Member Spotlight
I am pleased to share with you a note from one of my private coaching clients, Velu Raman of Dallas, Texas. He recently traveled to Dubai for a speaking engagement. Velu is one of your fellow students, and he is a Rock Star!
"Hi, Gary. Thankful to IBCN 2017 for a fantastic event! Grateful to have been a speaker amongst other extremely well accomplished speakers/ business men at this international business conference in Dubai, UAE." ~ Velu Raman
Do you want to achieve this type of success for yourself? Go to https://www.myinvestmentservices.com/work-with-me/ and find out how!
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Quiz Contest
Win a Free 30-Minute Coaching Session
To win 30 minutes of private real estate coaching, just hunt for the APRIL QUIZ QUESTION deeper down in this email, then send your answer. Everyone has an equal chance of winning, and I'll be in touch with the winner to arrange your coaching session.
Here Was Last Month's Quiz & Answer:
Q: What is the color of the sky looking up from the surface of Mars?
A: A butterscotch or yellowish-orange color.
Last month's winner: Congratulations... Joshua Aguirre for California!
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Monthly Market Report
Be the most knowledgeable person in the room. Review the latest monthly market report and be the go-to person for up-to-date real estate market knowledge.
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Testimonial Video
Hear what Anna Jenkins (and partner Rick Banez) winner of the Path to Prosperity Lifetime Achievement Award has to say!
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The 'REAL' News about Housing Affordability
Some industry experts are claiming that the housing market may be headed for a slowdown as we proceed through 2017, based on rising home prices and a potential jump in mortgage interest rates. One of the data points they use is the Housing Affordability Index, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Explore how NAR defines the Affordability Index and discover the "real" news about housing affordability! Read the article now.
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Welcome New Friends!
 Thank you to all who've trusted me to help them so far, and a warm welcome to all our new members who joined in February:
Christine, Michael, David, Lynn, Matthew, Andres, Jeovanny, Shihua (Sara), Alice, Georgia, Sonja, Robert, George, Joshua, Mariangela, Kiana, Cesar, Nadia, Miho, Karel, Elle, Derek, Deirdre, Peggy, David, Rose, Casey, Renee, Sarah, Merlinda, Jessica, Amy, Javier, Jon
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Mother's Day May 14
From a Mother’s Point of View
Dan came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty juice boxes and food wrappers strewn around garden.
The front door was open and there was no sign of the dog. Inside, Dan found a lamp knocked over, the rug piled against a wall, the TV blaring a cartoon, and the family room strewn with toys and clothing. In the kitchen dishes filled the sink. Cereal and juice were spilled on the floor.
 Dan ran upstairs looking for his wife, worried that something had happened to her.
He stepped over piles of toys and a heap of toilet paper in the hallway and rushed to the bedroom. He found his wife curled up in her pajamas, reading a book. She looked up, smiled, and asked how his day went.
Dan cried out in disbelief, 'What happened here today?'
His wife smiled serenely and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work, and you ask me sarcastically what in the world I do all day?'
'Yes,' was Dan’s startled reply.
His wife answered, 'Well, today, I didn't do it.'
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FREE REPORT
Boost Your Home’s Chance for a Quick Sale…
…without reducing your price!
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Armchair Traveler
Exploring the Kingdom of Bhutan
Bhutan is a small kingdom wedged between two mighty countries, India and China, in the shadows of the Himalayas. You might never have heard of it before, or you may have, but not given much thought to what it would be like there. Here's an article from The Travel Magazine that introduces you to this amazing place.
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How Home Prices Compare Over a Decade
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Mid-Year Money Checkup
At the start of the year, many of us are more financially conscious than we are towards the middle. That's why financial advisors recommend a mid-year "consciousness-raising" financial checkup in these 5 areas:
1. Spending. Are you overspending on luxury items, such as subscriptions and dining out?
2. Savings. Are you putting a consistent amount away each month, and are you reaching your stretch goal?
3. Maintenance. Are you spending enough on maintenance that you avoid large costs from possible break-downs in cars, appliances, healthcare, etc.?
4. Earning. Are you earning enough to support your lifestyle? Do you need to take a side job to earn extra income?
5. Investing. Are you investing regularly for college, retirement, buying a home, etc.?
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May Quiz Question
In a one story house made entirely of redwood, what color would the stairs be?
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SOUND ADVICE
What's the best way to pay my mortgage off earlier?
Paying your mortgage off faster makes you more secure, and saves you tens of thousands of dollars (possibly hundreds of thousands) in interest. If you could knock 5 or more years off your mortgage, that’s 5 years sooner you can retire, or 5 years’ worth of payments you can use to enjoy your retirement. Here are five common approaches to accelerating your mortgage. The one you choose depends on your financial situation.
- Divide a single payment by 12. Add that amount to each monthly payment to make one extra payment a year.
- Make an extra house payment quarterly to pay off a mortgage as much as 10 years earlier.
- Pay half of your payment every two weeks, also known as bi-weekly payments.
- Round up your payments so you’re paying at least a few extra dollars a month.
- Increase your payment when you get a raise, bonus, or other windfall.
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Thanks for reading. Please share this newsletter with someone you care about. If you need any advice or have any success stories to share, please reach out to me at Gary@MyInvestmentServices.com. Talk to you soon!
~ Gary Wilson
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