To Decorate or Not To Decorate

Several of our sellers have called us to ask if they should decorate their homes for the holidays. Most of the time this is absolutely appropriate. I always like going into a beautifully adorned home this time of year...especially one with a "real" tree! It always smells so nice. I would say you really must use discretion, but it has nothing to do with holiday displays. If your home is crowded with excessive decorations that's another story all together...Also, if you are just now getting ready to list your home keep in mind that all the marketing that will be done now (photographs, virtual tours, etc) will have poinsettias, snowmen and Santas in the brochures long after the tree has been taken down. So, go ahead and decorate to your heart's content. This is a wonderful time of year and just because your home is on the market shouldn't mean that you don't enjoy living in it! Prospects know that this is the holidays and most of them comment favorably at all the pretty decorations.

New Naples Listing!

Beautiful new listing located directly on over 150' of Naples Bay waterfront! Breathtaking views of sunsets and city lights across the bay...sit by the pool and watch dolphins jump as boats cruise by...This is waterfront living at its best! Spacious 4 bedroom residence has been meticulously maintained. Close to beaches and all the wonderful downtown amenities. Additional photographs and a virtual tour can be viewed at http://www.naplesrealestate.com/ or call today for a private showing: 239-370-0574.

Giving Thanks

Chip and I are up at our cabin in the mountains of North Carolina with 3 of our kids and 5 of our grandkids. When I woke up this morning and looked outside the early sun was peeping over the distant mountains, streaming through the trees and dancing on the frosty branches. Bear Pen mountain is visible through the bare trees this time of year...the back of the house faces east and I sat and drank my hot coffee and watched a lovely sunrise...taking in the beauty of the view and enjoying the quiet before the house would be alive again with children's giggles and cheering for ones favorite football team. My heart is filled with gratitude for all the blessings in my life. Good health, a wonderful husband, healthy and lovable children and grandchildren, a very special mom, great friends and family. Thank you God. Happy Thanksgiving!

Market Share Comparison Report

This bar graph depicts the market share of 7 of the top real estate companies in Southwest Florida based on information obtained from SunshineMLS and FtMyersMLS for the periods beginning on January 1st 2007 through October 31st, 2008. The blue bars represent 2008. As you can see, Coldwell Banker Residential is #1 with a 12.3% market share. You can make the graph full size by moving the cursor over it and clicking. Please feel free to call us with any questions or comments. 239-370-0574 direct or you can email us by logging onto our website at www.NaplesRealEstate.com We look forward to hearing from you soon! Thank you and have a great day!

A Day in the Life of a Naples Real Estate Agent...

I started my day early (about 4:00 am) working on the details concerning a counter offer...the home is listed around $1 million...the buyer offered considerably less...the seller would not even counter...NEVER has the divide between what a seller thinks his home is worth and what a buyer is willing to pay been so great! Next, I went to see a very nice couple who bought a condo from me about 4 years ago...since then they made a second purchase in the same neighborhood directly from the developer (as an investment)...They called me to discuss listing it. They were listed earlier in the year with another agent for $999,000. It was my job to break it to them, as gently as possible, that due to the current inventory and closed sales they were going to have to keep the price under $700,000...All in all they took it well. They are, after all, business minded and understand the current market conditions. It was a good appointment and I feel optimistic about the saleability of the condo...But, being the bearer of bad news is NOT getting any easier for me... My next stop was to write up an offer with a buyer who looked at a condo with me yesterday. The property is in the neighborhood where she lives so of course it made the most sense for me to drive back there (about 35 minutes from downtown Naples where my office is located) rather than meet her here...When she answered the door with, "I guess I should have called you"...Well, the appointment didn't take as long as I anticipated... By noon I was on my 4th appointment of the day with a lovely young couple who are considering relocating to the Naples area. He had been on a very promising job interview and they just wanted to look at a couple of homes as possible rentals. Now, I don't normally handle rentals, but felt compelled to take care of this family (they have four kids) as I would hope someone would take care of any of our kids if they were far from home in the hands of a perfect stranger. The meeting could not have gone better. They liked the first house I showed them and I teased them about being so difficult! When they find out whether or not he's got the job at least they know they have a good home in a safe neighborhood picked out. ~and I feel very good about earning their future business. The day is looking up... Back at the office I proofed a few ads, returned a few calls, got caught up on emails...one of which from a seller with whom we met yesterday on a listing appointment who chose to inform us via email that they were going with another agent...Ah! -we really wanted that listing! I'm feeling sad again...Then I got a call from a really nice man that I met with his wife last "season" at an open house. He recently received a "Just Sold" postcard from us...we talked about the market, sales in his neighborhood, what his competition would be if they decided to list and he ended the conversation saying, "We would not list with anyone else"! Yeah! It was a great call and I am starting to feel better... It's after 4:30 and I have been going strong for over 12 hours and I just realized that I forgot to eat lunch...a few more things to take care of here after I finish this blog entry then get appointments ready for tomorrow and head home hopefully before dark... A Day In The Life...and at the end of the day, I still like my job...and the challenges will only make me a better real estate agent. Call me...I will always make time for YOU: 239-250-4370

