Talkin' Real Estate in Wyoming

Sarah Johnson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:14:41 +0000

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Another Year….

Sarah Johnson — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:55:54 +0000

I can’t believe it…another year down. The first of 2012 means I will begin my 18th year selling in real estate in Wyoming! Wow…no wonder I have more gray hair (to cover) than most people my age! I went home last night with several of my John Maxwell and Dave Ramsey books and I could tell my family was thinking…. “here she goes again with the goals.” It’s true…nothing motivates me like a written, achievable and measurable goal. The only thing better is being able to get someone else excited about goal setting. And believe it or not I appreciate the accountability too. I may not jump up and down with joy over someone’s “constructive criticism” but seriously I will thank you for it later. Here are some of the quotes I have soaked up in Ramsey’s latest book….

Anyone or any business that can maintain focus has an almost unfair advantage in the marketplace.
You should study, interview and when possible hang around with people who are better than you in an area you want to win in.
Every time I read the book…..the tortoise wins.
Winning at business at times requires that you exhaust every ounce of spiritual, emotional and physical energy you have. You wont put that effort in day in and day out, year in and year out, just for money. Money is great, but it is ultimately an empty goal.
You have to have a passion, a higher calling, to what you engage in.

I just love how he thinks. Those quotes could be mine….if only I’d thought of them….written them down….. gone through the excruciating editing and publishing process….never mind….they are Dave’s quotes ALL Dave’s.

I set my goals in several areas and have a long as I can remember….even as a child. I’d make a goal to keep my room clean or be nice to my sister. I have tweaked the process over the years and have to learn not to beat myself up when goals don’t come to fruition. I also have had to become a little more flexible. Life happens, things change and sometimes a goal needs to be modified. Sometimes you just need to give yourself permission to get back on track. For me the power of goals is mostly in that they give direction. They give my mind an uncompleted task and then I tend more toward actions and decisions that move me that way.

Happy New Year to you all….enjoy your goal setting and I’ll see you in 2012.

Sarah

I Love This Week!

Sarah Johnson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:23:30 +0000

I love the week between Christmas and the New Year. When my brain is not moving 100 miles an hour…I love to reflect on the past. As I ”commute” from Cowley to Lovell and back I like to reminisce about the past year. What lessons did I learn? What milestones did I reach? This year I put my baby boy into all day kindergarten and my oldest is able to drive those Wyoming roads….alone! I’m in a new season personally.

I celebrated with friends and family the 10th anniversary of Johnson Home and Land and the coinciding move to a much larger office building across from our previous location on Lovell’s Main Street. Also, my long-term assistant/property manager and I mutually decided to end our four-year association. I’m in a new season professionally.

There have been high points and low points but over all the word that keeps coming to mind is…blessed. I feel overwhelmingly blessed by the opportunity I have to conduct business each day. I love my profession and I love selling real estate in Lovell, Wyoming. It’s meaningful to me at the deepest level. Helping people find suitable housing that fits their needs and budget is a big deal to me. Think of the scenarios….

The young adult who moves out on his own for the first time and wants to rent an apartment.
The person who gets a WCDA loan and buys their first little house and can’t wait to fix it up.
The people whose family has grown and they need more space for kids to play.
The folks who kid’s have flown from the nest and are looking to down-size.
Our friends who’ve lost a loved one and need to sell their home.
The people who have accepted a job transfer in the Lovell, Wyoming area and want to make this their home.
Neighbors who are starting a new season of their own lives and saying goodbye to their friends here in the Big Horn Basin.

All of these situations involve real people with lives that are changing. We all know there can be a great deal of stress involved in change and I am blessed to be able to have a part in helping people through a challenging time in their lives.

Sarah

Christmas Decor

Sarah Johnson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:20:06 +0000

I just love how the Town of Cowley decorated the new facade this year!

And look at the front window at Johnson Home and Land

I love my window and “The stockings were hung…..” theme!

Merry Christmas to you all~

Sarah

Taco Soup

Lisa Marchant — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:39:00 +0000

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One of my favorite things about Fall is the comfort food. This is a family favorite and is so simple to make its excellent for anytime you need a quick dinner on the table or get together with family & friends. All you really need is a big stock pot or crock pot & mad can opener skills.

Taco Soup

2 pounds ground beef or turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans
1 can (15 ounces) black beans
1 can (15 ounces) red kidney beans
1 small can of sliced black olives
1 can (11 to 15 ounces) whole kernel corn ,drained
2 cans (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1 can (10 to 15 ounces) Rotel tomatoes (or tomatoes with green chile peppers)
1 1/2 pkg. taco seasoning mix -(to taste)
1 pkg. original hidden valley ranch dressing(dry)
3 cups water or more, to make soup broth

Preparation:

Brown ground burger and onion in a large pan with olive oil if needed; drain off fat. Drain the beans & rinse. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for an hour or so. You can also put this in the crock pot on warm or low in the morning before going to work and it will be ready when you come home. I like to top it with a tiny bit of cilantro, shredded cheese and a small dollop of sour cream to take it over the top yummy. When ready, serve in big soup bowls, and have a skillet of hot cornbread to eat, too. Oh an don’t forget the corn chips (fritos are my favorite) for scooping it up or crushing on top. Enjoy!

