Learn, Share and Succeed with real estate Mentoring
by Brett Carman We all have special qualities and skills that are too valuable to be kept to ourselves. I feel compelled in my life to mentor others in those areas as a form of community service. I have been blessed with an incredible family, a level head on my shoulders and a wide variety of life experiences which have shaped the person that I have become. In the past, I have mentored disadvantaged kids and currently am serving on the Board of a sizable children’s shelter and counseling center in my local area. I am passionate about seeing to it that children, whose voice is often too quiet to be heard, get the same chances to succeed that I did.   Of course one of my professional passions is real estate mentorship and I have learned as much by teaching as I have from my own mentors. In business, I constantly mentor my employees and try to get the most out of the talents they possess. I listen to their ideas and then channel those into viable marketing plans helping them to avoid the pitfalls caused by the fallacies in their plan.   I don’t feel like I am doing near is much as I should but I certainly see a huge difference in those people’s lives I am able to help. If we could all just introspect a bit about what our talents are, seek out those who could benefit from those talents and mentor them, we could really enrich their lives and have a profound effect. I challenge to you today to identify both a personal and professional strength or passion you have then share with me on this blog about how you can reach out to someone who could most use your mentoring in those areas.   Conversely, there are many other areas in our lives which we should rely on others to mentor us.    Brett Carman is a seasoned veteran in the real estate industry for over 17 years. He holds active licenses in real estate, mortgage finance, and property & casualty insurance. Offering a one-stop shop for his residential and commercial clients, he strives to not only educate, but streamline the real estate acquisition process. With a long and proven track record of success, he is uniquely qualified and has a passion for helping people achieve their goals in real estate. 

Sacre Bleu! French Fry Jolie-Pitts, Praise Depp (E! Online)
E! Online - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s French neighbors are not saying merci to the couple bringing increased exposure to the environs. Mercy, maybe.

Maggie Gyllenhaal: Heath Ledger s Joker Deserves an Oscar
The Dark Knight costar – and Academy member – says she would vote for Ledger Exclusive Deals Get star style for less with these discounts – only for PEOPLE.com readers! – on the hottest labels, including celeb favorites like Ideeli.com, Rarechic.com and Singer22.com. By Andrea DeSimone […]

$550K Wardrobe Malfunction Fine Tossed
A federal appeals court threw out a $550,000 indecency fine against CBS Corp. for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson’s breast-baring “wardrobe malfunction.” Is Obama Getting Too Much Coverage? […]

Feds give $30 million for sick 9/11 residents, students
The Centers for Disease Control announced it would distribute the money to as many as three hospitals or clinics, based on the grant applications they receive.

City proposes fire safety regs for construction
A report issued Wednesday said contractors should check standpipe connections regularly to prevent deadly blazes.

New York: Good for what ails you
As Crain s annual statistical guide shows, the city s residents are healthier than the rest of the country and take advantage of the Big Apple s cultural offerings.

Nick Hogan to Join the Jailhouse Masses (E! Online)
E! Online - Nick Hogan is moving into the big part of the Big House.

NYTimes joins forces with LinkedIn
The New York Times Co. has partnered with networking site LinkedIn.com to tailor the features and advertising of NYTimes.com.

Reforms passed for small business violations
A bill passed Wednesday will make it easier for small businesses to appeal summonses related to quality-of-life violations, including fire code and food vendor issues.

Verizon Wireless offers divestitures to buy Alltel
Verizon said it is committed to divesting overlapping spectrum, operations and other assets in 85 markets to ensure regulatory approval of the acquisition.

Midsize New York-area banks report upbeat 2Q
Three New York-area banks delivered positive earnings and outpaced their national peers.

