JESSIE FARMERY - EXPRESS AGENT

INNER CITY LIVING

2008-12-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

I recently received my copy of SA The Good News and was really interested in an article on living in Johannesburg. I think locally and internationally there is such negativity about Jozy but it has a great feel to it. So go look it up here and check it out inner city living

I used to live in Hillbrow for a short while and even spent New Years Eve there and it was great. Ye there are parts of the city which are in need of some TLC but on a recent visit parking was a nightmare because there is just so much building work going on.

I love the sight of the new Nelson Mandela Bridge (check here for details of it). This city is going places and to me it says so much about South Africa. We have problems - so does every where but we are growing and people are working hard to get there.

The urban renewal is an inspiration to all.

Be part of the solution not the problem

Jessie

Laugh Out Loud

2008-11-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

GOOD NEWS

2008-11-09T20:49:00.000-08:00

Well if you are like me you are tired of all the bad news we receive. No that does not mean burying your head in the sand and ignoring it, but rather balancing it with the good news which we never hear about.

I recently signed up to receive a newsletter which gives good news and one of the articles which I thought was really good was this one here ACTION BEGINS WITH EACH OF US.

Read it and digest that we each have to contribute to change and not sit passively by waiting on some one else doing it. Surely that applies to all areas of our life?

Make a difference by doing rather than waiting.

I also saw a powerful add the other day. It asked how much your flat screen TV cost? Oh it was very cheep for me, but a lot of blood for the previous owner. It was not quite that but it was the message it was stating. We would not have half the crime if people did not buy things on the cheep from a guy in the pub or someone on the corner.

Make a difference do rather than wait.

Repossessed Property

2008-10-03T01:36:00.001-07:00

At this time we all know that the market is not at its best. With a large number of defaults not just here but overseas as well and there are bargains to be had.

If you are looking for a property in South Africa then why not consider a property in possession (repossed property). There is no transfer duty to pay on these properties so why not check out this site and see what there is.

propertyinpossession

Then give me a call and we can look at finance for you also

Jessie

0767313627

STORMY WEATHER

2008-09-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Visit the links here for news coverage and interesting facts

It is hard to imagine what so many people are gong through in the world just now. With storms wreaking havoc in many parts the misery for millions is unbelievable. (rockettes lined up)

New Orleans and Louisiana have been badly hit (NEWS24) with Bush declaring a state of emergency.

Here in South Africa we have horrendous weather in the Cape and in KZN and environs we have had wildfires in which 40 people have died. wildfires and storms (Read the Mail & Guardian on line)

Nature is truly in control.

(these pictures were emailed to me and unfortunately I have no source for them)

Thank you Lord for the tranquility we are enjoying and keep those who are suffering close to you and help ease their pain.

Ekurhuleni Business Initiative

2008-07-30T21:53:00.001-07:00

At the end of last week I finally decided to take the plunge and together with 5 other Express Agents I joined a Business Initiative called the Ekurhuleni Business Initiative (EBI for short).

Their website is www.ebitoday.co.za and I have spent the last three days at meetings they hold so that businesses can talk to each other. On Monday night I was given 10 minutes to position my business and to explain how Express Agents can help clients sort out their mortgage application with as little hassle as possible.

Also if the business is a member of EBI the owner and the staff are entitled to great discounts on their mortgage rate. We even give them discounts on Vehicle and Asset Finance. I have truly met some great people this week and am inspired. I know I can make this business work for me.

In their News Flash there was some inspirational advice and I found this one truly funny

'Avoid negative people like the plague. Cut them out of your life. Even get rid of your negative spouse! Our country has good divorce attorneys.' (Thanks to Treac Times)

Food for thought although mine is not negative and actually would not like him to know he is special - even though he is an 8 hour flight away.

Jessie

2008-07-15T01:50:00.000-07:00

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 8oz. To 20oz.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.' 'If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.'

'In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.'

'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. '

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work/life down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.'

'Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy!'

And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

1* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue

2* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.

5* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

6* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

7* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

8* Never buy a car you can't push.

9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

10* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12* The second mouse gets the cheese.

13 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

14* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

15* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

16* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

17* We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

18* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

* * * *

Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today ! ! !

LIFE IS AN ECHO

2008-07-10T02:58:00.000-07:00

I know this is not really property related but I just loved this verse I received via email and the picture was just to cute for words. Ok well I am not going to feel guilty I am a woman and proud of it.

The verse reads

Life is an echo

All comes back - The good, the bad, the false and the true

So give the world the best you have &

The best will come back to you

Have a great day.

Remember that smile you give will come back to you

BENONI - IT'S NOT JUST THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHARLIZE

2008-07-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

I visited a website the othere day that I found on the web when looking up Benoni and I am not going to link to it as all it did was deride Benoni and the people who live here.

Basically the author feels that we are pretentious and a waste of time. Well in some ways I am glad he left because we do not need negativity in our lives but rather we need to wake up in the morning and decide to be positive and thank God - whichever one is yours - for what he has given us. You know we were never promissed 'a rose garden' (in the words of the song) but we were promissed and he delivered on it - a great place to live and that is called Mother Earth.

We do have so much to be thankful for. I know that we do have times when the world is doom and gloom but we have to rise above that and count our blessings not dwell on what you don't have but rather what you do have.

Turn to the person next to you and just say hello. Don't walk past the beggar and ignore him or her. If you have no money to give you do have the power to speak to them like another human being who is deserving of a smile. Our local doctor has a poster that says

ALL YOU NEED TO BE WELL DRESSED IS A SMILE. How true is that.