Three Choices

A lot of good things come out of our weekly sales meetings...I've been attending sales meetings every Wednesday morning for over 27 years. Some are better than others; some have interesting guest speakers, MLS trends & statistics...We get to tout new listings, share ideas, discuss price adjustments... This morning my broker wrote 3 things up on his easel... 1. Stocks 2. Real Estate 3. A Coffee Can With one question he put the current market into perspective: "Where would you put your money today?" Okay, those are your three choices, so now I ask you, "Where would you put your money today?" 'nuff sed...call us!

A Thank You to Our Veterans

President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th Armistice Day to commemorate the end of WW I. Congress changed the name to Veteran's Day in 1954, now a legal holiday in the United States. On this Veteran's Day, please join us in remembering those who have served our nation with valor and bravery. We salute you and respectfully recognize the selfless act of putting ones own life on the line for freedom and democracy. It is with our deepest gratitude that we honor your service and sacrifice. Take a moment today to thank a veteran...and every day, each chance you get, express your thanks for the commitment of our armed forces who by their tireless efforts bring liberty and human dignity to the world.

More Naples Real Estate Stats

Things really picked up the first week of November. Showings are up, sign calls are up, Internet leads are up...even morale is up. I thought I'd share a few more stats with those readers who have called and asked questions about specific neighborhoods and the market in general. In the first week of November 2007 the local multiple listing system reported 98 residential properties going under contract (also known as "pendings") and 68 closed sales. This year we saw that increase to 165 pendings and 97 closed sales during that same time! 22 of the pendings were listings priced over $1 million. 118 were listed under $300,000. Areas that are fairly even to their average sold prices in the last 12 months as compared to the previous 12 months are: NA01: North of 111th Avenue North and west of U.S. 41; NA02, Vanderbilt Beach area; NA04 Pelican Bay area and NA19, Lely area. NA05: known as the Crayton Road area, which includes Park Shore and The Moorings is at $1,190,368 average sold price in the past 12 months as compared to $1,420,783 in the prior 12 months. Old Naples: NA06, is down from $1,597,183 to $1,109,895, and Aqualane-Port Royal: NA07 has seen a significant decrease with an average sold price of $3,807,625 in the last 12 months as compared to $6,344,029 in months 24-12. However, this area now has an average of 5 closed sales per month in the past 12 months as compared to 4 when going back 24 months; a 20% increase in the number of sales closing. If you would like an analysis of your home or of a specific neighborhood, please either call (239-370-0574 direct) or email any member of The Harris-Peppe Team today. Also, we welcome you to log on to our website, http://www.naplesrealestate.com/ and look in the menu bar for "Neighborhood Information" where you will find additional information about many of the areas we report about on this blog. Thanks and make it a great day!

Another Beautiful Day in Paradise

I have always loved this time of year... When I was a little girl, I used to look forward to raking leaves with my grandpa...the laughter, the jumping into piles and the smell of burning leaves vivid in my memory. I would say the changing colors of the leaves is the one thing I miss the most living here in Naples...Oh, snow on Christmas morning always a child's favorite, but now I much prefer the beautiful soft, white sand of the beaches to that colder, wet white stuff from up north. The majesty of the golden amber, burnt orange and crimson red landscape is now replicated around my home with silk leaves bought at a craft store and pumpkins from the grocery store in a variety of shapes and sizes set atop most of the tables in our home. No matter where you live, this time of year also reminds us of how quickly the days have flown by as we see holiday decorations in all the stores. Soon it will be Thanksgiving, my personal favorite holiday because it focuses on what family and love is all about: Gratitude. No messing up this holiday with gifts and guilt...It's pure, it's perfect...It's just about counting blessings. Right now it is 72 degrees outside and the sun is shining....There are no leaves to rake, but the humidity is low, there's a slight breeze and the palms are lovely and the orchids are blooming (see photo inset)...I was trying to come up with a topic to post on my real estate blog today and this was all I could come up with as I sat at my desk gazing out the window...It's another beautiful day in paradise...and I am blessed.

