Barry Owen

The truth is that interest rates will rise before this chapter in the story of our economy ends.

It is also inevitable that when they do rise, they will rise QUICKLY!

Thus far, the Powers that be have effectively (artificially) been able to enable us all by keeping the rates low . . .

As Gary Keller said: "When the American public stopped spending, SOMEONE had to spend . . . so the Government has stepped in and has been doing the spending for us to keep the economy moving and hold off inflation."

The trick is that eventually even the government will have to decrease spending . . .

This comes to mind for me today as I remember that when I got into this business of selling houses in 1993, the interest rates were for the first time in YEARS just dipping below double digits . . . and there was veritable dancing in the streets.

From then until now, we have all enjoyed hilariously LOW interest rates and have reaped LOTS of rewards . . .

and we have been cruising along "borrowing Buyers from the future" and basking in our gluttony.

I think we are finally at the point where we are going to need teenagers to start buying houses because nearly 70% of all other humans in the USA now own houses . . . The pool of available Buyers HAS shrunk because we created such a "friendly" home buying experience.

So here's my message . . .

Don't let yourself stay in denial . . .

RATES WILL RISE!

and

When they rise, they will rise QUICKLY!

If you're alive and have the ability to buy a house, NOW is the time to do it . . . PERIOD!

And REALTORS . . . If you are not a die-hard believer in this and are not communicating this very real threat of rate increase to your sphere of influence, I recommend some level of therapy to pull yourself out of denial.

A YEAR AGO, Keller Williams Realty published a brochure entitled "What Are You Waiting For?"

Did you know that a 1% increase in rate results in @ an 11% DECREASE in Buying Power?

Here's how that looks:

When that brochure was created, rates were @ 6.04% (Today, they are significantly lower)

$218,900 Selling Price @ 6.04% . . . Payment = $1,054

Add a 1/2 point to the rate @ 6.54% and the selling price drops to $207,955 for the same payment.

Add another 1/2 point to 7.04% and the Buyer power decreases to $197,010 for the same payment

Just imagine what happens when the rates jump SEVERAL points in a relatively short period of time???

Get yourself out of denial and PAY ATTENTION to the probability of this happening.

How will this affect Home Buyers and Sellers?

What will we need to do differently to keep the market flowing?

These are the questions we need to be addressing NOW.

Oh yeah!

and it can't hurt to educate our potential Buyers a bit . . . If they are standing on the sidelines waiting for values to fall further, I believe it would tragic for them if interest rates ROSE while they were waiting.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215 - Green Hills

Call me: 615-568-2123
Text me: http://www.mycricket.com/sendtextmessage/ 6155682123
email me: barryowen@kw.com
Visit The Owen Group http://www.theowengroup.net
http://www.owengroupnashvillehomes.com
Barry Owen's Internet Portal to all blogsites, websites, and social networks
http://tnrealestatetribalhub.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/barry-owens-web-portal/

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Quintessentially connected to the real estate industry to offer the ultimate experience for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee . . . Inquire within!

Have you ever been watching TV or listening to the radio when there was a "Network Glitch" that caused the sound to decrease or get garbled and difficult to understand?

How 'bout when you are talking with a person who speaks a different language, and you're having difficulty understanding?

Can't quite make out what that sign says on that blimp flying over?

What's your first gut reaction?

Most people TURN UP THE VOLUME when they begin having difficulties with communication.

or FOCUS more intently to seek understanding.

Listen to your gut also when the economy and the real estate market go weird on ya.

Sure, you could ignore it and plod along in denial and hope for the best.

Denial offers that great opportunity to keep doing the same things (Stay in your comfort zone) all the while expecting the same results in a RADICALLY different environment.

Denial can also lead to certain death of your business.

Pay attention to your gut . . . to how your body responds in times of uncertainty and apply all that to your way of responding to an ever-shifting market environment.

When things get wacky, your adrenaline should start PUMPING.

It's time to TURN UP THE VOLUME!

When your listings are not selling, FOCUS on those listings individually to find understanding as to why they are not selling . . . AND . . .

GET MORE LISTINGS!

Listings attract BUYERS even in markets where you think all of the Buyers have left the roost.

In my coaching appointments this week, I have heard many rationalizations as to why goals are not being met.

"The HomeBuyer Tax credit was extended/expanded, so the Buyers have lost their urgency."

"It's the HOLIDAY season, so I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that business will be slower."

and many more.

I say:

"HOGWASH!"

Get off your duff and find that adrenaline rush for your business . . . The rush that is similar to one you had that day when the train was heading straight for your car which was stalled straddling the tracks :-)

GO OUT THERE AND FIND MORE LISTINGS!

PERIOD!

There is NO better time than NOW to BUY a home . . . (Your new mantra as you move about your target area).

and here are a few great scripts for ya:

Expired Listings

Withdrawn Listings

Holiday parties

Door KNocking in your farm

Host a gathering in your neighborhood

Hold Open Houses at odd times

Do whatever you must do to TURN UP YOUR VOLUME OF LISTINGS!

Hmmm . . . I think I'm yelling now . . .

OK!

Time for me get crackin' on practicing what I'm preaching.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215 - Green Hills

Call me: 615-568-2123
Text me: http://www.mycricket.com/sendtextmessage/ 6155682123
email me: barryowen@kw.com
Visit The Owen Group http://www.theowengroup.net
http://www.owengroupnashvillehomes.com
Barry Owen's Internet Portal to all blogsites, websites, and social networks
http://tnrealestatetribalhub.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/barry-owens-web-portal/

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Quintessentially connected to the real estate industry to offer the ultimate experience for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee . . . Inquire within!

There are only a few things in this world we can all really expect to be able to count on - Death, Taxes, & CHANGE!

These are all equally inevitable and unavoidable, yet many people exert vast amounts of energy evading them.

