Meet Ann!	Fairy Tales
2007 Year In Review	Fairy Funny Ads

Good Friends and Clients,

I just returned from a delightful 12-day trip to Florida where I visited my mother and enjoyed unseasonably warm weather. We walked daily Palm Beach’s infamous Lake Trail and watched the seagulls swoop for little fishes, took in two movies (The Great Debaters and Charlie Wilson’s War) and one concert (a Salute to Vienna), and ate out more than I’m accustomed to. While flying home, I fretted about what to say about 2007 without being too cynical or depressed.

It’s no secret that the housing market has gone from boom to bust. Home foreclosures have reached record highs amid the housing meltdown. I’m even considering taking a job as a Foreclosure Prevention Counselor or Program Coordinator (there are currently several job openings in the Twin Cities) to help combat this crisis locally and augment my falling sales income.

On the bright side, 2007 is history. I’m not expecting miracles in 2008, just steady improvements. I’m back to seeing the glass half full, not half empty. Like most Americans, I'm thirsty for change.

2007 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS:

• I ended the year with just 7 sales (a record low), two active listings (including one of my own properties), two cancelled listings and two expired listings. None of my listings in 2007 sold. Three of the Sellers were past clients, so I felt especially bad at not being able to get their homes sold.
• In April, I purchased my second investment property, a 2 bedroom new construction condo unit at Steele Flats (45th & Chicago). I’ve been unsuccessful at finding a renter, so I’ve put it on the market for sale for less than I purchased it for. Sadly, home prices are expected to keep falling in 2008.
• On September 16th, I held my annual BBQ/Open House. The turn out was good, the weather was beautiful, and the food was yummy. My new puppies, Haley and Simon, made their debut.

SALES PERFORMANCE RESULTS:

2007 PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS

• The first quarter of 2007 was dominated by physical therapy for my new knee (had total knee replacement surgery on 11/6/06).
• Changing of the Guard: My loyal companions, Ms Bootsie and Noah, both succumbed to cancer in 2007. I put down Ms Bootsie on April 21st at age 13 and then Noah on August 1st at age 15 ½. In March, I adopted Haley, an Australian Shepherd puppy. Haley wanted a playmate, so in late August I adopted Simon, an English Pointer puppy. Simon is now 6 months old and Haley will celebrate her first birthday on January 22nd. I had forgotten how much work it is to raise a puppy but they’re worth it.
  

THE ANNUAL CALENDAR IS BACK

I just couldn’t go another year without putting together my annual calendar; it’s fun to do and I’m all about having fun (hence my mantra: “Buying a Home Should Be Fun; If it Ain’t Fun, Why Brother?”). Since I didn’t produce my calendar last year, the enclosed 2008 calendar features the faces of clients who bought or sold homes in 2006 and 2007. In addition, Noah and Ms Bootsie grace its cover and baby pictures of Noah, Ms Bootsie, Haley and Simon are December’s featured photos. I hope you can still put the calendar to good use even though it’s arriving a little late.

STAYING CONNECTED

I’m still missing email addresses for many of you. Communication by email is cheaper and faster, so if you have email at home or at work, please send me your current email addresses along with any other changes to your personal and business contact information. I use Plaxo to keep my Outlook address book up-to-date, so please consider joining the Plaxo network when I send you an email invite. It’s free; and a great way to insure that our contact information is always up-to-date. Don’t worry, if you don’t have email, we can still stay in touch the old-fashioned way using snail mail.

LOOKING AHEAD

I’m looking forward to a more prosperous and productive New Year. In mid-February, I’m going to Virginia Beach, VA, for my nephew Ben’s Bar Mitzvah. In April or May, I may take a road trip with my sister and mother (in honor of her 93rd B-Day) and visit the great American cities, Charleston (NC) and Savannah (GA). I’m still working with two great real estate agents, David Alcantara and Mark Norris, who cover for me when I’m out-of-town.

If you, your family, friends or co-workers are considering buying a home in 2008, I’d welcome the opportunity to be of service. It’s definitely a buyers market with lots of choices and great prices. If you absolutely need to sell your home in 2008, I’ll do my utmost to get the job done; but my advice to sellers is to wait another year for the market to improve and inventory to diminish, if you possibly can. If you can’t wait, let’s get together and talk about what you need to do to get your home ready to compete favorably in this market.

In closing, I resolve to be more optimistic in 2008 and have more fun. Don’t want to set the bar too high (got that new knee hampering my agility). I hope the year ahead is good for you too. We deserve it!

Warm Wishes,

Ann Leviton
Broker/Owner – MAVRIK REALTY

the sun and the moon and the stars
are my friends
we shall share time
from beginning to end
they're always there
though I can't even see
the moon and the stars
when the sun shines on me
the stars, they're here to guide me
the moon lightens my path
the sun warms my spirit
sun moon stars
forever steadfast

© 1993. Spiritwood Music Inc. Uncensored