A Defining Moment

Two wonderful speeches last night... McCain's words brought tears to my eyes as I watched this hero concede in a most honorable and gentle manner. I believe the world looked at him with admiration and the utmost respect which few people have ever deserved more.. Obama's speech inspired a nation. I was equally proud of his accomplishment, the obvious emotion as he expressed so eloquently his awareness of the place in history that he alone can claim. America's healing can now begin. Now, let's get back to the order of business...Let's support one another and look ahead with hope and courage to the challenges that lie ahead...Let's seek out the things we have in common rather than the things that set us apart. "Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection" Abraham Lincoln

Did you vote?

My alarm was set for 6:00 am, I was up and out of the house with such enthusiasm this morning. Wanting to get to my precinct early, expecting long lines...at first I thought they moved the precinct without telling me. "Am I at the wrong place?" I actually found a parking place right up front and once inside I checked in immediately...It felt a little funny going back to the "color in the circle" ballot rather than the electronic ballot that we've all gotten used to...I had my sample ballot in hand, approached the voting booth and I don't know what exactly came over me, but I welled up with tears. How blessed we are in this amazing country to be able to vote. What a privilege and honor it is. This is a very emotional election...and I for one don't care who you are voting for...this post isn't about your choice, it's about having choices! My family is made up of Republicans and Democrats with a couple of Independents and Libertarians thrown in just to keep it interesting...We are wonderful mix of conservatives, liberals and moderates...and you know what? We all love each other. We are what America is all about. Yes, what an exciting election indeed...In my house my husband and partner, Chip, who became an American citizen last year is voting for a president for the first time...tonight we will watch the results together and know that we were both part of the process, and regardless of who wins we will wake up tomorrow morning knowing that we live in the greatest country on earth. If you haven't already voted, get out there! It is your duty as a citizen.

More Naples Real Estate Stats

October, which is typically a big listing month, saw a 7% decrease in listings taken when compared to last October. New listings this year totaled 1,696, in October 2007 new listings totaled 1,818. This information is based on data derived from the Naples Multiple Listing System known as SunshineMLS, and only Residential listings in Naples were used for the results. The really good news is our "Pending" sales were way up last month when compared to October 2007: 332 pendings vs. 567 in October 2008. That's a huge jump in units! Sales pended are always the best barometer to determine what is happening in the market now. In October 2007, 38% of the sales which pended were priced below $300,000. Comparably, 74% of the sales which went under contract in October 2008 were listed below $300,000. This is in direct correlation to the increase in the number of listings available in the under $300,000 price range. In addition, last October 14% of the sales which pended were listings priced over $1 million. This October listings priced over $1 million made up for less than 6% of the pendings. Many of the high end buyers we are working with are waiting to see how things settle out, but they are actively looking. Our listings saw a 422% increase in showing activity last month. ~and This will certainly result in offers. Please let us know if you would like us to do a more specific analysis of a particular neighborhood or condominium. It is always our pleasure at The Harris-Peppe Team to answer questions without any obligation. We welcome your comments and look forward to earning your business. 239-370-0574

It will be nice...

It will be nice for this election to be over...I can't count how many times in the past month the prospects I have talked with have used it as an excuse to put off making a decision...."Oh, after the election we will be in a better position to make a decision"...or, "We are waiting to see who wins before we book a trip to Naples to look at real estate..." and so on and so on. You get the picture. My years of experience tells me that after the election true buyers will buy regardless of who wins; and the not-so-true buyers making excuses will find another excuse...so, who wins is not really an issue with them anyway. It will be nice to reclaim a little peace and quiet at the end of the day without the evening news blaring the moment I walk in the door...and whomever is placing the candidates' signs in our front yard after dark each night will need to find another prank to pull... It will be nice when the water cooler discussions are about great condo buys and football again, ~and dinner conversations with friends and family alike go back to talking about holiday plans & vacations, diets & health issues...grandchildren...yes, that will be nice... It will be nice when all the t.v. political commercials are finally over...and all the signs around town come down...(except the For Sale signs of course)...Hmmmm...I wonder why it is that I am only allowed one open house sign on a property when I'm trying to earn a living on a Sunday, but dozens of candidate signs litter the landscape during election time... It will be nice...

