The Mayor Panel consisted of:
Pat Paul, Mayor of Oakdale
Virginia Madueno, Mayor of Riverbank
John Lazar, Mayor of Turlock
Jim Ridenour, Mayor of Modesto

Some of the issues addressed include:

1. What are a few things about your city that we should know to help REALTORS® sell homes?

• Jim Ridenour - The city is focused on the development of a strategic plan and there is an important opportunity with affordable homes. 
• Pat - Oakdale is small, safe with great schools
• Virginia – Riverbank is focused on a smart growth initiative and is focusing on catering to the young community in Riverbank and giving families a sense of quality of life
• John Lazar – Turlock is a vibrant community with a great quality of life and will have an announcement soon about a development brining more than 800 jobs.

• John Lazar – The potential partnerships with the great resource of Cal State Stanislaus
• Virginia – The river and vacant properties with exciting development and business opportunities
• Jim – Art and entertainment resources. We need people involved in the city meetings to voice your opinion. Forums are available and not well attended. The Alliance.
• Pat – The dinner train, river activities and airport.

3. How does your city work with the RE industry?

• Pat – We need to network and be connected with Realtors
• Jim – Fee reductions
• Virginia – Working to lower development fees
• John – Community block grant provides first time buyer funds

Thank you to the Mayor Panel for sharing valuable and insightful information about our area and opportunities.  Please join the Modesto Real Estate Networking Meeting next week for tax tips and how REALTORS® can keep more of their dollars.

Opening comments:
Michael Zagaris:  Make a plan and work your plan, emphasis on the words plan and work.
Vinson Chase:  What you allow you encourage.
Craig Lewis:  Keep a positive mental attitude, we are the linchpin of the transaction.  Our job description has changed, we need to be a resource for our clients.
Rick Geha:  Make yourself uncomfortable each day especially in regards to prospecting. According to NAR, 93% of realtors prospect zero to 30 minutes of a week.

What is the greatest market opportunity for 2011?
Craig Lewis:   He used a basketball analogy, we have to keep shooting.  Get your CDPE; education is critical in this market.  Make sure you contact your sphere of influence.
Vinson Chase:   Do what you don't want to do.  Stay in touch with your past clients
Rick Geha:   Diversify: REO's, Short Sales, Traditional Sales
Michael Zagaris:   The greatest investment you can make is in yourself.  Read books that motivate and inspire you; for example "A Game plan for Life" by John Wooden.

How do we improve the collective image of REALTORS®?
Rick Geha:   We attract what we are.  We need to be a resource.
Michael Zagaris:   Success is doing our best on each endeavor.

Please be sure to join us next week to hear from Jason Gordo of Valley Wealth on how REALTORS® can build a solid financial future.

Guest speaker, Nick Cameron of Keller Williams Realty, gave an update on the current REO market and opportunities.  Some of the key topics addressed by Nick included:

• We create our own market in the Central Valley.
• The expired first-time buyers tax credit gave agents a reason to market and talk. 
• There are still business opportunities available, but agents need to find something new to talk about and pick up the phone to connect with prospective clients
• Mass HUD foreclosures are expected to hit the market
• Get HUD certified to position yourself for the upcoming opportunities in HUD foreclosures
• Focus efforts on getting in front of asset managers as there is still a huge opportunity to service this market
• Focus on expanding your short sale expertise and marketing

Thank you to Nick for sharing this helpful information.  We look forward to seeing you next week at the Modesto Real Estate Network & Marketing Meeting.

Please join your fellow agents to network and support your real estate community and bring a friend. We'd love to connect with you!

Remember to follow us on Twitter! You can find us at http://twitter.com/cvrealestate

Joe Muratore is committed to making sure that Modestans have the support they need from the City Council to meet the challenges they face.

Creating a more economically vibrant community, enhancing public safety, planning for Modesto's future, improving neighborhoods...these are the things that Joe is focused on. It's these concepts that form the foundation of his work on behalf of our community and the reason why he is running for Modesto's City Council.

Joe co-owns Sentinel Rock Realty Trust, a commercial real estate asset management company in downtown Modesto.  He is a licensed broker and holds the CCIM real estate designation.  More information can be found about the campaign at www.joemuratore.com.

Thank you to our meeting host, Big Island Movers.

We will have several “Thank you” cards for attendees to sign; these will be sent to Blue Ribbon Mothers for distribution to Armed Forces personnel, through the American Red Cross.

Guest speaker, Nick Cameron of Modesto's Keller Williams Realty, gave us an update on the REO market including what agents can expect in the near future.  According to Cameron, Bank of America and GMAC are taking half of their Asset Managers and repositioning them as Short Sale Managers with the expectation of increased release of Short Sales.  There is also an expectation of improvements in the process of Short Sale transactions.  Also according to Cameron, there are going to be Hedge Funds purchasing large blocks of property that are in the beginning stages of the foreclosure process, trying to negotiate with the current owners at a much lower price. Nick is a wealth of information on the topic.

Please join us for next week's meeting  for a market update from Jeff Lundquist, Prudential California Realty.

Content provided by Jeannie MacDonald, PMZ Real Estate, Modesto.

Paul Carroll of Carrollton Mortgage gave us an update on the current guidelines for FHA ReHab loan including information on the most recent changes.  These adjustments have made it much easier for FHA buyers to purchase properties in need of repairs.  Many of the lenders in attendance shared success stories based on the revisions to the guidelines. 

Guest speaker, Christopher Hanks, Company Manager for YES Company, shared valuable information about the YES Company and how we can enjoy and support this incredible local organization for youths:

• History of YES Company, YES Kids, and YES Cadets
• Skills taught to YES participants
• Activities in the community
• Day to day and year-round activities for YES participants
• Explanation of the show this year
• Where they get their funding as well as sponsorship opportunities.

This year’s show is Bye Bye Birdie, which will be held at the Gallo Center for the Arts. For more information about the YES Company, please visit them online at www.yescompany.org.

The 2009 Winter National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Conference and Expo is coming to San Diego. The NAR conferences provide exceptional educational and breakout sessions, top notch Key Note and Motivational Speakers, legendary entertainment and good old fashion face to face networking with the largest gathering of Real Estate Professionals in the country. Don't miss this exciting event that is right in here in your home state. For more information, please visit Realtor.org/Conference.

Also coming soon is the REALTOR® night at the ballpark in Stockton and Modesto.  Click here for the Modesto Realtor® Night at the Modesto Nuts Game info and registration form and here for the Stockton Realtor® Night at the Stockton Ports.  Fireworks to follow the Stockton events.  Come to network with your fellow agents and enjoy a great evening at your local stadium!

Sarah Fields, EffektiveSolutions, shared a message about what we can do to strengthen our local marketing meeting.  It is key to the success of our real estate community that we come together for weekly networking and industry information.  Sarah has challenged each member of the Association to find a way to support the Modesto Marketing Meeting - from regular attendance to spreading the word to other local agents.  Sarah has encouraged the Modesto Marketing attendees to engage in online social networking for both the development of leads and to share information about the Central Valley Marketing Meeting.  Follow updates and share information on Twitter at Twitter.com/cvrealestate and also be sure to check out the Central Valley Marketing Meeting group on Facebook where agents and affiliates can connect, share information, start discussions, message members, etc.  Please see Jeannie MacDonald to offer any suggestions for upcoming speakers. 

Property Tour was cancelled for this month due to lack of support.  Property Tour is a great opportunity to promote your properties, network with other agents and to support the Modesto Marketing Group.  Please contact Nino Pascolati, Keller Williams Realty, at ninopre@gmail.com to get your property on tour by the third Monday of the month and Sarah Fields at sarah@effektivesolutions.com for sponsorship information.