were not on duty as first responders, but rather just one of the concert goers, who suddenly found

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Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

To the FBI, thank you for your hard work and resources in piecing this all together so that we and the world will understand, as best we can, what the hell happened.

Thank you to the American people and those worldwide who have displayed #VegasStrong in your cities and on social media your posts.

We are a loving and giving community who has come together in the wake of tragedy. As a community, we thank America and the world for your love and support. We are #VegasStrong.

JC Melvin is the founding dean of the NVAR and the GLVAR Leadership Programs. JC is an international speaker and Certified Trainer for “The ONE Thing” Workshop. He is the Corporate Broker for KW Realty Southwest in Las Vegas. For more info on “The ONE Thing” or to schedule a program, add him on Facebook or jc@jcmelvin.com | 702.595.5024.

Own Yourself By: Andrew D. Wittman, PhD

“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you, never excuse yourself.”

Henry Ward Beecher

T

here is a pandemic out there. You should be very afraid of it. It’s infectious and contagious. It spreads quickly, and the infected are entrenched throughout the globe. Excuses are everywhere. They are pervasive. Even society’s leaders have succumbed to their contagion.

You can rise to the top, almost instantly, wherever you are, in whatever market you find yourself a part, by simply not allowing yourself to excuse yourself. There are reasons for one’s lack of performance, and those reasons should be discovered and corrected. However, there is NEVER an excuse for second-rate performance.

I’m brutal with myself. No butt chewing from any Marine Corps Gunny ever came close to the level of correction I give myself.

I hold myself to a higher standard than anybody else expects of me, and in doing so, I easily rise above the cesspool of nonperformance out there.

Excuse making is a habit on the part of the mediocre, the average-minded performer who tells themselves they are doing everything they can to succeed, but...insert the excuse for another month of missed sales targets here. In fact, the excuses are red flags, letting out what you truly believe. Excuses reveal your most closely held opinions about yourself and your abilities. The reason we make excuses is called cognitive dissonance in psychology.

Cognitive dissonance is when our behavior and actions conflict with our self-image, the kind of person we would like to be.

In 1957, Leon Festinger conducted the initial recorded investigation into cognitive dissonance. His findings arose out of studying a cult which believed the end of the world was going to happen on a certain date and time. When it didn’t happen, the members admitted they were wrong and silly to think such a thing and changed/ adapted, right? WRONG! They doubled and tripled down, citing a re-interpreted view of their “evidence” to show that they had indeed been right all along, and the earth was spared because they were faithful, and they had, in fact, saved the planet. You’re welcome!

Festinger’s research led him to propose that cognitive dissonance is a powerful internal driver. One which causes us to maintain consistency and congruence and can give rise to irrational and sometimes maladaptive behavior, a fancy term for making excuses to escape the discomforts in life. Most humans readily and habitually chose excuses over doing the work to adapt and change.

If you don’t know who you are, how can you believe you are doing the right things? How can you know that you are justified in your actions?

How can you be congruent? How do you know if your actions/habits/ behavior match up with your selfimage if you don’t know who you are? Most people have no idea who they are. When asked, they reply with an external label, usually tied to what they do for a living, (e.g., I’m a real estate agent). This is the exact reason why the average-minded performer cannot help themselves from making excuses. They have no internal identity.

The peak performer has a clearly defined internal identity. They know exactly who they are, and the kind of person they aspire to be. And when cognitive dissonance appears, they immediately do the hard work to adapt and change, to make the necessary course corrections to bridge the gap. They make NO EXCUSES because they live by the mantra, “I’m the problem, and I’m the solution.”

Herein lies the secret to hitting every sales target you ever set for yourself. The average-minded performer bridges the gap between their actions (or lack thereof) and

their targets by making excuses to solve the dissonance problem. The peak performer, the one who hits their sales targets every time, without fail, bridges that same gap by changing their behavior to solve the dissonance. If you miss your sales target, instead of coming up with excuses why you didn’t perform, find the cause. Most of the time, the reason behind a missed sales target is usually due to not enough prospects in the pipeline. Instead of coming up excuses as to why this happened, just put an excessive number of prospects into the pipeline and see what happens.

Today, take notice of how those around you deflect personal responsibility for their actions and behaviors. Take notice of yourself and ask yourself, “Am I excusing my own substandard performance?” If so, why? Is it just out habit? Or is it that we cannot face ourselves objectively, and own

our results? Why do excuses pour from our lips? Is it easier to blame others, blame the economy, blame society, blame our coworkers, or blame the weather? Of course, it’s easier, but that is a downhill run to mediocrity and worse.

