Is It Time for Charlotte NC Home Buyers To Get Off The Fence?

I do have to wonder how many buyers are swayed by the media barrage of the National Association of Realtors, which is currently pushing for buyers to 'get off the fence.' Charlotte NC Buyers on the Fence

I have to say, if I were currently planning to purchase a home or condo or land or anything else real estate related in the Charlotte NC market-heck, anywhere-that campaign would be off-putting to me.

As Realtors, we have a bad enough reputation in the marketplace already. It gets worse daily, as the liberal media continues to slam everyone involved in the mortgage debacle...yes, there were shady Realtors involved (real estate agents, too), shady lenders, idiotic buyers, you name it. So those of us who have soldiered on, taking great care of buyers and sellers alike (and may I add, not one of the hundreds of homes that I have listed or sold here in Charlotte NC has gone to foreclosure-in fact, I've saved a couple of my sellers from foreclosure but that's another topic altogether), are still being lumped in with the snakes. Do we really have to hurt ourselves even more with crap like this?

Yes, it's a great time to buy in many markets, including Charlotte NC and most of our suburbs *but not all-did you note that i didn't say it's a great time to buy in every corner of this market?*. But I have to admit that it drives me absolutely nuts when the media and even our own trade organization thinks we have to trick people into buying. Facts and statistics are one thing-for many buyers, seeing that we are likely in the trough for pricing is enough to get them to think positively about purchasing. However, to use only emotion just makes me feel a little icky.

I can only imagine how often the liberal news media is going to trumpet that now is a great buying opportunity once there's a new President in office...they will single-handedly try to make the market go up to prove that whichever candidate is elected was responsible for the turnaround (which is plausible since they did a lot to create the drama that's going on now).

Just for the record. Neither I nor many of my like-minded Realtor brethren believe in pushing anyone off of a fence. Yes, we want you to know about changes in financing, the end of down payment assistance, changes in pricing of mortgage insurance, tightening up of list price/sales price ratios. But it's up to YOU to make the decision to buy. If you want to wait until prices have already started to move up, that's your call-not mine. I'll be here whether you buy today or in a year. I'm in this for a long time to come (and you guessed it-that will mean more market cycles-so I'll wager that you will call or email when you need the expert who evaluates market changes and doesn't run from the challenges of a new marketplace).

Posted Wednesday Sep 17

( 09/17/08 03:43PM ) — Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit

Well said my friend! I have written more than once about my frustration with news articles in the Charlotte Observer that truly don't give an accurate picture of our markets...nor do they acknowledge the differences within our communities. From what I can tell Lake Norman has suffered much more than Charlotte but they always lump us all together. I have such great buyers right now but I will NOT push them either. This is a good time to buy but I think prices may continue to slide. Buying a home is a very personal decision...we provide the facts and let our clients decide what is best for them.

( 09/17/08 07:43PM ) — Jay McGillicuddy~Real Estate Broker

Hi Leigh,

A lot of people are moving from New England to the Carolinas via Florida. I think people miss the changing of the colors. They still like the 4 seasons...

( 09/17/08 10:37PM ) — Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate ~ 760-840-1360

Leigh - good to see you back. Hope you have been having terrific business in this market.

This was a thoughtul article, in many ways. I, too, find the NAR ads rather offputting since it seems to lump all buyers into the same category and nothin could be further from the truth. We gripe about how the media seems tro ignore local trends and the NAR campaign implies that is is a great time to buy. That MAY be true in some areas and for SOME buyers dpending on their situation and personal goals. For us to attempt tp manipulate folks into buying when it is not necessairly the right thing is a violation of the job IU believe we are hired to do. Granted there are some buyers for whom it IS a good decision but they cannot get off the fence... and they need to know the facts and perhaps be given the information to convince them that their decision is a good one. But ultimately THEY have to decide what is right and when. And I tell my clients that all the time.

Jeff

( 09/18/08 02:25PM ) — Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner

Diane-you know how liberal that rag is. =)

Jay-you'd love it too, all 4 seasons and nothing too horribly extreme! hope you and M have been doing well.

Jeff-i'm delighted to be busy, in fact reminded my team again this morning that there are a ton of folks who would kill to be in our shoes right now-so we'd better keep humping it. i know that you are of the same mindset in regard to client treatment-it's just a shame that NAR does us all such a disservice. i know they mean well but seriously. =)

( 09/18/08 03:26PM ) — Debe Maxwell, Realtor® - Charlotte NC MLS - Charlotte NC Neighborhoods

Leigh: I came across this as I was thinking of writing one about the SAME exact thing! How frustrating is the media for our profession?! I am doing everything that I can to get the word out there about the true market in the hopes to disspell the general public who, unfortunately, fall for the liberal BS in the news. Need I say more?!! Thanks for writing this by-the-way...

Debe in Charlotte