I "get" the motivation to "cheat Death" . . . That's one cause I'll join without much thought . . . So I try to watch what foods and drink I consume and am careful while driving and how Ilive my life . . . I don't feel ready for that "Ultimate Change" because I think I have a LOT left to do while here.

Some folks get great thrill from cheating taxes . . . That might be fun but stands a good chance of facing the music in the form ultimate clash with the government. I think that if you don't want to pay the taxes you only have a few valid choices . . . Move to a place where the taxes are lower (and likely the services and protection of your way of life will be less secure) or join the politicians and see what you can do about legally decreasing taxes.

Cheating change itself is a complete exercise in futility. We do this in many ways, and it's seldom pretty.

There's disappointment, fear, denial, anger, PAIN, and a whole slew of emotions that emerge at some level with each and every change . . . and the real sentiment is: "Why can't things just stay the way they have ALWAYS been?"

Because in this world if there were no change, the whole system stalls into doldrums and ultimately dies.

Change creates opportunity for GROWTH.

Change offers a chance to move on - TOWARDS better/different things.

Change keeps us entertained.

Change brings new people and relationships into our lives . . .

and

Change removes some people from our lives.

In yesterday's homily, our priest said that change offers the chance to re-set the clock . . . or flip the hour-glass and begin anew.

Keep yourself in POSITIVE FLOW and celebrate change - I find it exciting as I consider the possibilities.

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215 - Green Hills

Call me: 615-568-2123
Text me: http://www.mycricket.com/sendtextmessage/ 6155682123
email me: barryowen@kw.com
Visit The Owen Group http://www.theowengroup.net
http://www.owengroupnashvillehomes.com
Barry Owen's Internet Portal to all blogsites, websites, and social networks
http://tnrealestatetribalhub.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/barry-owens-web-portal/

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Quintessentially connected to the real estate industry to offer the ultimate experience for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee . . . Inquire within!

We are an accumulation of all of our prior relationships, experiences, accomplishments, joys and sorrows.

Some believe they can forsake all of that and be someone different in their professional role than they are in their personal lives . . . That there can a well defined chasm between the two never to intertwine.

Others are "All work, no Play . . . makes a dull life"

or "All play, little work" . . . FUN but not very lucrative . . . Gotta pay the bills somehow.

So, therein lies the enigma for many professionals who have what it takes to achieve high levels of success, but thwart their own success . . . They simply fail to learn this dance.

I believe you are who you are - warts and all . . . and you should be proud of it and DECLARE it to the world.

Don't attempt to change who you are for professional reasons.

AND

Don't sell yourself short when it comes to integrating your professional goals and aspirations into your personal life.

If you aren't reaching your professional goals and you are intentional protecting your personal friends, family, and acquaintances from your professional self . . . QUIT THAT!

I believe they will not take you seriously and will "dismiss" your career as a hobby . . . and will not refer business to you.

They've ALL gotta know that you are a driven professional and that you and your business NEED their support.

You must invite EVERYONE into your life fully.

We are not here to dabble in life . . . Life is too short for that . . . Let's get the most out of it.

It's OK for you to have different presences - Like a personal and a professional page on Facebook . . . or personal on Facebook and professional elsewhere (Linkedin) . . . Just be sure to extend invitations to EVERYONE to both places.

I think you might be surprised to see how many of your personal relationships have a great interest in the success of your professional self . . . and how many of your professional relationships who would be interested in knowing your personal self.

If you shield yourself, you limit your success.

Stop worrying about whether your friends and family "care" about your work . . .

they DO . . .

AND they would be honored to be a part of your success.

Go ahead and invite'm in :-)

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215 - Green Hills

Call me: 615-568-2123
Text me: http://www.mycricket.com/sendtextmessage/ 6155682123
email me: barryowen@kw.com
Visit The Owen Group http://www.theowengroup.net
http://www.owengroupnashvillehomes.com
Barry Owen's Internet Portal to all blogsites, websites, and social networks
http://tnrealestatetribalhub.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/barry-owens-web-portal/

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Quintessentially connected to the real estate industry to offer the ultimate experience for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee . . . Inquire within!

Seems like as the market slowed, Broker Open Houses have been swarming.

The up-side is that there's really no excuse for any REALTOR not to enjoy a good lunch on any given day.

The down-side is that if you are the one hosting the luncheon for your Seller, your invitations may get lost in the shuffle . . . and thereby low attendance.

The competition is fierce for attendance . . .for getting other REALTOR's attention.

In my market, I think I see @ 10 email blasted brochures DAILY . . .

I'm very quick to delete . . .

UNLESS . . .

Something REALLY catches my eye . . . Like THIS!

"See 5 Great Houses and WIN A NETBOOK"

Note . . . a FABULOUS PRIZE!

In this case a Netbook which I got for @ $315 ($63 per agent)

FOUR real Estate companies represented (5 agents) for DEEP exposure.

An eye catching brochure.

This Broker Open House has been announced by all 5 agents to their individual offices and the the entire local REALTOR public multiple times.

None of the REALTORS are on the hook for a heavy (expensive) luncheon, and we and our sellers all benefit from a robust attendance,

If you're gonna do something in this market . . . DO IT LARGE!

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

PS . . . we invited the general public also :-)

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215 - Green Hills

Call me: 615-568-2123
Text me: http://www.mycricket.com/sendtextmessage/ 6155682123
email me: barryowen@kw.com
Visit The Owen Group http://www.theowengroup.net
http://www.owengroupnashvillehomes.com
Barry Owen's Internet Portal to all blogsites, websites, and social networks
http://tnrealestatetribalhub.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/barry-owens-web-portal/

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Quintessentially connected to the real estate industry to offer the ultimate experience for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee . . . Inquire within!