Quote of the Day

"Be fearful when others are greedy, Be greedy when others are fearful." Warren Buffet In other words..."Buy Now!"

Vote YES Amendments 3, 4 and 6

Years ago when I first got into this business my dad gave me a bit of advice...He told me not to talk about politics or religion with my customers. My first broker told me the same thing...and the first big company I worked for even went so far as to prohibit us from placing bumper stickers on our vehicles or campaign signs on our lawns. It was part of the office policy manual. In this business, as in any business, once you commit to a side half the world might not want to do business with you anymore...and it doesn't seem to matter that on the flip side the other half might then be more likely to do business with you...Unfortunate, but true. I must admit, I have had a few occasions when it was fairly obvious after getting to know someone that I let my opinions known. I can count on one hand how many times in 27 years that has happened. Only twice have I misread their comments and been wrong and wished I could have retracted my comments...Both of those occasions happened in the past few months...Hey, what can I say? It's an interesting and exciting election. More exciting than ever because I am proud to say that my husband and partner Chip Harris is voting in his very first presidential election since becoming an American citizen in 2006! On November 4th Florida voters will be voting on more than just the next president. It's safe to say my opinion on the amendments regarding real estate probably won't be held against me. So, I am hereby expressing my support for three amendments:

• No. 3- Changes and Improvements Not Affecting the Assessed Value of Residential Real Estate.
• No. 4- Property Tax Exemption of Perpetually Conserved Land; Classification and assessment of Land Used for Conservation.
• No. 6- Assessment of Working Waterfront Property Based Upon Current Use.

Let me know if you have questions!

~and regardless of whom you are voting, get out there and vote! It is an honor and a privilege. Whether my vote cancels your vote or not, I hope you will call me for all your real estate needs because I'm a good real estate agent. Period! Thanks and have a great day!

Coldwell Banker 10-day Sale Results

The timing of the Coldwell Banker 10-day Sale nationwide could not have come at a worse time. After months of preparation and nearly 30,000 homes open across the country, news of the stock market plummeting on the preceding Friday kept most buyers away. Last Sunday's turnout was minimal at best; an average here in Naples of 1.2 visitors per open house. However, time heals all things...the market watchers know that what goes up must come down and what goes down must come up...and even just a short week later, the bad news bears couldn't keep the potential buyers away. Yesterday I had 5 separate parties through and everyone gave me the sense that there is pent up demand. Most seemed ready to find some good values. One buyer said, "I have been coming to Naples for over 20 years and I don't remember ever seeing this many good buys to choose from". Another interested gentleman explained, "The old adage of real estate, 'location, location, location' has now been replaced with, 'timing, timing, timing'." Yes, timing is everything now. ~and pricing is crucial. So, if you can find a well priced listing in an excellent location, the time to jump on it is now! As an example, the listing where I was sitting open yesterday is a brand new, never lived in, spacious 3 bedroom condo on the water with direct gulf access (no bridges). It comes with a private 2 car garage and a deeded boat dock. There are 6 units total in the building. The two top floor end units sold pre-construction for OVER $1.1 million! The remaining 4 units start at $699,000! You want value? This is it! I would be happy to provide you with a detailed search of ALL new, waterfront condos in Naples which include a dock...The next priced listing in MLS is asking $1,149,000! Once these 4 condos sell there may not be any other condos built 2007 or later listed under a million available! The seller is motivated and ready to consider all serious offers! Additional photos and a virtual tour of the property can be found on our website http://www.naplesrealestate.com/ Or call us today for a personal tour of The Azzurro 239-370-0574 If nothing else, the 10-day Sale did create some good activity...I had some great discussions with some really nice folks with whom I feel pretty good about doing future business. I understand an agent at our north office got an offer on their listing at the open house! Great news! ~and I am more convinced than ever that Naples is "under valued" (see a previous post)...the really smart buyers will be taking advantage of the amazing opportunites available to them here in paradise! Thanks and make it a great day!

NUMB3RS

I get a lot of calls from folks reading my blog asking that I continue adding more statistics. They say they enjoy reading the Naples Real Estate NUMB3RS...so, here goes: Year To Date: SunshineMLS, the southwest Florida multiple listing database, which includes (but is not limited to) Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Ft Myers and Ft Myers Beach, Lehigh Acres and Naples (including Golden Gate and Golden Gate Estates) has reported the following numb3rs: Total Residential Listings taken: 32,885 Total Closed Sales: 6,357 Total Expired Listings: 18,717 When searching just the greater Naples area, the following numb3rs apply: Total Residential Listings taken: 15,530 Total Closed Sales: 3,822 Total Expired Listings: 8,208 Thank you again for all your calls. I truly appreciate hearing from readers directly letting me know what type of blog posts most interest them! Hope you're having a great day! See earlier posts for discussion regarding average sold prices, list to sell ratios and current inventory statistics. For a current evaluation of your home or condo please call or email any member of the Harris-Peppe Team today!