Make today the day you stop blaming the dog for eating your homework. If you forget to do your homework, ask yourself why? If you didn’t do it because you were lazy or chose something more conducive to your comfort, then put on your “Big Girl Pants” or your “Big Boy Pants” (as my wife says), and own your choices. Own your feelings. Own your thoughts. Own your behavior. Own your character. Own your work ethic. Own your results. Own your life. Own yourself.

Any excuse is worse than no excuse.

Andrew D. Wittman, is a United States Marine Corps infantry combat veteran, a former Police Officer and Federal Agent. As a Special Agent for the U.S. Capitol Police, Wittman led the security detail for Nancy Pelosi and has personally protected Hillary Clinton, Tom Delay, Trent Lott, King Abdullah of Jordan, Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Sir Elton John, as well as Fortune 20 CEOs. As a security contractor for the State Department, he taught high-threat diplomatic security to former Navy SEALS, Marines, Rangers, and Special Forces. Wittman is founder of the Mental Toughness Training Center, a leadership consultancy specializing in peak performance, team dynamics, resolving conflict in the workplace and is the author of the book, “Ground Zero Leadership: CEO of You” (2016). He holds a Ph.D. in Theological Studies, is a guest lecturer at Clemson University and co-hosts the radio call-in show “Get Warrior Tough”.

He can be reached at info@getwarriortough.com | (864) 977-1443

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Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

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Porcelain Sink Chip Repair By: Mike Klimek

H

ave you ever dropped something in your kitchen sink and chip the porcelain in the sink? If you don't want to buy a new sink, there is a way to repair it. The repair doesn't always end up perfect, but it will be good.

Several years ago, I installed a reverse osmosis water system. One of the steps was to drill a hole through the sink for the fountain to sit.

I informed the homeowner that there was a possibility that the sink could chip while drilling the hole. Sure enough, the sink chipped and the fountain seat wasn't big enough to cover it.

For t unately, the homeowner was reasonable and just wanted it fixed.

You can buy a repair kit at a home center in the paint department. The kit has a filler material to bring the divot up to the level of the surrounding surface, and it has a topcoat glaze to give the repair a shine.

The filling compound and glaze come in several colors packaged in bottles that look like nail polish.

Use a putty knife to fill the divot. Use thin layers of the compound and let each layer dry before adding the next.

Once you build up the divot, break out the 220-grit sandpaper again. Sand the area with a light swirling motion being very careful around the edges to avoid scratching the surrounding surface.

You can also use a single-edged razor and slice any high spots off your final layer before it dries too hard. You still will want to sand it after you slice it.

Once the leveling is done, glaze the top of the repair.

The bottle of glaze will have a small brush

Start by sanding the damaged area with 220-grit sandpaper. Just don't sand beyond the damaged area or you can scratch the surrounding porcelain. Then clean the area and let it dry.

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Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

attached to the cap. The idea is to dab the glaze onto the patch to make it match.

The trickiest part is at the edges.

The glaze is about the consistency of nail polish and will have the tendency to stay where you put it. Use as little as is necessary to blend in the patch.

Let it dry and then hit it with the sandpaper.

You can also apply the glaze in small thin coats until you get the desired effect.

If just the top layer of the porcelain has been chipped from the sink, you may be able to go straight to the topcoat glaze.

Like I said, the kitchen sink repair won't be flawless, but you can fool most people with it.

Mike Klimek is a licensed contractor and owner of Las Vegas Handyman.

He has written hundreds of articles regarding home repair and remodeling and has been published in Southern Nevada Home & Garden Magazine, Finishing Touches Magazine, Zip Code Magazines, and Real Estate Success Magazine. He has written for the Las Vegas Review-Journal & Sun since November 2000. Watch for Mike’s regular column here and in the Las Vegas RJ. (702) 896-0000 | questions@pro-handyman.com

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cover feature

Norma Jean Opatik

“The purpose of life is to live it, to test experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

I

t’s said that the total sum of a person’s life is made up of the various experiences that brought them to this current point.

Indeed, that’s true. Whether they’re good or bad, things that have happened in the history of your life have a direct and significant impact on who you are today.

Norma Jean Opatik is the Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Action of Pahrump.

Norma Jean readily admits that one of the primary reasons for her success in her real estate career is due in part to the other careers she excelled in.

Originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Norma Jean’s first career was in computer programming, working with the early program languages of Cobalt, C, and C+. From there, she became a Legal Administrator working for medium to large law firms. With a background in accounting and computer programming, she worked for several law firms fixing issues they were experiencing in financing, payroll, and instituting word-processing, paralegal, and law clerk programs. Other firms she worked with would have her come in to identify the problems with their systems, policies, and/or personnel.

After things began running smoothly, she would move on to the next firm. That kept it interesting for her and enabled her to continue a steady stream of revenue for the family. But eventually, she found something else that interested her - her future husband, Joe.

Joe, Norma Jean & Joy at home.

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Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

A longtime employee of the Ford Motor Company, Joe was elected to the position of Treasurer of a local in the United Auto Workers Union and held that office for 13 years. After he and Norma Jean married, Joe moved to the International staff of the UAW as a negotiator for the Ford department, and Norma Jean went into cosmetology for a couple of years and then into teaching cosmetology for a local

Cover Story

beauty school to allow for a more flexible schedule.

Joe and Norma Jean would travel by motor home to Las Vegas three or four times a year for Joe’s job and fell in love all over again, this time with the weather in Las Vegas. It was during one of those trips that they decided to retire in Las Vegas.

Although they both had full-time careers, they decided to buy older homes in Michigan and renovate them for re-sale. They would buy a property to move into and would work all day and renovate at night! They bought, moved, renovated, and sold 12 homes in 12 years. It was Joe's idea to have Norma Jean take the contractor's course and get the license to get the discounts for the raw materials they needed for their renovation projects.

When the time came for Joe to retire, (September 1997) they sold the last home they had renovated and made the move to Las Vegas where they would both retire in the sunshine! Norma Jean was ready.

"He told me, ‘You won't have to move again, this is your retirement home,'" Norma

Norma Jean & Joe enjoying the beautiful view at Mountain Falls Golf Club’s Grill Room. www.mountainfalls.com

Jean said. "I Ioved our home on Sunrise Mountain, and I was very happy there for three weeks when Joe said, “Get your real estate license and we can flip a home a year.”

Norma Jean & Joe at the Calvada Eye Park.

joined the PAC committee at GLVAR and became active with the Association.

While still unpacking, Norma Jean contacted a real estate pre-licensing school and registered for the 6-week course. She went to school for the required six weeks and passed the exam in December of 1997.

In 2002, Joe's wanderlust won out, and he convinced Norma Jean to move to Pahrump.

Knowing the Las Vegas market well, she put their Sunrise Mountain home on the market and sold it for full price the first day, to the first person to see their home. As a matter of fact, it sold so quickly, that the couple didn’t yet have a home to move into.

It was in school that Norma Jean was delivered the news that Las Vegas was too new to flip. That there were about 500 new subdivisions going up crippling the resale market; so, their flipping plan was unrealistic. However, since she got the license, Norma Jean decided to try out this real estate career, and in her first two years she took and passed the broker exam and became a broker sales licensee.

They lived in a rental for three months while their new home was being built and Norma Jean opened a real estate branch office for a Las Vegas firm. The firm went from a one-agent office to a sevenagent one by 2004. Joe got his real estate license in 2004 but was hired for more home inspections than real estate transactions.

His remodeling experience made him a great home inspector.

Joe obtained his Inspector of Residential Structures in 1997 and began working as a home inspector in Las Vegas until 2002 when they moved to Pahrump where he opened his own inspection business.

In 2003, Norma Jean became the Nye County Director with GLVAR’s Board of Directors and in 2005 ran again and won that Director seat for another three years.

During that same timeframe, Norma Jean was elected to the MLS committee.

During those first two years, Norma Jean

November/December 2017 Las Vegas Agent Magazine

11

Cover Story

In 2005, Norma Jean was appointed by Governor Gibbons to be a Commissioner on the Pahrump Regional Planning Board, and she held that position until 2011.

In 2009 Norma Jean was elected to the MLS committee again and in 2012 was elected Chair of the MLS. This position gave her a seat at the Board of Directors table as MLS Director.

In August of 2011, Norma Jean and Joe bought the Realty Executives franchise in Pahrump. Having worked with Realty Executives in Las Vegas for two years, Norma Jean was familiar with the franchise, so when this opportunity was presented, it was a natural. Joe continued as a home inspector until he retired from home inspections in 2015. It was then that Joe began working with Realty Executives as a full-time Realtor®.