Benefit From Inflation!
by Michael Sexton I know you are all relieved to know that Fed Reserve Chairman Bernanke is now going to set his sights on curbing inflation (sarcasm). However, in the unlikely event his efforts are not effective, here is an idea I think is worthy of noting. Have you ever heard of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”? I am talking about a way to be in a position to help you offset or even benefit from the inflation we are beginning to experience.  My solution is investing in real estate. It’s what the millionaires and billionaires are doing. They are taking full advantage of the soft real estate market and low interest rates to build their real estate portfolios. Of course you are scared to jump in when the press is constantly pounding you with bad news. Here’s a little tip… bad news sells better than good news and the news media knows it, too! They take full advantage of the opportunity to exacerbate some of the real problems in our economy. But, I digress.  As inflation occurs with energy and fuel etc., the cost of construction materials also rises making re-sale real estate one of the beneficiaries. Buying existing properties in the current economic cycle will leverage against inflation and least give you gains in real estate even though you may be paying some of it back at the gas stations and grocery stores. Questions or Comments?   Michael Sexton is President of Trump University.

A Fine if You’re Fat
by Donald J. Trump Tired of a nation that just keeps getting less and less fit, lawmakers in Japan are beginning to fine companies that employ overweight workers. They hope to take a proactive approach to good health, preventing diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. The country has established waist measurements set by the International Diabetes Federation in Belgium - 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women. (Personally, these guidelines seem odd to me because women tend to have smaller waists than men. But I digress.) If people exceed those guidelines and then don’t manage to lose their extra inches, their employers could face fines. I know the intention is good. Everyone wants a healthier society. But I don’t think there’s any way they could get away with that in the United States. Americans are much less tolerant of government involvement in personal issues. And you can’t get much more personal than our waistlines. A better idea, say healthy experts, is positive reinforcement. Instead of threatening people if they don’t shape up, why not reward them when they do? Many companies are already doing that, implementing programs that reward incentives when employees actively attempt to improve their health. They earn everything from prizes to cash. (In fact, a recent survey conducted by ERISA Industry Committee and the National Association of Manufacturers, showed that 71 percent of employers offer incentives for health and wellness programs, which is a 15 percent increase over last year.) I think this is a much better idea than fining businesses when their employees aren’t fit. Instead, let them implement their own programs. When in doubt, cash always motivates.   Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

The Importance of a Good Handshake
by Donald J. Trump For the first time ever, researchers have studied the importance of a good handshake. A huge study at the University of Iowa found that those people who start job interviews with a firm, strong handshake are always perceived in a more favorable light than those who shake hands like a limp fish. Good handshakers are seen as being more extroverted and, eventually, more hirable. And women with strong handshakes have an advantage over men because their grips are more memorable. I think that the only thing better than a good handshake is no handshake at all. I’ve long said that handshakes are a bad idea because of all the germs people spread when they shake hands. People always come up to me wanting to shake hands and I never know where that hand has been.  I say let’s copy the wonderful Japanese custom of bowing. It’s respectful and it’s sanitary. What more could you want in a greeting?   Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

The Surefire Way to Minimize Cost While Selling Your Property
by Brett Carman It’s no secret that MLS is the most popular residential real estate database in the country. It’s proprietary and the only ones that have full access to add, edit, and manipulate the data are licensed real estate professionals. Here’s the secret…these days there are many other databases buyers can use to search and find homes without having to wait on their Realtor® to discover them. This spells opportunity for the smart independent real estate investor.  While using a skilled Realtor will most often net you more money than if you chose to go it alone, there is something to be said about “super-charging” your traditional MLS listing by building a separate website just for your property and advertising it on the many available sites which in most cases are FREE. For starters, try www.postlets.com. You can post to multiple sites with one easy-to-use web template. The site helps you interface with Craigslist and others to make the process simple.  Additionally, you could optimize your site to contain keywords that will help it rank higher on the search engines. This will at a minimum, drive more viewers to your website. Exposure and differentiation is paramount when marketing real estate, if you want to stand out from the other homes in your area’s inventory. Anyone else have some creative ways to technologically advance a home’s visibility in today’s market?   Brett Carman is a seasoned veteran in the real estate industry for over 17 years. He holds active licenses in real estate, mortgage finance, and property & casualty insurance. Offering a one-stop shop for his residential and commercial clients, he strives to not only educate, but streamline the real estate acquisition process. With a long and proven track record of success, he is uniquely qualified and has a passion for helping people achieve their goals in real estate. 

