New Bern, NC

Is there a giant echoing canyon where your savings account/retirement account/college fund used to be? You bet your dollar store there is! As Americans, we watch and wait with bated breath to see what the next national monetary move is, only to gasp as the move shows lateral, with no real jump in either positive or negative direction. As a Realtor® (and an American) I began to do the same thing. Hold breath...wait...gasp. Hold breath...wait...gasp. Starts to sound a little like Lamaze, doesn't it?

You hear in the media headlines such as: "Housing Market in Crisis as Foreclosures Hit all Time High." or "Lenders Make it Harder Than Ever to Buy Your First Home.", and my formerly smooth 34 year old forehead cries out for a Botox injection. Why?! How can this be? I know for a fact people still need housing, and loans, and real estate agents, and attorneys, title companies, inspections, etc. So what's the deal?

Well here's the deal you won't find at the dollar store. The real estate market hasn't crashed, nor did it tank, or bottom out. It SHIFTED. Housing prices haven't hit a serious decline in value, they have recovered from their seriously over-inflated anything-but realistic pricing to a more stable and affordable price point. In Gary Keller's book SHIFT, How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times, he demonstrates that during periods of SHIFT, fear is everywhere, although not all of us react in the same manner. During these times, it's the 80/20 rule at work. 20 percent of the people will do 80 percent of the work or business (while the remainder of the people are still practicing Lamaze), and and then in a post-shift rebound, that 20 percent will have pushed past "survive" and will shift into "thrive" and reap that 80 percent of the rewards.

This golden nugget of clarity and wisdom can be transferred into ANY period of your life where you feel the anxious pinch of worry. Don't panic over SHIFT. Shifts are periodic, cyclical, and WILL happen again. The outcome of a shift is what you chose to do about it. During these shifting times as we all watch Wall Street and speed-read the news ticker-tapes as they flash past remember this: It's not doom and gloom, it's a SHIFT. Conserve, reduce, and retain everything from money to food to fuel. Cut up the plastic (it's made of petroleum products anyway), and be the 20 percent who are looking forward to reaping their 80 percent post-shift benefits. Get through "survive" and begin to "thrive".

I plan to be 20 percent. Do you?

God, Family, then business... man, I love my job. See y'all on the other side of the SHIFT.

This column is customized each month so that I can share with you, the current monthly statistics. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Or, visit my website at http://www.newbernhomes.com/

HOMES SOLD (Closed), August 1 through August 31. (From NB Board of Realtors MLS System)
Under $100K = 13
$100K-$159,999 = 32
$160K-$199,999 = 26
$200K-$249,999 = 17
$250K-$299,999 = 18
$300K-$399,999 = 12
$400K - $499,999 = 5
Over $500,000 = 8

Total August 2008 = 131
Total August 2007 = 191

NEIGHBORHOOD PROPERTIES "SOLD"

NEIGHBORHOOD PROPERTIES "FOR SALE"


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Sonja Babic

252-617-0861

www.SonjaBabic.com

Why am I a buyers' agent? Today was an example of why. I have a young marine couple closing and moving in tomorrow. We stored their car at the new house for safekeeping. (It was full of their stuff and they didn't want it broken into at the motel where they were staying.) While we were there, we did our final walk through. As we visited each room, they would talk about what furniture would go where and how it would look. Most of their furniture wouldn't be there for another 2 weeks. But that was okay. They would be in their new house. The longer we were there, the more their excitement grew.

Another reason I like being a buyers' agent is things can happen quicker. Once a buyer has taken the step to buy, things are starting to happen. When first meeting the buyer, I visit with them to learn why they are buying, what they are looking for, and their priorities. Finding the right home is a process. Many times they have an idea of what they want, but over time the right home changes shape and form. It may be something they didn't know they were looking for. I enjoy helping them through this process.

Then making the offer and negotiations start. This is where I go to work. My job is to get the best deal for my client. It's not always getting the lowest price. There are so many things that can affect the agreement: price, closing date, possession, inspections, sellers' contribution to buyers' closing costs, etc. Once everyone is in agreement, it's time for inspections.

This can be a difficult and confusing time for buyers. It's my job to guide them through it and help them understand each step in the process. Then I get to see their joy when the keys for their new home are handed to them.

Historical society celebrates 85 years

On Sunday, society members held a birthday celebration. More than 200 people gathered for a garden party at the Attmore-Oliver House downtown, the society's history hub. Sunday's event also allowed for a tour of the Attmore-Oliver House Garden, a project that society director Lynne Harakal said came from the work of volunteers.

The society began in 1923 in the home of Minnette Duffy, its "lead organizer." Duffy lived on Johnson Street and never abandoned the preservation mission.

The society owns four properties in New Bern: three historic houses and the land that was the site of the Battle of New Bern during the Civil War. The society is a caretaker of the Rawls-Stancil History Center, an educational center created because of an endowment from Margaret Rawls Stancil. The organization sponsors various educational programs, including Ghost Walk, an annual society fund-raiser during which the public is given tours of historic homes and properties downtown.

Even with very limited powers New Bern Historical Society has accomplished so much and it was a huge part in preserving this lovely area. New Bern's historic districts have been resisting developmentfor years and right now they are standing as a proud example to show to the world that it is possible. You will never know who you are if you don't know where are you coming from!

New Bern Historical Society Visit the web site

Your North Carolina Broker

Sonja Babic

252-617-0861

www.SonjaBabic.com