Do it and make the difference.

Jessie

TO FIX OR NOT TO FIX

2008-06-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

Well I am amazed at the moment at the number of people who are asking whether or not they should fix their bond rate or not. All I can advise is that I fixed my for 10 years because it allows me to budget.

All the predictions are that we are probably looking at interest rate hikes until the end of 2009 at least and only in 2010 are we likely to see an improvement.

In a recent article I read John Loos ( renowned SA property analyst and economist) stated that fixed rates depend on one's appetite for risk. They give certainty over cash flow. If you are close to the edge and can't take another possible interest rate hike then consider fixing the rate as it will allow you to sleep better at night.

He also advises that the best time to fix rates is when the rates are on the way down rather than on the way up as you are more likely to get a good rate.

Interesting or Depressing Reading - YOU CHOSE

2008-06-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well the talk at the moment seems to be all doom and gloom and if you let it, it can make you very depressed and feel like giving up. I just visited the News24.com website and read an article on house prices falling and people loosing their homes. (visit it here http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2333413)

I think at this time though we have to be realistic and see this as an opportunity to rebuild our position as individuals. To seek help and sort out the dilemma we see our selves in.

If you need help then ask for it. Seek it out and help your neighbour. This is a time for us to draw together and not further apart.

HELP IS AT HAND

2008-06-03T01:58:00.000-07:00

We are listening and are aware of how hard it is for many people out there. Speak to us and see how we can help you to sort out your finances

We have a help line you can call or call me direct to see what we can do

Helpful Advice

2008-06-02T21:20:00.001-07:00

With the current market many people are struggling to keep afloat. ABSA have given some useful advice which may just help you

What existing and prospective homeowners should do

Understand the importance of factoring in an interest rate of a few percentage points above the prevailing rate at the time of applying for a mortgage loan, which will help an applicant to determine whether he or she will still be able to afford the mortgage loan when interest rates increase.

In view of consumers currently experiencing additional financial pressure as a result of the higher interest rates, existing and prospective homeowners are encouraged to contact their bank to ascertain what various options are available with regard to a mortgage loan.

These options include a fixed-rate mortgage contract for a certain period, which will give peace of mind in respect of future mortgage repayments during times when interest rates are rising; an extension of the term of an existing mortgage loan, taking into account certain conditions; the consolidation of other debt into a mortgage loan, provided that sufficient equity is available in the property; and depositing extra funds such as bonuses in the mortgage account, which will reduce the outstanding loan amount and thus interest payable.

One of the most important things to do when experiencing difficulty in servicing debt, is to contact the bank without delay in order to arrange alternative ways of repayment. Failing to do this, may result in a property eventually being repossessed by the bank in an attempt to recover the outstanding debt. This will negatively impact a client’s credit record, which may adversely affect his or her ability to obtain credit in future.

Households should make an effort of living within their financial means during times of financial difficulty, by keeping to a budget of income and expenses, differentiating between essentials and luxuries, limiting any further debt, paying cash for purchases and having specific saving goals.

If possible, homeowners should always put down a deposit when buying property, making sure they have sufficient equity in the property right from the start of the mortgage loan.

With affordability of housing currently under pressure, prospective homeowners may also look at buying smaller and cheaper properties in areas they have not considered previously.

FIXED RATES

2008-06-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

At the moment South Africans are extremely nervous with interest rates looking as if they will rise very sharply this month.

This weekend I went to the bank and got a fixed rate of 13.65% for ten years. I know this seems like a long time but it means that I can at least budget for the future and not have to face a never ending stress factor of when will it rise again. Talk is that it could go back to the highs we saw in the late 90's with 25.5% interest rate being reached.

My advice would be to cut back where ever you can, with fuel looking to rise food will go up. I believe we have to view this a 'war time' scenario and we will have to face austere measures to get the economy back on track.

Consider your fellow South Africans who are unemployed and living in poverty and thank God for the small mercies that you have.

Most important if you are in a bad financial position don't just hide but speak to the bank and see how they can help you. Maybe an increased lending term or debt consolodation may be the answer.

Jessie

Hello Again

2008-05-21T00:16:00.001-07:00

Well after a long while of being very quiet I am hoping to get some really good useful information onto this site for would be purchasers or perhaps you just want to re finance. Well if any of the above applies - CALL ME

The National Credit Act

2007-07-24T04:37:00.000-07:00

There has been concern in the real estate industry that the NCA will slow down growth. The Act has been created to protect the public from taking on too much debt and over extending themselves, particularly from credit card companies and other lending institutions.

Badgering and aggressive sales techniques are effectively illegal and tele-canvasers are forced to be honest about their intentions.

Points for consumers are:

* language in credit agreements must be simple and understandable

*A tele-canvaser needs to be upfront with purpose of call and if client does not want to pursue the offer then canvaser may not continue

* if a credit application is declined reasons must be given

*interest and fees are regulated on all agreements

* everyone is entitled to a free record check with the credit bureau once a year.

* The Credit Bureau is regulated and is obliged to take reasonable steps to verify accuracy of consumer credit information.

As far as estate agents are concerned the current climate does appear a bit slower and it is harder to get bonds granted, but on the whole this is good business practice and we need to give longer for banks and lenders to check everything and nothing short of a month should be given.

Clients need have nothing to fear it just means instant decisions are much rarer but it is to protect the consumer