Desires

I'm doing this daily meditation thing with Deepak Chopra and Oprah. https://chopra.com/ccl-meditation/resources.html

Today was about desire. I had never thought about it before. Prior to this morning I thought desire was a 4 letter word. Even though it's actually 6. Play along.

If you had no desire, what would your life be like?

What do you desire? If you desire something enough you will make it happen no matter the obstacle.  As my buddy Deepak said, "The highest desire you can have is to grow and evolve."

#Deep right?

Desire is not selfish. "My desires make me feel alive." said Chopra. I get it.

If you desire to happy, if you desire to be a mother, if you desire to be healthy, if you desire to be a home owner...it's all possible if you believe you are worthy of the desire to manifest.

I have been in a place with no desire and I tell you what, this view is a hell of a lot better.

If you desire to dress up like a belly dancer and swing it around in the park, then have at it. You matter and so do your desires.

Rosy the Riveter Wins

No kidding! I won 1st Place for BEST COSTUME at the KW VERMONT company Halloween party! I went as Rosy the Riveter.

Here I am after receiving my prize!

KW VERMONT knows how to promote a life of balance. Whether it's real estate or personal goals, the leadership here provides every possible opportunity to me. They believe in me and expect me to be great so why wouldn't I be? No wonder they are the #1 Real Estate Agency in the country.

They make me feel like Rosie the Riveter, the WWII icon who represented the American women who replaced the male workers who went to war. Her motto was, "WE CAN DO IT!" They helped me to believe I CAN do it and I AM doing it. There is no try. Only do. And boy, I sure do!

Don't know who Rosie the Riveter is? Learn now here:
http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/rosie-riveter.htm  She's pretty awesome. Woman Power!

Hope you have a Happy Halloween and have many chocolates left over just for you.

KEEP GOING!

I run. In between walking.

My feet. They take me places.

Two years ago a dear friend invited me to a program called First Strides. It's a program for women to learn to run. It teaches you how to build up from walking to running. Very cool and very good at accomplishing the goal and empowering women to move. http://firststridesvermont.com/ 

Anyway...I had not been running all summer. Too hot, too much to do, too unmotivated, too ____ (fill in the blank with any excuse you want). Then, after a week straight of rain and depression, I decided that the best medicine was to move my feet and listen to some kick ass motivation music. I plugged into a Taylor Swift mix on http://www.rockmyrun.com/  and headed out the door. It hurt like hell. I was back to the beginning. How appropriate. I was also in the rain and feeling cathartic as I let it rinse me in my symbolic one woman parade. It felt great!

I was changing the way I looked at things and the things I was looking at were changing. Yesterday was a particularly challenging schedule so I headed out with this post to Facebook:

"Have so much opportunity in today. Where to begin? It just takes one step to get moving. I will start my day with a run and a sound track that releases my inner warrior. Here's to waking up this morning and Tylenol. Do something today that makes you feel something."

This is on my fridge.

As my feet hit the pavement and my body fell into step with the music I noticed it was easier than it was last week. My GOD, I felt GREAT! Then the phone fell out of my little pocket in the back of my pants because my pants were falling down! WOOHOO! I was melting that fat mister!

At the corner of the big hill to home I stopped running and went to a walk. There were a few kids at the corner waiting for the bus. One 11 year old boy who goes to school with my boy was there. He was all full of a toothy grin and big, wide eyes. (He had never seen me running so may have been afraid I was going to drop from a heart attach) He said something so I removed my bud and said, "What's that?"

"How far have you gone?" He asked while giving me the thumbs up.

For some reason I felt like I needed to impress this little boy and I did a horrible thing, I lied to him. "Two miles" I said. Thinking that sounded admirable. How far IS it around the big block? A half mile maybe? Yes, I lied to a kid to make myself sound better. What's wrong with me?

He gave a little eye look up and to the right as if calculating or judging that distance. I must have picked the right number because he kind of nodded and smiled again with another thumbs up. "KEEP GOING!", he yelled!

No one has ever made me feel better. That kid motivated the shit out of me. I wanted to run over and hug him. Then, halfway up the hill, I found THIS!

Warrior accessory.

