Real Estate Bubbles

All of this talk of the real estate bubble has my head spinning.

It is apparent that the term "Market Correction" has lost its luster in the media. How high and far did we all think this market was going to go? I can visualize the ad now.......

Beautiful 850 SF 2 BR / 1 BA bungalow on .09 acre lot only 92 miles from city center offered for just under: (Drum roll please) $40 Million Dollars!

Hurry because this deal will not last long! You will be asked to participate in a lottery format, give a blood sample, and make a deposit of your first born child!

I have seen people who have gained over 200% in appreciation in a full panic because their home value fell 18%????

Who were the investors that were hurt? The investors who watched the media hype, that's who. They jumped into the market too late, made very foolish decisions, and hired order taker Agents who were just out to make a buck and pay for their new Mercedes.

Then the investors made a few bucks and felt like "The Donald". They began to refinance these homes and started buying more properties without even considering the negative cash flow positions they were putting themselves in. They did not have a business plan and were relying on plain luck.....

This is why we should not buy into the media hype as an investor in today's market.

Or maybe we should......It is just a matter of rewiring our brains on how we process this information. Another way to define a Buyers Market is that = Inventory is ON SALE!!!!!

If you are a real investor and want to make money, you are licking your chops right now. You need to find an Agent who is looking out for you and not just trying to make THEIR mortgage payments.

WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH SUB PRIME LENDERS ANYWAY?

What were they thinking?

Was this another future ad?

Do you have a 350 credit score and make at least $15K a year...NO PROBLEM!!! We have a program for you.......**Borrow up to $500,000 at a first year payment of $199 per month! We care about you and your family and want to give you the American Dream of Home Ownership.

** Second year payments increase to $5,000 with a $550,000 balloon payment due in year 3, but don't worry; you will be well on your way to foreclosure by then and it will not matter. We do not really care because we have leveraged our bets in the Asian markets, believe your home will be worth triple, and you will be too stupid to sell it out of pride! We will make a profit regardless of whether you make your payments or not.

Agents/Brokers I would suggest that we all learn more about the Mortgage industry and work hard to consult with our clients on the best loan programs for their investment strategy. We need to stop looking at ourselves as selling properties, and more as a concierge service for Clients.

As Bob Dylan once said, "The Times They are a Changing"...then he did a Victoria Secrets commercial......interesting....... I think he gets it....