Real Estate with Jim Quist

For those of you familiar with Sherlock Holmes you've deduced there is a mystery and we're in search of clues.

Quite frankly I've had clues dropped at my feet so many times over the years that it has become rather difficult to pretend they aren't there.

The clues have been the number of everyday individuals, many with quite impressive educational backgrounds, who don't know how to balance a checkbook, establish a budget, create retirement portfolio's, understand how seductive and damaging multiple credit cards can be, establish and maintain good credit scores and deal with the intricacies of home loans.

Let me be frank.  We've all had or continue to have problems with at least one of these items in our lives.

Now, why don't we talk about a solution? Elementary, my dear homeowner is more than the title of this blog. It is where we should start immediately to address a growing problem of debt, bankruptcy and foreclosure that will have a profound impact upon us individually, as a community and a country.

With some effort on all of our parts to engage our school board members, local, state and national government leaders we can start a process of teaching children from about the third grade forward how to handle money. This process can begin within a one to two year period making classes in economic responsibility mandatory all the way through high school.  If we start with the youngest and follow that first class through it will allow us to begin training teachers who will be qualified to instruct students on these topics.

These are classes that should be offered without charge to the general population as well through Community Colleges.

We have an opportunity to strengthen our economic well being through this effort and see a significant turn around in under a decade.

Can this be done? Lets find out by starting the effort today.

Jim Quist is a real estate appraiser, consultant, commercial property manager and agent with over a decade of experience.  In addition to founding his own appraisal company he also works with a Prudential brokerage and is a partner in a multimedia company. He is a past president of the local Realtors Association and has been and is involved with the local and state associations.  He is a monthly radio talk show guest speaking on real estate topics.

We are a nation of procrastinators. Perhaps it would be more apt to say mankind in general is prone to put off to tomorrow what could be done today.

I'm as guilty as everyone else.  I have this really nice automatic reminder built into my blog that lets me know when I should be writing a new post. Do I always take heed and put fingers to keyboard? No.

There is one area of procrastination that I would like to address with you that you'll want to correct.  Do you have a will?  A living will? Have you laid out your final wishes....it is never too early.  Who is going to get the house? How about furniture, collectibles and financial holdings?

"Well gee Jim I'm only 30 and I don't have a whole lot and isn't this something for "old people" to worry about"? Nice try.

Now, why would you want to worry about this when you are retiring? Oh, by the way, the reality of life is that we can all "meet our maker" at any moment so don't think you've got a lock on 50 more years just because you're 30!

The fact is you'll be doing yourself a big favor and a huge favor to those you leave behind if you take care of all of the "mortality stuff" right now. If you haven't done it yet, then I encourage you to pick up the phone and call an attorney today.  Maybe a financial planner.  Have you spoken with a funeral director? The list goes on and these are things that you have a better idea of how to handle....after all these should be your wishes.....than those who are handling your estate.

All of this comes to mind as I handle another estate appraisal and consult with the executor regarding value of collectibles....specifically where they should be taken for a proper and qualified appraisal of value. Yes, there are appraisers of rare books, stamps, antiques and more. They can be extremely helpful in determining asking price that may be placed on items for auction or between two parties.

These are issues that should have been addressed earlier and on an on-going basis. But you see we tend to procrastinate and put things off until later.

So, for piece of mind and to make sure you don't place an undue burden upon others why not start the process today.

See that phone over there? And no, I won't accept, "I'll do that tomorrow" as an answer and neither should you.

Jim Quist is a real estate appraiser, consultant, commercial property manager and agent with over a decade of experience.  In addition to founding his own appraisal company he also works with a Prudential brokerage and is a partner in a multimedia company. He is a past president of the local Realtors Association and has been and is involved with the local and state associations.  He is a monthly radio talk show guest speaking on real estate topics.