Governor Sandoval appointed Norma Jean as a Nevada Real Estate Commissioner in 2012 for a term of three years. He reappointed her in 2015, and she will serve as a Commissioner until 2018. She has been Secretary, Vice-President, and President of Commissioners during the last five years.

Norma Jean has been a member of GLVAR's Faculty Committee as a senior instructor since 2012 and is currently Dean of Faculty and teaches Continuing Education classes for GLVAR. It is no surprise that Norma Jean’s extensive and varied employment background is helpful in her real estate career. Having worked with law firms and as a Real

Estate Commissioner, she understands real estate law and all the numbers involved in transactions. Her contractor training and Joe’s home inspection career come in handy when dealing with people in the construction industry - she understands the terms and cost they imply. And her past cosmetology work provided her the skill of client satisfaction.

The 13 agents currently working with Realty Executives in Action are highly trained professionals. Working in their career with all the skills and experience needed to assist their clients in finding the home they are looking for. One of their agents specializes exclusively in all things commercial while the other 12 agents focus mainly on the residential side.

"As a benefit of working with us, our agents get the CE classes I teach free of charge." She said. "I really believe that my diverse background has provided me with a lot of knowledge and I want to pass that knowledge on to them."

With the Las Vegas market continuing to heat up, Norma Jean is poised to grow her business and is looking to add more agents to join her team of 13. She said she knows that as a Broker with more than just real estate experience, she has a lot to offer to agents looking to dive headfirst into the business.

She said the agents she is looking for are new to the business. They have fresh perspectives and are eager to learn the real estate industry from the ground up and from

someone who is equally as eager to teach it to them. She’s looking to mentor agents who want to do things the “right” way.

Norma Jean admits that she probably spends too much time working at the office, but that’s just the way she and Joe have always lived their lives. They are working together in their Realty Executives franchise.

And although it may seem impossible to find any spare time in her work week, Norma Jean and Joe are active in their church. She teaches Sunday school, is the Treasurer, plays the piano, and the harp!

And Joe is a Trustee for the church.

Norma Jean says that yes, she does work long hours. The job of a Broker/Owner is demanding in and of itself but add to that the committees, teaching, and growth planning and it is no wonder the hours she spends are necessary. But she says she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She said, “I watch agents all the time who have a life." "Work is all I do, but you know what? I like it; I really love what I do!"

To contact Norma Jean Opatik, or for more information about Realty Executives in Action 3250 Hwy. 160, Suite 11 Pahrump, NV. Call or visit:775-727-5858 www.LandAndMore.com

Norma Jean teaching some of the agents of Realty Executives in Action. Joy auditing the class from her regular position under the table.

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Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

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Immediate ways to be

more productive

By: Galit Ventura-Rozen

1.

Limit your distractions - We live in a world today where every text, email, phone call seems urgent. More than likely it isn't, it's a distraction. When you are consistently being distracted, you could look back at the end of your day and wonder what you accomplished. More than likely what you will accomplish is handling the immediate and not getting that one project done you set to complete when you started

your day. Set aside time each day to focus on the task at hand and commit to putting away your phone, not checking your email, or answering the phone for a set period.

always say, "If it isn't on the calendar it does not exist." I schedule personal time, kid's activities for school, personal appointments, vacations as well as my business clients.

This limits the ability to allow distractions into my day because it is crystal clear what I need to accomplish.

3.

Prioritize your to-do lists - If you are anything like me you have a list for everything. I used to have six notebooks in different places and could never remember what was where. Now, I use a task management software which I always suggest to my clients. I use Asana. This gives me the opportunity to have all my tasks in one place, assign tasks to employees and assistants and know the status. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to feel accomplished every time I mark something off the list. When you start making your lists, categorize them into personal, business, health, etc., depending on your needs. I label each of my Tasks per

the project I am working on. Then assign yourself due dates based on your business priorities. This will remind you when things are due in place of getting caught up in the immediate needs for your business.

4.

Delegate - This one takes a bit of time for solopreneurs (someone who runs their own business without employees).

What, I need to let go of control? How can I possibly do that? I get this a lot from my clients when I start suggesting hiring an assistant or resourcing out some of their work. If you want to take your business to the next level, you must recognize your value. I run through an exercise with my clients where we figure out their per hour value. Try this and then ask yourself if you can’t afford to hire an assistant at $15 to $30 an hour? This frees up your time and gives you the opportunity to focus on what your expertise is and grow your business and be profitable Productivity is one of the keys to having a successfully profitable business. These immediate action steps are not that difficult to implement into your business, and you could see results quickly. If implementing all four at once is overwhelming, try one at a time and see the difference in your productivity sky rocket.