No kidding! It was lying in the gutter on the side of the road. At first I walked by it and thought it was unfortunate some kid had lost it. Then I stopped, turned around, and picked it up. It was clearly a sign from the universe that I WAS finding my inner warrior. I picked it up and held it to the sky like I was some crazed cartoon about to transform into an action figure. It was EPIC. In my mind anyway.

I did transform. Into a raging lunatic. Dancing my but up that hill and slaying my demons in mid air with this bad ass warrior accessory. I rocked it, I tell you what.

Barging through the front door I presented my husband with my new found symbol of strength. He promptly looked behind me to see if any police had been summoned. That was followed by an eye roll and a lot of something or other about some candy and steeling from a baby. I don't know, I ran into the bedroom to take a picture of my...whatever the hell it is...to share with my warrior princesses. Here is said photo:


The moral of this story, which I apparently had to wake up at 4am to share with you, is...JUST KEEP GOING! Or, like my favorite Disney character would say, "Just keep swimming." You will be amazed at what you find along the way. By simply moving, you are forcing a change in the way you look at things and the things you look at really will change.

Go. Do. Find.

HOW much? A 5 bedroom house payment of $650 a month? YES!

Take a look at this document that Kim Negron, a Loan Originator form HomeBridge, put together to show what it would take to get into this 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, home in Richford, VT. Richford may not be your first choice yet you can see how home ownership is possible!

At this price you would be crazy not to buy it as an investment and rent it out. Close to Jay Peak ski area and very close to Canadian border so a lot of Border Patrol looking for housing.

If you or someone you know wants to see if they qualify for this program, let me know and I will connect you with Kim!

Together we can get you a home.

I Have My Own App!

Look at me go!
Click on it and be amazed! http://app.kw.com/KW2LYJ2ES

This is like having a partner in the palm of your hand no matter where you go.

When you see a house for sale, whip out your phone, click on my app and find houses for sale near you. It's magic! Or science, which is the same thing to me.

Renting to Owning

Renting vs. Owning

Keller Williams Realty says that although some renters believe that renting is “maintenance free,” they are actually paying for maintenance in their rent – whether they need it or not.  Renting offers you no equity, no tax benefit, and no protection against regular rent increases.  If you’re paying rent, you’re really just paying someone else’s mortgage.  Let’s compare.*

Rent          vs.            Own
Monthly Payment	$1,000	Monthly Payment	$   855
Insurance	$     30	Insurance	$     50
Taxes	$       0	Taxes	$   260
		MIP Insurance	$     45
Total Payment	$1,030	Total Payment	$1,210
Savings
Interest Deduction	$       0	Interest Deduction	$ 175
Tax Deduction	$       0	Tax Deduction	$   75
		After Tax
Net Monthly Payment	$1,030	Net Monthly Payment	$ 960

* Approximate Payment/Cost Comparison based on estimated annual tax results.  Based on 2.5 tax bracket and on estimated first year interest and taxes.  Recommend consulting with tax expert.  Payment based on FHA 30-year fixed rate loan with 7% interest rate, sales price of $125,000 and a loan balance of $121,250.  Interest rate/rental rates, prices, terms, and availability subject to change without notice.  See a qualified tax consultant for more details.

 Yea, that's great BUT, what if you have been through hell and back and now your credit is messed up and you are one of those who have to rent because you can't get a mortgage? 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

There are a bunch of people in the market in the same boat as you.

The first thing you need to do is decide if you want to be renter. There are certain things that are good about it. For example, if you don't plan to stay in an area very long, or if you have no desire to maintain a house's mechanical needs or lawn care; then you may not want to buy. 

If you DO want to buy and are afraid you're credit is bad then you must start by taking the first step. Contact a mortgage lender and get yourself armed with information so you have the power. By knowing where you are you can create a plan to find out when you can buy. This is the first step to the home buying process. Even if it takes you a few years, you are STARTING the home buying process! Congratulations! 

Who do you go to? That's up to you. Let me give you a quick rundown of who you can call. 

• Mortgage Broker - This is like a personal shopper. You tell them all your information and they shop around for you to get the best deal and give you the options that make sense for you. They can offer more variety for you and cast a large net.
• Banks - The bank you do business with now is a good place to start. Ask them how to apply for a mortgage. A bank has control over the loan so if you have a longtime relationship with a bank this is helpful. Banks are also more likely to be used in higher priced properties (over $650,000 for example)
• Credit Union - Credit Unions are more likely to lend on mobile homes. You have to be a member of a credit union usually to get a mortgage. It's worth doing a search to see who can apply to. 

More details on the differences can be found in this NY Times article: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/realestate/choosing-between-mortgage-broker-and-bank.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

This is also a great link to more information on where to shop for a mortgage: 

http://www.realtor.com/home-finance/mortgages/where-to-shop-for-a-mortgage.aspx 

Come on, let's take that first step. Contact a lender and find out where you are so you can join me on the landing for step 2 which is talking with a Realtor.

 If you need the name of a few great lenders I have some that I would recommend so send me a message and I'll connect you.

Now tell your friends!

Trixies?

I had to Google it. Trixie is a word that was created in the 90's in the Chicago area to describe white women in their 20-30's, usually blond, who are money-hungry, ex sorority girls who went to college to find a man. Good news ladies, the men they catch have a stupid name too. They are called "Chads".  Insert "hanging Chad" joke here. 

An article I real about real estate brought this term up. As in, "There are a lot of Trixies in this business." This may be true but does this make them bad at their job? Let's not be so quick to judge. Some of my best friends are pretty blondes with different designer purses for each day of the week. They are smart and just as funny as me. Ok, maybe not as funny but they are smart. 

Let's be honest, I want to be a Trixie but I'm in my 40's now so I have my Urban Dictionary open to see what I can call myself. Cougar's are in right now. I can be called one of those I guess. 

In the end, it's only an insult if we let it bother us. I vacillate between embracing the terms and cringing at them. Hey, I'm a woman, I change my mind often and without good reason. So what? 

What I do know is there are people who are good at what they do and people who are bad at what they do. Hopefully you are working with a REALTOR who is good at what they do whether they are a Trixie or a Chad. You can call me whatever you want, as long as you call me! 

Seriously, my number is 802-922-7828. 

Stop Apologizing!

Recently a person came into my life and while it's still very new it's fascinating to be witness to a new relationship. 

It used to be hard for me to make friends. I did not feel I had much to offer and really I didn't because I wasn't really sure who I was or what value I had to offer anyone. Through a lot of work I have opened up and realize I really do have something offer and by gosh, people like me. What a concept. 

Now, back to this new person in my life...she is interesting. Very intelligent and beautiful with a good sense of humor. A single mom, she struggles with where she's been and where she's going. Sound familiar? 

Well here is my "Aha" moment from our most recent conversation - when we are talking she spends a significant amount of time apologizing. She is sorry to bother me, sorry to sound this way or sorry to sound that way or sorry to not be available or sorry she isn't more stable or sorry she isn't more, (insert any number of things). I don't mean just using the word, "sorry"; I mean by way of dismissing what you have said as having any value. I just want to shake her and say, "YOU MATTER DAMMIT!"

This sounds silly right? Think about it though, how often are you apologizing and you don't know it? Stop it! Right now! I'm serious! 

I am just as guilty yet now that I am aware of it I will work to consciously remove it from my conversations unless I really am sorry for something. 

We do not need to apologize for who we are. Ever. If you have truly done something wrong and are truly sorry for it that's one thing, but let's stop apologizing for being who we are. Let your freak flags fly my friends! Rejoice in your oddness. Be one with your flaws and embrace them. Take the power away from everyone else and own your weird. Stop apologizing and start living the life you want! Let everyone else apologize to YOU!

Sorry, I got a little carried away there. 

Good, your smiling! Now go do something great! You have value and you matter! 

What's Holding You Back?

I have a learning disability. I didn't know I had it until I was about 35 years old when my mother told me. My boss at the time (the one from The Devil Wears Prada) was telling me I was illiterate because I couldn't spell. I was devastated and called my mom. I knew I couldn't' spell but this was the first time it interfered with my work. She told me I had a learning disability and said she didn't tell me earlier because she didn't want it to slow me down.

To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what it's called, but I can't spell. It's been a problem my whole life. Computers help but I have a very hard time spelling words. The fact that I have a Blog is amazing. Using social media is reveling because I spell so many words incorrectly. I am constantly hearing from people how I spell things wrong. It's not the words that get underlined in red, those are easy, it's the words that have different meaning and different spelling that trip me up and have comments flying about how dumb I am.