~Lisa Marchant

Sugar Beet Harvest and Life

Sarah Johnson — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:40:45 +0000

There’s just something about fall…and I don’t just mean wearing cute sweaters and boots. Autum is a big deal when you live in a farming community. I live in a town where “Harvest” is a season not just a task. I’m not a farmer…I can’t even grow a house plant (except cactus) but here in the Big Horn Basin we can’t help but be affected by this special time of year. Lovell Wyoming is the home of Western Sugar Cooperative so we are known for growing sugar beets. When I drive by the fields during harvest I contemplate life. I know it’s deep but go with me here for a minute…..Farming is a great example of delayed gratification, sacrifice, hardwork, risk and then finally…reward. We Americans tend toward a “buy now….pay later” lifestyle and it just doesn’t work long term. If you don’t believe me….ask Dave Ramsey. I believe this holds true not just financially but in business, school and relationships too. If you do the work, take the risk, make the sacrifice and perservere…..your result will be real. Even if the weather wasn’t everything you hoped it would be while your crops were growing….your harvest will come with great personal satisfaction.

Sarah

10 Reasons Why I Believe in the Importance of the REALTOR Convention

Sarah Johnson — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:22:08 +0000

I just returned home from the Wyoming Association of Realtors convention in Cheyenne. Here are 10 of the reasons I think “Convention” is an excellent investment of a real estate agent’s time and money.

1. The REALTOR association plays a key role fighting for our rights as homeowners. It’s a HUGE deal! Maybe now more than ever. Homeownership Matters!

2. Aboslutley top notch real estate education. I have to stay on top of industry issues and the latest technology in order to provide the best possible service for my clients and customers. I want to be in this business long term so I can’t just focus on next month’s goals.

3. Real life networking comes ahead of social media. I’ve been able get to know several industry experts including lenders, title insurance agents, WCDA represenitives and software programers. They all are come to the convention to seek real estate agents who have clients and customers who will benefit from thier expertise.

4. I love to drive across the great State of Wyoming! From Little America to Hell’s Half Acre….I love this state.

5. I believe that the people who attend the Wyoming Association of REALTORS convention are the cream of the crop. I believe in studying the best practices of others to improve my own business.

6. As President of the Northwest Wyoming Board of REALTORs I am able to get many great ideas from others in leadership on how to keep our Board strong, relevant and beneficial to our members.

7. I just really love Cheyenne. It’s my favorite (larger) Wyoming town.

8. I was able to spend some time with some of my best friends in the business.

9. It’s nice to get a break from the usual routine.

10. It’s just plain fun. We had a comedian from Denver that had us rolling after the RPAC reception, a DJ after the installation banquet and even a costume party that kept the welcome reception hopping.

If you are a fellow REALTOR….I encourage you to attend your own state and national conventions. It’s worth your time and energy and you clients will thank you!

Sarah Johnson

A New Season….

Sarah Johnson — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:30:47 +0000

I am so sorry that it has been a full month since we have posted here on the blog. That is by far the longest gap in the nearly 4 year life of “Talkin’ Real Estate In Wyoming.” First of all there have apparently been some issues with WordPress’s security and so there have been some issues with logging in. It’s also been a very busy few weeks for us at Johnson Home and Land as it seems like we have worked on a whole summer worth of transactions in 3 weeks instead of 3 months. That’s real estate in Wyoming for you though…..feast, famine, feast, famine. I’m sure that’s the way it everywhere else too.

So….here’s what been happening in a nutshell:

Kiddos are back in school and mine are Kinder, 7th and 10th. Whew!
I felt the first hint of cool air since mid June….it felt good.
We have closed 8 transaction sides (buyer/seller) in 2 days. That was a team effort for sure!
I can hear the sound of crashing football helmets when I drive by the school with my windows down.
I am considering some website enhancements over at JohnsonHomeandLand.com
I am excited about some upcoming REALTOR conventions.
I have been elected for one more year as the President of the Northwest Wyoming Board of REALTORs.
I am looking at some time management and organizational improvements to my office.
Life is good!

Hope you will check back often…we have no intention of letting this blog slip through our fingers after 4 years of investing in our relationship with our readers, customers and friends.

Take care and we will see you all again soon!

Sarah Johnson

Summertime, and the Livin is Easy

Jyl Duffy — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:00:28 +0000

That ole song from out of the past certainly sounds good! Here in northern Wyoming we’re very fortunate to be a long way from Washington D.C. There the humidity is high, tensions are high and politicking is at the highest possible level! Oh, that they may switch to the representative/servant of the people mindset soon…that’s enough politics for this blog!

While back here on the homefront, the raspberries are plentiful and the sun is shining down on us…and it’s Friday!

What is Your Credit Score?

Jyl Duffy — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:22:17 +0000

Keeping up on what your credit score is and ensuring there are no errors in your report has gone from important to VERY important. As banks are increasingly tightening up on their guidelines on loans qualifications, your credit score become ever more critical. Did you know you can obtain a free credit score yearly from AnnualCreditReport.com? Occasionally there are errors on reports which erroneously lower your score. Correcting any errors and increasing your scores is more important than ever before.

Here’s a link to some tips on upping those numbers!