2.

Schedule out your work week – Depending on the best way you work I would suggest you set aside time either Sunday night or each night before you go to bed. Why? This is the time your mind is thinking of the thousand things you need to do the next day or for the week. Make a list of all the projects you want to complete and set aside actual time in your calendar dedicated just for those projects. I live and breathe through my google calendar. I

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Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

Galit Ventura-Rozen is a Women empowerment and Business Mentor that works with women to break thru their personal ceilings to turn what they love to do into a successful business or start their business of choice from the ground up.

Galit works with her client through private business mentoring, in group programs, and in workshops. To learn more about Galit at visit www.galitempoweringu.com

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System Failure:

3.

What To Do When The 4.

Old Won’t Do 5.

By: Amber De La Garza

I

had a true ah-ha! moment a while ago and it wasn’t a pleasant one. I realized a system I had in place was simply not working. It was no longer explicable and definitely not efficient. Here’s how it went down…

I had allowed my paper filing to pile up because a huge project I have been working on had taken priority. No problem. So, I tasked my assistant with filing three months of papers - not just her usual single month.

She proceeded to follow the instructions in my Procedure Manual, each step having been written systematically. After all, consistency is the key to organization.

I want to know exactly where every document is should I need it instead of having to waste time and energy looking for it. Efficiency is paramount. All tax receipts need to be clipped behind the Taxes cover page, all receipts reconciled against the business credit card statement and paperclipped together in chronological order, all transactions entered in the appropriate Quickbooks fields, and so forth.

When I glanced back at my assistant 10 minutes later she was sitting cross-legged on the floor with piles of papers sprawled everywhere! She looked like the center of a gigantic pinwheel with white spokes pointing out from her in every direction.

“Ah-ha!” I felt pure annoyance that a giant pinwheel had taken over my office.

While for years my old filing system had worked really well to help me maintain organization for a long time, that was no longer the case. I realized I had not taken time to re-evaluate what parts of the system were and were not working as the years went by, the types of documents coming in became more varied, and the amount of papers increased significantly.

I proceeded to pinpoint the following annoyances:

I spend a lot of money on ink printing out online receipts to be filed Part of a tree was cut down just so I could print receipts for filing

In order to make room in the filing cabinet for all of next year’s documents that will be coming in, I have to find a place for all of last year’s documents but don’t have space

6.

I don’t have envelopes large enough to house my abundance of last year’s tax receipts

7.

Nor do I have rubber bands large enough to bind them together

Fixing The Failed System We decided that due to a lack of space, higher labor cost, and wasting of time, ink, and paper, it was time to go paperless. We brainstormed how to transition to paperless and determined the following: My monthly personal statements can be emailed or easily looked up online instead of mailed. Therefore, everything that can be switched to a digital-only format should be (e.g., gas, water, power).

I will start filing emailed receipts electronically instead of printing them out for my assistant to file away. So, everything that arrives to me in digital format should stay in digital format (e.g., Amazon and Microsoft).

Some bills and receipts do not have a digital option but taking time to scan and file them electronically would be inefficient.

I can’t just throw them away either because Uncle Sam might decide to audit me years from now. Therefore, everything that arrives to me in paper format should stay in paper format (e.g., Sam’s Club, Starbucks, Chili’s, Office of the County Treasurer).

Although we determined my goal of going entirely paperless is not possible, my overarching goal is to be efficient in my filing - not to be void of any paper.

1.

I am receiving way too much snail mail paper which needs to be dealt with constantly

2.

My assistant was spending a ton of valuable (and costly) time organizing and filing my papers each month

16

After adding the procedures we created to my Procedure Manual, we attacked our new system with a trial and error mindset over a period of three months. We figured out which elements were working and not working, brainstormed solutions, and made necessary tweaks. My monthly filing procedures now take less effort, money, and time which, compounded over time, add up to lots of effort, money, and time that can be put toward better, more productive use.

Las Vegas Agent Magazine | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

It took the visual of a paper pinwheel taking over my office to realize my filing system needed an overhaul. While it worked well for years, I had failed to re-evaluate my filing system as my business grew, purchases increased, and incoming papers tripled. As a real estate professional, your business is constantly changing. You have to evaluate your underperforming and inefficient systems and look for creative solutions to improve the way you operate.

A slight change in operations could make a world of difference in your productivity!

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N ewsletter Growing Job Opportunities in Residential Construction Offers Solid Career Path

A

s the National Association of Home Builders celebrates “Careers in Construction Month” in October, builders around the country are seeking skilled craftspeople to help them build the American Dream.

The overall trend for open construction jobs has been increasing since the end of the Great Recession. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data and analysis by NAHB, there were 214,000 open construction sector jobs in July, which marks the second highest monthly count of

“Residential construction offers a number of fulfilling career opportunities, from architects and engineers to carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters and landscapers,” said Nat Hodgson, executive director of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, the local NAHB affiliate. “Our builders are telling us that access to skilled labor remains a top challenge.”

After many workers left the home building industry during the Great Recession to pursue employment in other sectors, not nearly enough of them have returned. This labor shortage can lead to delays in completing projects on time, which can increase the cost of building homes and make housing more expensive for consumers.

“As the housing industry continues to recover, we are focused on training more workers and leaders to fill these important roles,” Hodgson said.

NAHB’s educational partner, Home Builders Institute, is a national leader for career training in the building industry. HBI offers educational programs in 41 states and the District of Columbia, reaching more than 13,000 students each year. These include more than 5,000 students in HBI’s pre-apprenticeship programs, including in Southern Nevada.

NAHB’s Student Chapters Program is another important component to preparing the next generation of building professionals.

With 140 secondary, associate and four-year college chapters throughout the country, the program offers students first-hand exposure to the building industry through NAHB membership, educational programming and networking opportunities.

Educators, parents and students are encouraged to take a close look at the career opportunities available in residential construction and understand that a vocational education offers satisfying career paths and financial gains.

Hiring For: Superintendent – KB Home Assistant Superintendent – KB Home Customer Care Representative – Century Communities Superintendent – Century Communities Assistant Superintendent – Century Communities Accounts Payable Manager – Sun West Custom Homes Experienced Service Plumber – Local Plumbing Firm

Additional Jobs Available Beazer Homes Blue Heron KB Home Century Communities Pulte Homes CalAtlantic Homes DR Horton Pardee Homes

Lennar Toll Brothers Woodside Homes R ichmond A mer ican Homes William Lyon Homes American West Homes

For Job Information, please visit: www.snhba.com/resources/jobs/ The Southern Nevada Home Builders Association ranks as the oldest and largest local trade organization representing the residential construction industry in the state of Nevada. It has approximately 500 members working in all facets of the homebuilding industry. SNHBA is an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association founded in 1942 to enhance the climate for housing and the building industry.

20

Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

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Local Housing Statistics Local Housing Statistics N ews

GLVAR Housing Statistics for October 2017

Local Home Prices Cool Down in October, Still Well Up from One Year Ago

he Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) reported today that local home prices cooled down a bit in October, though home prices and sales are still well up from one year ago.

T

about 10 percent ahead of the pace from 2016, when 41,720 total properties were sold in Southern Nevada. At this rate, GLVAR statistics show that 2017 is on pace to be the best year for local home sales since at least 2012.

GLVAR reported that the median price of existing single-family homes sold during October through its Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was $263,000, down slightly from September, but still up 13.4 percent from October 2016. The median price of local condos and townhomes sold in October was $140,000, unchanged from September, but up 19.7 percent from the same time last year.

GLVAR reported that 26.9 percent of all local properties sold in October were purchased with cash, similar to past months and down from 27.4 percent one year ago. That’s less than half of the February 2013 peak of 59.5 percent, indicating that cash buyers and investors are still active, but playing a smaller role in the local housing market.

GLVAR President David J. Tina, a longtime local REALTOR®, said home prices have been appreciating at a fairly steady rate of about 10 percent per year for the past few years. Though that pace may be slowing heading into the fall, he still has a positive outlook for the local housing market.

In recent years, GLVAR has been reporting fewer distressed sales and more traditional home sales, where lenders are not controlling the transaction. That trend continued in October, when 2.9 percent of all local sales were short sales – which occur when lenders allow borrowers to sell a home for less than what they owe on the mortgage. That’s down from 5.1 percent of all sales in October 2016. Another 2.3 percent of all October sales were bank-owned, down from 5.6 percent one year ago.

“I think our housing market is in good shape, largely because our local economy continues to grow,” Tina said. “Our population and economy are growing as fast as almost any place in the country.

