To my clients, thank you for allowing me to represent you and provide you guidance throughout the year.

To my friends who have referred me their friends and clients, thank you for trusting me.

To the realtors and lenders that have allowed me to work with their clients for years – thank you. Your support continues to serve as the foundation that allows me to grow my practice.

Halloween is behind us, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I can almost hear Santa’s sleigh. While the holidays are a wonderful time of year to reflect and spend time with friends and family, do NOT let it interfere with the goals you set for yourself in the beginning of 2013 or impede your planning for an amazing 2014. No, I’m not trying out for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, but I know how hard you’ve worked this year and want to see each of you get close, meet or hopefully exceed your professional goals for the year.

Every realtor must demand service, accessibility and the pursuit of perfection from his or her closing attorney. Demanding these three things is the only way to ensure that your real estate business is able to focus on what you do best – helping people find homes and getting listings sold. You are entitled to demand these three things regardless of whether you (1) send the closing attorney 50 closings a year or just one or (2) have long-standing personal relationship with the closing attorney or just met them for the first time through a closing. This is what you deserve as a real estate professional.

Over the past few months several realtors have asked me: “Is it true that if I form a LLC (limited liability company) and run my real estate business through it I can pay less in taxes?” Before I answer that question I must clarify that I am NOT an accountant and this post should not be relied on as accounting advice. This post may, however, be used as “food for thought” and the basis for a discussion with your accountant. I know a number of accountants and they all have different approaches and opinions when it comes to various tax saving “strategies”. The structure below may not work for each realtor (based on your specific situation) and/or your accountant’s position on the issue.

So we all know the saying that behind ever great man is an even better woman. While that is true in my household (no, I’m not calling myself great, it’s just an expression), it also holds true (times two) in my office. Yes, the closing attorney often times is what first attracts a realtor or a buyer to a particular closing office; and yes, the attorney reviews the title and deals with issues on problem files; and yes, the attorney conducts the closing, BUT there is so much more involved on a typical closing and that is where the closing paralegal MUST be AMAZING.