I'm not dumb. I'm actually pretty freaking smart. I just can't spell. It held me back for years. I was afraid to send handwritten notes, to send email and to post anything publicly. Then one day I said, screw it, I have stuff to say and want to say it. Anything that is "official" I have my mom read before I send it and she does a pretty good job of editing my spelling. It's a challenge yet I find a way to work around it.

 It's not sympathy I am looking for. I simply want you to be aware that everyone has something that they deal with. For me, it's overcoming the impression that I am stupid. I know stuff. I know a lot of stuff. I may not be able to spell it but I know it.

This is why I feel like the champion of the underdog. What have you been hiding that is keeping you from communicating? Break those chains!

Single Women Taking Real Estate by Storm!

More single women are buying homes than ever before! The National Association of Realtor's says that 20% of recent home buyers are women while only 10% are men! 

What is happening? Women are becoming more confident and realize that the step-by-step process that was once thought of as the perfect wife/perfect life (school, career, man, house, family) is vanishing. 

Our days of pining away worrying we will be spinsters is over. Women realize that they have power and are not afraid to do life the way they want. If another person joins them on the path, great; but it's no longer required. 

About 1/4 of the nation's nearly 8 million single mothers spend more than half of their incomes on housing, compared with 1/10 of households headed by single fathers. 

So how do we make homes more accessible to the life givers of this planet? Many moms with kids don't think they can get a loan. Education is the first step. So start by contacting someone today or send me a message and I will connect you with someone who can give you the facts. They will tell you what you can afford or what steps you can take to afford it. 

It comes down to "when" you can buy a home, not "if". 

Too High

No, not that kind of high but thanks for clicking on it anyway!

I once worked for someone who gives the "Devil Wear's Prada" boss a run for her money. That person would give me my annual review and every year the only thing he could say about me was that my, "highs were too high and my lows were too low". Moi?

Of course I tried to be calm about this but what can a girl with a review like that do? Blow up and then cry about it with her buddies, Ben & Jerry. I really, really, really didn't like that boss yet that statement has stuck with me and has helped me on my path. I am constantly checking in with my emotions to keep them between the lines.

This isn't easy in my line of work. As a Realtor I get very passionate and personal with my clients. If they are excited, I'm excited. If they are upset, I am upset. By keeping myself in check I am able to help guide them forward.

Start thinking about your highs and lows. Be grateful for them, embrace them, and enjoy them. I've got you.

Who am I? About Me I am not just a Realtor; I am a woman on a journey to improve my life and the lives of people I meet along the way. Part of that journey is using my knowledge and energy to empower women through real estate. Having a clear mission gives me a huge advantage in the highly competitive real estate arena. I don’t just have a job, I have a purpose with a dream of one day creating an organization that allows more women to own land around the world. Success is simple but it is not easy. By creating a clear mission I have a fire inside me to succeed that others do not. Luckily for you, I’m for hire and you matter to me! Jenny Bergeron PO Box 577 Colchester, VT  05446 jennrus@gmail.com bergeronrealestate.com 802-922-7828 talk/text

How to Buy a Home

The basic steps in the process.

Inspiration is everywhere!

There is something amazing that happens when you start to look at things differently. 

First you become aware of that statement. You begin to realize that you are looking at things during the day. You then start to be aware of your reactions to what you are observing and realize that you have intentionally changed the situation. Even if you decide not to look at it differently, you have become mindful of something that would have otherwise been the same as it always has been.

This is not an easy task by any means. It is a task that can reap huge rewards however and you don't have to do it alone. Start to surround yourself with people who bring you up, not down.Gravitate to things that bring you pleasure. Stop having reasons for returning to negative situations. Find a Facebook group that makes you laugh and subscribe to it so you get a giggle every morning and unfriend the complainers and ranters. Start filtering your soul and stop it from being bullied. You have more power than you realize.

A while ago I had a mobile home for sale that ended up having multiple offers. One of the buyers did not get the home but enjoyed working with me so wanted to have my help to find another place.

We looked at one that would do but there was another one that had just come on that day and it was right around the corner. I could tell she was discouraged and would settle for this to provide for her and her son but she was such a nice person she was willing to go along for me.

As soon as we pulled up our mouth's dropped and we looked at each other. It was beyond what she was looking for at the same price with lovely gardens and privacy and a little fenced area for her little dog. It was really beautifully maintained. The home became hers and I got to help. Her negative became a positive. I later learned she was moving in early so she could volunteer on a medical mission to Africa. Not how you saw that story ending is it?

When you think you have round pegs and square holes, stop playing with antiquated games.

Go someplace you have never been. Take a different road home tonight. Look for new paths and allow the changing of the seasons to let you shed your own "dead leaves". Start looking at things differently and you will find something different.

If I pack anymore sticky, sweet, sappy, stuff in here I will become the laughing stock of my friends and of course we all worry about what our friends think so will end here.

The bottom line is start being nice to yourself. Let yourself have better thoughts. You can do it!

Start moving your feet.

For years I felt like a statue at rest. I was frustrated that people weren't coming to admire me. I was sculpted into art and yet only a few folks would happen upon me. After decades of standing still I realized I was not actually a statue. This sounds crazy right? Of course I'm not a piece of art yet something had actually frozen me. 

One day I got scared that I would die if I didn't start to move. Slowly I began to wiggle and light began to shine through the cracks. A friend told me to move my feet. I didn't know what she meant. Which direction? How? I didn't know so I just started to move them.

Those feet of mine took me in circles mostly. Then they took me on drunken cow paths and through some crazy wetlands and deserts.

Today my feet took me to a closing table where a single mom of a college age kid became a homeowner for the first time. She had been moving her feet too! Thank you feet!

If you feel stuck, start moving your feet. It doesn't matter what direction you move them in, you'll figure it out. 

Just start.

There is something about getting an idea that can freeze you in your tracks. Once you have an "aha" what next? How do you know what you should do next? The old saying, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." comes to mind.

Fear of being ridiculed for my goals has held me back and I'm ready to break those chains. I'm starting right here where I am because if I wait for the correct place to start I never will. I've never been one to hesitate. I do not require all of the details to begin, I just begin and figure it out. This can be a blessing and a curse.

I began working on a personal brochure to tell people who I am. Something that I can give to people that shows who I am and what sets me apart from my competition. It was hard. Talking about myself and my passions; what an exposing thing to put out to the world. It's asking to be judged.

I didn't know what to say so I put it off for months. Then this weekend I just sat down and started typing. I knew it wasn't what I wanted but I kept writing until the space was full. I then sent it to the one other woman I trust more than anyone in my lifetime, my mom. She read it and gave me the feedback I needed and told me I sounded like a lesbian looking to work only with women. Well, I love lesbians but that wasn't the voice I wanted to use so I scrapped it and rewrote it. Twice. Then sent it to her again and she gave me more feedback. It's now where I feel comfortable sharing it with others and even though it's not perfect, that's the idea. Neither am I. No one is. Either people want to do business with me or they don't either way it's a way to begin the discussion. If I wait for the brochure to be perfect it will never go out.

This is what I have learned form today...just start. The rest will work itself out. How does this translate into real estate? Even if you can't afford it today, if you know you want it "someday" then get the information you need today so you know what you need to make that a reality tomorrow. Knowledge really is power. Call me or call someone else but take a bite of that elephant.

What is your calling?

I blog now. I'm a blogger. Blogging is my new thing. It came about after going to see Oprah. Yes, THE Oprah.

I had received a message from a woman who had tickets and wanted to know if I was up to going because she couldn't find anyone to go with her. My first thought was to reply saying, "Thanks for thinking of me but I can't." I even started typing that reply then something said to stop. The internal dialog began, "Why can't you go? You have kids and a husband and a job. You can't pick up and go. You could, you just have reason why you don't. Do you want to go? Yes. Yes, you want to go so why don't you?" I went.

I was not a huge Oprah fan by any means but let me tell you something, I am now. What I learned in one weekend is what I have been searching for for years. The big question was, "What is your calling?" Women were speaking on how they knew their calling early. I was beside myself. I didn't have a calling. So I thought...

The shower is where most of my ideas come from. It turns out that's also where I found my calling. Thoughts were dripping into me until finally I had that AHA moment of clarity and with every ember of my being I was engaged and excited. I could hardly dry off because I was so excited.

My calling is now clear. I am called to empower women through real estate. How will I do that? This blog is the first step! Tell your friends. This is going to be big. Huge.

Now think about you. What have YOU been called to do?


Check out inspirations from Oprah: http://www.oprah.com/index.html