REAL LIFE PAINTS A BETTER PICTURE

Another busy day at the office and out in the field, and I'm not alone in my busy real estate world. Almost every agent in our office is getting overrun with business these days, and not just listings. There are lots of buyers, lots of contracts and lots of closings. I'm not pointing this out to gloat, or to jinx it, but to notice the activity as, perhaps, a sign that the situation with our economy is improving.

When I was away at NAR training, I watched the news at night, and boy, was that a mistake. The level of fear, and threat of disaster being presented in the media these days is off the charts, and down right anxiety producing, at best. All the reporters seem bent on presenting a dismal picture of our country's financial future. I must say, at least our President is putting out a positive vibe, but he's swimming upstream in a sea of wet fish.

Now that I'm back in the office, with no time for the news, I feel so much better about things. I cannot help but realize the vast difference between what is on the news and what is right in front of my eyes. It's not just our office, either. I talked to a broker who is looking for sales help. He has more business than he can handle this month. The inventory is reducing, and it feels like things are returning to normal, even though prices are still at bargain basement levels.

I just want to tell the newscasters to try looking on the bright side for a change, whatever that may be. They need to stop escalting the fear, because fear is the very thing that has hurt this economy, and stifled trade and commerce. It just isn't helpful to be walking along on a tightrope and have people on every chanel screaming, "Look Down, oh my God, you're gonna DIE!" That's what the news feels like to me.

I know bad news sells newspapers, but how about a little balance...a little good news, and maybe the rest of the country can have a chance to sell something.