Shop Botkier for Target Now!
Target Don’t wait until the much coveted line hits Target stores this Saturday — get a head start and shop all the fabulous looks right now online! Designer Monica Botkier took some of the line’s most fashionable styles — think chain-link handles, studded details, metallic clutches– and combined them with Target’s unbelievably affordable […]

The Surefire Way to Minimize Cost While Selling Your Property
by Brett Carman It’s no secret that MLS is the most popular residential real estate database in the country. It’s proprietary and the only ones that have full access to add, edit, and manipulate the data are licensed real estate professionals. Here’s the secret…these days there are many other databases buyers can use to search and find homes without having to wait on their Realtor® to discover them. This spells opportunity for the smart independent real estate investor.  While using a skilled Realtor will most often net you more money than if you chose to go it alone, there is something to be said about “super-charging” your traditional MLS listing by building a separate website just for your property and advertising it on the many available sites which in most cases are FREE. For starters, try www.postlets.com. You can post to multiple sites with one easy-to-use web template. The site helps you interface with Craigslist and others to make the process simple.  Additionally, you could optimize your site to contain keywords that will help it rank higher on the search engines. This will at a minimum, drive more viewers to your website. Exposure and differentiation is paramount when marketing real estate, if you want to stand out from the other homes in your area’s inventory. Anyone else have some creative ways to technologically advance a home’s visibility in today’s market?   Brett Carman is a seasoned veteran in the real estate industry for over 17 years. He holds active licenses in real estate, mortgage finance, and property & casualty insurance. Offering a one-stop shop for his residential and commercial clients, he strives to not only educate, but streamline the real estate acquisition process. With a long and proven track record of success, he is uniquely qualified and has a passion for helping people achieve their goals in real estate. 

A Fine if You’re Fat
by Donald J. Trump Tired of a nation that just keeps getting less and less fit, lawmakers in Japan are beginning to fine companies that employ overweight workers. They hope to take a proactive approach to good health, preventing diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. The country has established waist measurements set by the International Diabetes Federation in Belgium - 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women. (Personally, these guidelines seem odd to me because women tend to have smaller waists than men. But I digress.) If people exceed those guidelines and then don’t manage to lose their extra inches, their employers could face fines. I know the intention is good. Everyone wants a healthier society. But I don’t think there’s any way they could get away with that in the United States. Americans are much less tolerant of government involvement in personal issues. And you can’t get much more personal than our waistlines. A better idea, say healthy experts, is positive reinforcement. Instead of threatening people if they don’t shape up, why not reward them when they do? Many companies are already doing that, implementing programs that reward incentives when employees actively attempt to improve their health. They earn everything from prizes to cash. (In fact, a recent survey conducted by ERISA Industry Committee and the National Association of Manufacturers, showed that 71 percent of employers offer incentives for health and wellness programs, which is a 15 percent increase over last year.) I think this is a much better idea than fining businesses when their employees aren’t fit. Instead, let them implement their own programs. When in doubt, cash always motivates.   Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

Web Marketing and Online Income updated Wed Feb 13 2008 12:30 pm CST
Welcome to Web Marketing and Extra Income On The Internet with Rangerrob.

County: Smokers Need Not Apply
by Donald J. Trump If you smoke, don’t even think about applying for a government job in Sarasota County. Blaming the cost of buying health insurance for smokers, officials in the Florida county recently announced that they will no longer hire employees who light up. Officials say it costs them $3,400 per year per smoker in lost productivity and medical expenses and they want to save taxpayers that money. Although this policy has some people crying “discrimination,” in Florida, the right not to hire employees who smoke was upheld nearly a decade ago by the state Supreme Court. So the county is utterly within its rights. In fact, more than 6,000 businesses nationwide have policies against hiring smokers and the number keeps going up. Companies not only want to save healthcare costs, but they just want an overall healthier work force. I don’t smoke and never have. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to try to stop once you are addicted. But who can blame these companies for wanting to avoid hiring smokers. Making money is what business is all about and, if not hiring smokers helps them save money, they’re making a smart business decision.   Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

