Love those Giants … In Friday night’s loss, the Giants displayed a baseball momentum flatulence. I left the room during the 8th, Atlanta at bat, down 4-1, with two men on and the tying run at bat … I ‘saw’ the momentum shift. 5-4 Atlanta, final.

Of course, since then there was the squeaky win on Sunday and this afternoon we have a chance to dispose of Atlanta …. at the same time we might have to cross our fingers as we find out if our pitching is sufficient to pull us through the next round of playoffs.

Last week’s blog of ‘Market Momentum Theory’ sparked a number of conversations … more than one reader suggesting that the momentum concept wasn’t just about markets …. Momentum Theory applies to life … Thank you for that focusing of thought …. I agree with the reader … Here are some examples:

In developing her ground-breaking school of intuition medicine, Dr Francesca McCartney, founder of The Academy of Intuition Medicine® created descriptive language for intuition. Read one of her books or take a class … well worth it! Easy to find online.

In developing her Devine Color paint company, Gretchen Schauffer created descriptive language for color. One of her inspirational quotes is, “Color is not what you see. It’s how it feels.” Spot on.

Real estate language … Friday, on the Marin Tours bus, after Jen Pennington, our favorite bus-talk-market-discussion host left the bus to celebrate as one of her clients hit the jackpot on an opportunity. (Susan Swan, the listing agent, had told me of the property but the client I’m working with, who would’ve loved the opportunity, wasn’t quite ready to pounce on this one with an all cash offer wherein Jen Pennington ended up selling a redwood grove in Woodacre … two acres … and with the land came a 600 sq ft home that was featured on the cover of Sunset Magazine decades ago) … This property sold for what I’d call a long-ago price … $273,500!!! This is the joy of the market … when I’ve got a client who’s not quite ready, one of my dear real estate friends comes through. I still prefer to pick up the low-hanging fruit for my clients but ….

In any event, one of the topics we discussed on the bus was a bit of language that cuts to the basic question … What’s important now?

Marcus Robinson was given credit for his languaging with the owner of 219 Forbes, San Rafael … a home he had listed for $1,725,000 in ’07 … a home he just brought on the market and into escrow at $1,200,000. The question he asked and words he used, whether he knows it or not, are straight from Charles Chatham, an educator the Realtor’s education committee brought to Marin in 1986 … Charles Chatham, a huge influence in many lives as he taught us to listen and ask questions. 

The question, ‘Do you want to show it or sell it?’

Tough question … but spot on. With consumer confidence low, unemployment high and the banks unloading or preparing to unload a bundle of properties, if you will gain by selling, price it right or you’re going to have a long anxious time ahead … whether or not your home is shown … both anxiety-provoking. 

A Big Thank You

You gotta grin at all the energetic momentum working behind the scene for all of us real estate agents and the real estate buying and selling public … there are the National and California Associations of Realtors, and many people working right here in Marin, guiding us with tough standards of conduct. Kudos to those at MAR, just elected…. it will be a real pleasure to be at the Seafood Peddler this morning to cast my ballot for MAR’s nominated 2011 Officers & Directors … knowing after my two terms as a Director how much work needs to be done to keep our chins high as we make contact.

A short tribute to and many thanks to:



  • President: Mary Kay Yamamoto (automatic by virtue of earlier election), Re/MAX of Central Marin;
  • President-elect: David Smadbeck, Coldwell Banker, Greenbrae;
  • Treasurer: Dennis MacDonneil, Telesis Financial & Dev., Inc., Novato;
  • Secretary: Kevin Patsel, Coldwell Banker, Greenbrae;

Continuing directors are: Dick D’Agostino, Frank Howard Allen, Greenbrae; Steve Dickason, Alain Pinel Realtors, Corte Madera; Chelsea Hardesty, Frank Howard Allen, Tiburon; Connie Irwin, Pacific Union, Marin, Kentfield; Jonathan Marks, Alain Pinel Realtors, Corte Madera; Kay Moore, Coldwell Banker, Greenbrae; Lee Parkhurst, Bradley Real Estate, Tiburon.

Immediate Past-president: Bill McKeon, Alain Pinel Realtors, Corte Madera. 



  • And the lucky folk who will be joining them as directors are: Kathleen Freitag, Frank Howard Allen, Novato; Judy LeMarr, Frank Howard Allen, Mill Valley; Sharon Luce, Coldwell Banker, Greenbrae; Randy Redding, Decker Bullock Southeby’s Int’l., Sausalito.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen