FACEBOOK/KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

I had, what I think is an interesting thought today.I actually think all my thoughts are interesting, but that is another blog post.

When reading the paper this morning, there was a rather lengthy article about how Facebook grows its locations. This article referred specifically to a tactical team that moves to the desired location-in this case Austin Texas and beings the process of recruiting and hiring teams to staff the new location.

A large part of their goal is to duplicate success, safeguard the culture of Facebook and to instill a sense of sameness to each location even down to the manner their office is set up.

While there may be a coincidence that the article mentioned Austin Texas, home base of Gary Keller and Keller Williams International headquarters, I found the similarities rather interesting.

First and foremost was the culture of the company. I realize that every business has its own culture, the difference is how that culture is embraced, explained and defined in day to day activities. The key to the KW success in this arena is education, sharing,growing. The KW business model touts "faith, family and then business". Call it whatever you want but to me it means doing the right thing, period end of story.

The next item is what Facebook calls Hackathon. Hackathon is a regular event in which for that day there is one rule, you can not do your "normal" job that day. It is the day that you are to explore and expand. I am pretty sure KW, does not have a hackathon day..but I can imagine the possibilities. When I figure out a way to make that day happen, you can count on it taking place.

We have had a rough few weeks here in Santa Cruz, the weather has created havoc, but there is still real estate to sell, places to buy and the sun is just around the corner I am pretty sure.

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Equity Tap or Reverse Mortgage??

What makes the most sense, a reverse mortgage or a line of equity? In the last few months I have tackled this question twice. There are a number of different things to consider when evaluating the two choices.

In the first instance, the choice was pretty cut and dry. The home, a cute little two bedroom that sits just above downtown Santa Cruz, was owned outright. No mortgage and very well maintained. The widower wanted some "mad" money in order to do and buy what had been denied him during his marriage. The upside of the reverse mortgage was that there would be no monthly payments, the checks would arrive monthly and upon his death the reverse mortgage would be paid off by his heirs and any proceeds would become part of the trust. While the reverse mortgage is costly, there are no other considerations.

The second situation is quite a bit more complicated, a recent widow living in a home that is burdened with two mortgages, in need of TLC and has no cash flow outside of social security. There is no choice but a reverse mortgage, one of which is going to require costly roof repairs before the reverse mortgage is even in the bank. It is a less than ideal situation no matter how you look at it.

Needless to say, I have my fingers crossed that I never find myself stuck, with no alternative way to make ends meet. It is nice to know that there are ways to use what is yours to keep it together, or to buy that big screen flat T.V. you have wanted for years.

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