And Southern Nevada has been leading the nation in job growth.

All these things point to more demand for housing, with more home sales and more appreciation expected for the foreseeable future.”

As for headwinds in the housing market, Tina said demand continues to exceed the shrinking supply of homes available for sale.

This continues to present challenges for many buyers, especially those seeking entry-level homes and condos.

At the current sales pace, he said Southern Nevada still has less than a two-month supply of existing homes available for sale. A six-month supply is considered to be a balanced market.

By the end of October, GLVAR reported 4,795 single-family homes listed for sale without any sort of offer. That’s down 32.3 percent from one year ago. For condos and townhomes, the 770 properties listed without offers in October represented a 32.0 percent drop from one year ago.

The total number of existing local homes, condos and townhomes sold during October was 3,633, up from 3,225 in October 2016.

Compared to one year ago, sales were up 13.3 percent for homes and up 16.1 percent for condos and townhomes.

According to GLVAR, home sales so far in 2017 continue to run

22

Las Vegas Agent Magazine | November/December 2017

As these declining percentages indicate, Tina said “distressed sales now make up such a small share of the local housing market that they’ve really become a non-issue.”

These GLVAR statistics include activity through the end of October 2017. GLVAR distributes statistics each month based on data collected through its MLS, which does not necessarily account for newly constructed homes sold by local builders or homes for sale by owners. Other highlights include: The total value of local real estate transactions tracked through the MLS during October was nearly $930 million for homes and nearly $101 million for condos, high-rise condos and townhomes.

Compared to one year ago, total sales volumes in October were up 32.6 percent for homes and up 37.5 percent for condos and townhomes.

Homes and condos continued to sell faster than last year at this time. In October, 81.9 percent of all existing local homes and 89.0 percent of all existing local condos and townhomes sold within 60 days. That compares to one year ago, when 75.2 percent of all local homes and 76.2 percent of all condos and townhomes sold within 60 days.

Housing NEWS N ews

Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® October 2017 Statistics

Single Family Residential Units AVAILABILITY AT END OF PERIOD # of available units listed Median list price of available units Average list price of available units

*AVAILABILITY AT END OF PERIOD # of available units listed w/o offers Median list price of available units w/o offers Average list price of available units w/o offers

$ $

$ $

Change from Change from Oct 17 Sep 17 Oct 16 4,795 -3.5% -32.3% 354,900 +1.4% +15.8% $ 589,033 +3.5% +23.5% $

Oct 17 1,696 144,995 168,211

Change from Change from Sep 17 Oct 16 3,190 -2.4% -4.5% 284,784 +1.7% +9.7% $ 387,385 +8.6% +16.5% $

Oct 17

NEW LISTINGS THIS PERIOD # of new listings Median price of new listings Average price of new listings

$ $

Change from Change from Sep 17 Oct 16 2,970 +1.9% +13.3% 263,000 -0.8% +13.4% $ 313,008 +1.2% +17.0% $

Oct 17

UNITS SOLD THIS PERIOD # of units sold Median price of units sold Average price of units sold

$ $

TIME ON MARKET FOR UNITS SOLD THIS PERIOD 0-30 days 31-60 days 61-90 days 91-120 days 121+ days

Oct 17 64.0% 17.9% 7.9% 4.2% 5.9%

TOTAL HOME SALES DOLLAR VALUE FOR UNITS SOLD THIS PERIOD

Sep 17 68.3% 14.6% 6.9% 3.8% 6.4%

Oct 16

Oct 17 770 154,900 181,952 Oct 17 795 140,000 155,574 Oct 17 663 140,000 151,978

Change from Change from Sep 17 Oct 16 +2.4% -23.0% -0.0% +23.4% -1.0% +20.9% Change from Change from Sep 17 Oct 16 +13.2% -32.0% -5.5% +29.4% -3.9% +21.2% Change from Change from Sep 17 Oct 16 +8.5% +12.0% -3.4% +12.1% -3.9% +10.1% Change from Change from Sep 17 Oct 16 +0.9% +16.1% +0.0% +19.7% -2.9% +18.4%

Oct 17

54.9% 20.3% 10.6% 6.0% 8.3%

Sep 17

77.1% 11.9% 5.4% 2.4% 3.2%

Change from Change from Oct 17 Sep 17 Oct 16 929,632,841 +3.2% +32.6% $ 100,761,668 Oct 17