Poll Closed

Last week I conducted a survey on this blog and the results might surprise you. I asked readers to choose from the following answers when asked what they look for when selecting a real estate professional:

1. Market knowledge and success
2. Years of experience and designations
3. Easy to work with and trust
4. Marketing capabilities and company reputation

83% of those polled selected "Easy to work with and trust" , followed by "Marketing capabilities and company reputation".

Call the Harris-Peppe Team today to find out why our slogan is, "...the name friends refer to friends". We can be reached directly at 239-370-0574 or log onto www.NaplesRealEstate.com to do your own search on our consumer friendly website.

Thanks to all those who participated. There will be more polls in the future!

Naples Real Estate- More Good News

My vision when I began this blog was to do my best to report as much positive news as possible. Up to now, this has not been the easiest task...However, again this morning, the front page of the local section of The Naples Daily News reports "Naples see increase in home sales". The article goes on to say that, 'pending sales are up in all six geographic areas that the Naples Area Board of Realtors tracks'. As I have reported in previous blog posts, most of this increase can be tracked to the "under $300,000" price range...But today's article indicates that homes listed in the $500,000-$2 million price point have seen pendings up 22% when compared to the same period last year! This is NOT a flash in the pan, one month scenario...No, this is a trend! I remain clear on this message, there has NEVER been a better time to buy real estate in Naples Florida. ~and I have been selling the Naples' dream for over 27 years. Call today to get a more in-depth analysis of any of the areas where you might be considering making a purchase, or to obtain a competitive market analysis of what your home's current value is in this ever evolving market. Thanks and make it a great day! 239-370-0574 direct

Inquiries are Up!

We thought we might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, then last week's stock market plunged (in case you didn't hear)...and we had to take a step back again and make sure it wasn't an oncoming train! As it turns out, Monday saw the single largest gain in history on Wall Street...and (now here's the really good news)...our site has had record breaking inquiries in the past 48 hours! When asked by prospective buyers to do searches for properties under $500,000 I am amazed at the selection. Under $300,000 is the hottest market in Naples when just a few years ago one would have been hard-pressed to find anything in that price point. Tell us exactly what you are looking for; right down to the size, age, view and amenities and we will find it! Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Call us today. 239-370-0574 direct. We are looking forward to earning your business!

More Naples' Rankings

Today, www.NaplesRealEstate.com is happy to report some more interesting rankings about Naples that I think you will find interesting. There are 67 counties in the state of Florida. Collier County is the largest; in fact, it is the largest county land-wise east of the Mississippi River, a total of 2,305 square miles. More than 80% of Collier County is set aside as preserve lands! Naples was selected as #1 Best Small Art Town in America by author John Villani in his book, The 100 Best Art Towns in America. There are at least 150 galleries in the greater Naples area including Gallery Row in downtown. Also, The Travel Channel designated Naples as America's Best Beach in 2005. ~and Conde' Nast Traveler magazine named Naples in the best 20 beaches in America in 2006. Naples ranked # 22 Best Town to live in America by Forbes Magazine in 2008. Naples is currently ranked #2 for most golf holes per capita, but it is #1 when you count only private holes! ~and, at The Harris-Peppe Team, our customers are ALWAYS #1. Call us today so that we can tell you all about the amazing opportunites currently available here in paradise. 239-370-0574

Thought For The Day

Be Thankful for what you have, and you will end up having more- Focus on what you don't have, and you will never have enough.