The Importance of a Good Handshake
by Donald J. Trump For the first time ever, researchers have studied the importance of a good handshake. A huge study at the University of Iowa found that those people who start job interviews with a firm, strong handshake are always perceived in a more favorable light than those who shake hands like a limp fish. Good handshakers are seen as being more extroverted and, eventually, more hirable. And women with strong handshakes have an advantage over men because their grips are more memorable. I think that the only thing better than a good handshake is no handshake at all. I’ve long said that handshakes are a bad idea because of all the germs people spread when they shake hands. People always come up to me wanting to shake hands and I never know where that hand has been.  I say let’s copy the wonderful Japanese custom of bowing. It’s respectful and it’s sanitary. What more could you want in a greeting?   Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

Bearded Police Officers in Houston
by Donald J. Trump Apparently, facial hair is serious business when it comes to the Houston police department. City officials have authorized spending as much as $150,000 to defend the city in a lawsuit challenging a policy that forbids beards and goatees. The City Council says they want to hire new police officers, but they don’t want new police officers who happen to have a lot of facial hair. Four police officers filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in November claiming the no-beards policy is discriminatory. The officers say the ban on beards and goatees is unfair for men who suffer skin conditions and can’t shave. The policy was originally instituted by the police department in 1993 so that uniformed officers would look conservative and professional. But some officers say if they look too clean-cut, that affects their earning potential both inside and outside the police department. They say if they work in a dangerous area, the bad guys immediately know they’re cops. I have to side with the City Council on this one. I think a good appearance is critical in every line of work so I’m all in favor of them insisting that their officers be clean-shaven. There’s nothing wrong with instituting a strong dress code. Sorry, officers, but pull out your razors.   Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

Benefit From Inflation!
by Michael Sexton I know you are all relieved to know that Fed Reserve Chairman Bernanke is now going to set his sights on curbing inflation (sarcasm). However, in the unlikely event his efforts are not effective, here is an idea I think is worthy of noting. Have you ever heard of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”? I am talking about a way to be in a position to help you offset or even benefit from the inflation we are beginning to experience.  My solution is investing in real estate. It’s what the millionaires and billionaires are doing. They are taking full advantage of the soft real estate market and low interest rates to build their real estate portfolios. Of course you are scared to jump in when the press is constantly pounding you with bad news. Here’s a little tip… bad news sells better than good news and the news media knows it, too! They take full advantage of the opportunity to exacerbate some of the real problems in our economy. But, I digress.  As inflation occurs with energy and fuel etc., the cost of construction materials also rises making re-sale real estate one of the beneficiaries. Buying existing properties in the current economic cycle will leverage against inflation and least give you gains in real estate even though you may be paying some of it back at the gas stations and grocery stores. Questions or Comments?   Michael Sexton is President of Trump University.

Great house/great neighborhood….Price - 299900.00
   Located in Carrboro, N.C., on a quiet cul-de-sac is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with new hardwood floors downstairs, new carpet upstairs, new siding and paint outside, new paint inside, new countertop/backsplash/sink in kitchen. Neighborhood has young families and within walking distance of elementary school and local Farmer’s Market/downtown. It’s a great house in a great neighborhood. See additional details here:http://www.prucarolinas.com/Listing/ListingDetail.aspx?Search=c2d56685-b20b-42d2-91b6-a9426b23458d&Listing=24345291&IRPAgentID=9456748&Image=1&First=21&Last=30&pagesize=10&SearchType=geographic&ListingDistrictTypeID=&FirstLetter=&Sort=6&Cookies=&UseColorBar=false

City proposes fire safety regs for construction
A report issued Wednesday said contractors should check standpipe connections regularly to prevent deadly blazes.

Home furnishings a blend of cultures
Owners bring Italian and Colombian styles to new store.

Teen retailer bows in garment district
Rue21 snares showroom near J. Lo and Tommy Bahama.

Italian landlord lands first tenant
Indiana insurance firm inks deal

Library moves branch temporarily
Donnell will be housed on Lexington Avenue until 2014.

Hedge funds thicken at Seagram
Pricey property holds luster

Fund doubles space in new Silverstein building
QVT Financial to take on another 24,000 square feet on Sixth Avenue.

Small ad firm gets what it wants
Single floor near Union Square fits bill

French bistro targets financial district
Owner seeks to capitalize on area s growing population.

Subleased tenants switch to direct deals
In two separate deals, firms avoid moving by converting subleases to direct leases.