$

Source: Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®

Condo/Townhouse Units

Change from Change from Oct 17 Sep 17 Oct 16 9,157 -5.4% -25.6% 300,000 +0.0% +11.3% 462,424 +3.2% +18.4%

Oct 16

79.8% 9.9% 5.0% 1.7% 3.7%

58.7% 17.5% 8.2% 5.8% 9.8%

Change from Change from Sep 17 Oct 16 -2.0% +37.5%

For media inquiries, please call George McCabe, with B&P Public Relations, at (702) 325-7358 DISCLAIMER: This data is based on information from the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. MLS collects, compiles and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its subscribers who are real estate agents. MLS subscription is available to all real estate agents licensed in Nevada, but is not available to the general public.

Not all licensed agents subscribe to the MLS. MLS does not include all new homes available or listings from non-MLS agents, nor does it include properties for sale by owner.

The territorial jurisdiction of the GLVAR as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® includes Clark, Nye, Lincoln and White Pine Counties, Nevada, and such other areas as from time to time may be allocated to the GLVAR by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®.

*This category reflects the existing market availability of listings without pending or contingent offers.

Source: Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® For media inquiries, please call George McCabe, with B&P Public Relations, at (702) 325-7358.

Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® Statistics Las Vegas Association REALTORS® StatisticsAssociation of REALTORS® (GLVAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This information is deemed reliable DISCLAIMER: This data is basedGreater on information from the of Greater Las Vegas but is not guaranteed. MLS collects, compiles and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its subscribers who are real estate agents. MLS subscription is available to all real estate agents licensed in Nevada, but is not available to the general public. Not all licensed agents subscribe to the MLS. MLS does not include all new homes available listings in Unitsor Sold Availability Pending Contingent Offers from non-MLS agents, nor does it Without include properties for saleOr by owner.

The territorial jurisdiction of the GLVAR as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® includes Clark, Nye, Lincoln and White Pine Counties, Nevada, other areas as from time to time may be allocated to the GLVAR by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Endand Ofsuch Period 4000 REALTORS®.

Thousands

Availability Without Pending Or Contingent Offers [ End Of Period ] 14 12

Single Family Residential Units

10 8 6 4 2 0

Condo/ Townhouse Units

Units Sold in Period

3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Condo/ Townhouse Units

Source: Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®

Source: Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® For media inquires, please call George McCabe, B&P Public Relations, at (702) 325-7358.

For media inquires, please call George McCabe, B&P Public Relations, at (702) 325-7358.

DISCLAIMER: This data is based on information from the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) Multiple Listing

This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. MLS collects, compiles and distributes information about GLVAR was founded in 1947 and providesService its(MLS). more than 11,000 local members with education, homes listed for sale by its subscribers who are real estate agents. MLS subscription is available to all real estate agents licensed in Nevada, but is not available to the general public. Not all licensed agents subscribe to the MLS. MLS does not include all new homes available or listings from non-MLS agents, nor doesof it include properties for sale by owner.Association The territorial jurisdiction of the training and political representation. The local representative the National ofGLVAR as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® includes Clark, Nye, White Pine and Lincoln Counties, Nevada, and such other areas as from time to time may be allocated to the GLVAR by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®.

REALTORS®, GLVAR is the largest professional organization in Southern Nevada. Each GLVAR member receives the highest level of professional training and must abide by a strict code of ethics.

For more information, visit www.HomeLasVegas.com or www.lasvegasrealtor.com.

DISCLAIMER: This data is based on information from the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. MLS collects, compiles and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its subscribers who are real estate agents. MLS subscription is available to all real estate agents licensed in Nevada, but is not available to the general public. Not all licensed agents subscribe to the MLS. MLS does not include all new homes available or listings from non-MLS agents, nor does it include properties for sale by owner. The territorial jurisdiction of the GLVAR as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® includes Clark, Nye, White Pine and Lincoln Counties, Nevada, and such other areas as from time to time may be allocated to the GLVAR by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®.

the GLVAR

Single Family Residential Units

Month

Month

About

Period

November/December 2017 Las Vegas Agent Magazine

23

Home Is

Possible

Home ownership to me means fulfilling the American dream.

It means coming home every day to a place that makes you feel good. My goal is to help people know that owning a home is achievable.

Communication throughout the buying process is priority to me. When working with Home Buyers and Real Estate Agents I never forget the people behind the transaction. I’m determined to be your lender for life.

I can help you find a great loan, let’s talk:

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