Portsmouth NH Real Estate Agent - Rebecca Skane, Realtor®, e-PRO®

You don't have to just sit there and let other people have control over everything. You have a voice, you have a say and you have the right to stay informed. While I was browsing my town's official website, I noticed that they were having a meeting in the town hall on the economic growth of the town tomorrow which will include a real estate report. I think that due to the current problems we face as a nation, this would be an important meeting to attend for anyone living in Portsmouth, from a stay at home mom to an industry leader.

Many town hall meeting calendars are posted online. They are public meetings and anyone can go. Just think, your one voice could change the turn out of the town's decision on one matter. Here are a few links to the town hall meeting calendars for the Seacoast area.

• Portsmouth
• Hampton
• North Hampton
• Rye
• Dover
  

The Standard & Poor's 20 City Housing Index, watched by investors on a monthly basis, was announced today with the largest monthly decline ever recorded. The index dropped 16.3% in July from its rate last July. You can read the article on MSNBC here. The 10 city index also fell.

The good news is that the pace of decline, as recorded in this article, seems to be slowing. In my opinion it only appears to be slowing because we are looking at the data in arrears. And last month, the economy looked like it might be recovering. Next month we should see a plummet again due to the current lending crisis. But this is it. I think we have hit rock bottom. I am eternally optimistic and I think this is our low point and we have nowhere to go but up from here.

Also, an important thing to take note is that the index above is exactly what it is named...the 20 City index. You can't judge every town, county and state by 10 or 20 cities.

The 20 cities in the index (if you are curious):

1. Atlanta
2. Boston
3. Charlotte
4. Chicago
5. Cleveland
6. Dallas
7. Denver
8. Detroit
9. Las Vegas
10. Los Angeles
11. Miami
12. Mineapolis
13. New York
14. Phoenix
15. Portland
16. San Diego
17. San Francisco
18. Seattle
19. Tampa
20. Washington

Now I am curious, where is Houston? The 20 city index leaves out the 4th largest city in the US?

Times are shaky, times are rough and many people are still quivering in their boots wondering what our future will bring. Just as we have done in the past, we will rebound. It may take some time. We might not begin to see some real normalcy for a few years. Things are going to change, but change is necessary for growth.

You might have thought about a career in real estate in the past. The market might look topsy turvy now, but that doesn't mean you have to wait it out before getting a real estate license. Learning about real estate should be a prerequisite for any home potential homeowner anyhow.

Think of it this way. While many real estate agents are leaving the business, you could get in right when the market goes back up.

If you would like to pursue a real estate career in the State of New Hampshire, give me a call! I am currently part of a Keller Williams real estate team offering full license education. 603.610.8944

I am sure you have heard time and time again that it is a buyer's market, so why aren't people buying? I think the heart of the matter lies with fear. First time home buyers only see what is played out in the media over and over again. All of these mortgage companies and banks are either folding and selling off their assets or they are being bailed out by the government. It is enough to scare anyone away from getting a loan. What many consumers do not realize is why these companies are closing, how mortgages are sold off in packages and backed by the stock market, and how the stock market decline is affecting this situation. It doesn't mean that you can't get a mortgage, and it certainly doesn't mean that if you get a mortgage and your institution fails that you will lose your home.

Instead people think, "Well, I better wait for the economy to stabilize."

If this is you, just TALK to your real estate agent! For a first time home owner, now could not be a better time to buy if you qualify for a loan. You might not see home prices this low again after the market straightens itself back out. And yes, I do feel that our economy will strengthen again. Think of it as a natural ebb and flow. We go up, we go down...and then we go back up.