Naples Real Estate Statistics

Here are a few interesting statistics: Currently in Naples there are 10,264 Active residential listings. 4,581 are priced under $300,000. 4,402 are priced over $1 million. 12% of the current residential listings in Naples are Short Sales. 81% of the short sales are priced below $300,000. The Average Sold Price in the past 12 months is $587,612. with a trend line decreasing from approximately $700,000. in October 2007 to just under $500,000 as of October 1st, 2008. The Median Sold Price in the last 12 months is $313,219. with a trend line decreasing from approximately $360,000 in October 2007 to $245,000 now. The number of units closed has increased 72% when comparing September 2007 through September 2008. This is great news! Keep in mind that Real Estate is local, and even within the Naples market certain areas have fared better than others. As an example: highrises along Gulf Shore Blvd. N. have an average sale price of $1,787,424 for the past 12 months. If you go back 24 months, the average is $1,869,732; a decrease of less than 4.5%. In contrast, you can use the area of Golden Gate Estates, where in some cases, certain NA areas have seen an average sold price decrease nearly 50%! You must be careful when reading reports that do a broad stroke of the entire Naples' market rather than specifically calculating each given area. Websites like Zillow.com, as an example, are often times inaccurate since they cannot make distinctions when doing an analysis. If you are either a buyer or a seller in the Naples area, please allow The Harris-Peppe Team an opportunity to do a comprehensive study of the area where you are looking to buy or sell. Let our experience assist you in making an informed decision in today's real estate market. *all info was received from the SunshineMLS system and is deemed accurate. Statistics based on activity in Naples Areas only.

Coldwell Banker 10-day Sales Event

In a market "plagued by a two year price slump", Coldwell Banker is asking its sellers to slash prices! We estimate nearly 30,000 sellers across the U.S. will reduce their list price during the 10-day sales event with the hope that it will increase activity. Click on this link to read the full story as seen in REUTERS yesterday 10/06/08: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN0228964320081006 Jim Gillespie, chief executive of Coldwell Banker, was also quoted in an article by The Associated Press last Friday, October 3rd, where he spoke of the nationwide promotion. This can be found by Google-ing "Coldwell Banker 10-day Sale." Jim has also been interviewed today on CBS Radio, CNNMoney, KCBS Radio, CNBC Power Lunch (click on: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=879758184 ), Bloomburg and Brandweek. An article in Brandweek by Steve Miller can also be read in its entirety by clicking on this link: http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/technology-finance/e3i3ccdd00902078c2443f98cab7e3c3b3c The Harris-Peppe Team will be participating in this event. Their sellers were very receptive to the price adjustments and are excited about the national exposure their properties are getting through the media coverage. Each of their listings will have special finance options in place to assist potential buyers looking for a mortgage. Addresses and times of the open houses will be posted again in a future entry. If you have any comments or questions please do not hesitate to call us directly at: 239-370-0574. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Keeping the Faith

When I began this blog I wanted to try to keep it as upbeat and positive as possible. You hear enough gloom and doom without me adding to in, right? ...and the truth is, it is my nature to look for the good in each person and in each and every situation... -Around the office, in my circle of friends, and in my family, I am known as "the happy one"...after all, I have survived a few potentially fatal diseases, so if given the choice between two phones to answer: on one line a doctor with a bad diagnosis, and on the other a banker with bad news about my finances...well, which phone would you rather answer? This simple exercise always helps me to "see" more clearly. It is times like these that help us to put things into perspective. We become smarter AND stronger! We learn to prioritize...to think outside of the box...we get VERY creative. Mostly, we remember the importance of appreciating what we have. Yes, it has become increasingly difficult for me to post "happy-grams" with all the headlines in the past week...Then in church yesterday the minister spoke about "Having An Abundant Life"...and it really struck a cord. It would seem that in times such as these, the words "abundance" and prosperity are out of reach. But, what if it is our own thoughts contributing to and creating these experiences? The thoughts we have become our reality. That is not some "far-out" opinion, but rather it is a fundamental truth based on the principle of the formative power of thought. Thoughts held in our mind produce results. Haven't you known two people going through similar experiences with two completely different perspectives? With two completely different outcomes? -So, what have you been thinking lately? I am fairly certain you've been thinking about bank failures, plunging stock prices, mortgage foreclosures, rising unemployment--it's no wonder the economic meltdown has gotten so many people so depressed...However, I am going to suggest that you, at least please just try to, spend the next 24 hours changing your thoughts. Thoughts create; you've heard this so many times in your life in so many ways...This is nothing new! "As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is." Indeed, we all have the potential to be happy, to be creative, in any given moment, in spite of the circumstances...It IS a choice. Chip wakes up every day and says, "Hey, I'm on the right side of the grass." It's a great way to start the day, with a grateful heart. There are so many opportunities available right now if only you look for them...Remember, your beliefs may be hard to change...they are formed by the papers you read, the news you watch, the friends whose opinions you respect and the lessons that your grandma taught you...Ah, but Faith...Faith can be unshakable. Our minister put it this way: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Good thoughts, a positive attitude and a grateful heart. That is my wish for you today. Keep the faith!