Julie Press-Raese, LLC Realtor, ARB, CRS, GRI

Here's a bit of an aritlce I read today...

Call them "the haves" and the "don't haves." As in: Those who have to sell, and those who don't have to.

The haves are the distressed sales. These include those in foreclosure, and those in pre-foreclosure "short sales." Such sales are now booming - at bargain prices.

On the other hand, those who don't have to sell are often hanging on to 2006 prices. And they are hanging on to their homes.

Prices aren't dropping. And homes aren't selling.

This could be ominous. It suggests - though it does not prove - that another shoe could be about to drop in real estate, as those who don't have to sell realize they need to compete more aggressively with those who do.

The latest housing numbers tell a story.

According to the Realtors, there were 360,000 second-hand (aka "existing") home sales last month. As the headlines noted, that was down about from a year ago, when sales were 375,000.

But remarkably, distressed sales - foreclosures plus short sales -- now account for more than half of all turnover nationwide.The figure was 53% in March.

"This is the first month that has gone over 50%," says Realtors association spokesman Walter Molony. "It was stable for five months at about 45%."

That means March saw about 190,000 forced sales. No wonder prices are in free fall.

A year ago, says Mr. Molony, distressed sales made up just 18% of the 375,000 transactions. That's about 68,000 sales.

In other words, the number of distressed sales has nearly tripled in a year.

That's the good news. That's a market clearing, at last. Distressed sales are taking place at prices at least 20% below the rest, the association says.

On the other hand, look at those who aren't in foreclosure or a short sale. They're selling their homes while still solvent. This used to be called the normal housing market.

Prices haven't come down much. In some premium neighborhoods they have may even be rising.

But the volume of those "normal" sales is down sharply. They make up just 47% of 360,000 second-hand home sales. That's 169,000 transactions.

How little is that?

Even a year ago, when the housing market was already in the tank, these non-distressed sales accounted for 82% of 375,000 second-hand home sales nationwide. Or 308,000 transactions.

When a real estate market collapses, volumes die first. Prices fall later. So news that volumes are drying up for non-distressed sales has to be an ominous sign.

Those who live in premium neighborhoods often fancy that they are immune from the slump. "Oh, good quality will hold up," they say. It's true good quality may hold up for awhile. But that doesn't mean anyone's immune.

It seems to make sense why a short sale is a good deal right now!

How many of you have helped build a Habitat home? It really feels good to participate in such an important event.

This weekend our local Habitat Home was given to the new family. This was a home that our office took upon ourselves to fund as part of the 100 year Coldwell Banker anniversary. While raising the money necessary to start the build we also go involved in the building process.

While attending the NAR convention in New Orleans, my husband and I went to help for a day as well. The habitat homes under construction there were amazing as well and the need never ends.

So, I challenge you to find a Habitat build either in your local area to help with or while on vacation. These homes are built world-wide so you won't have trouble finding one.

If you're a women and you think..there is nothing I can do to help?? You are wrong. While in New Orleans, I learned to side a house. It was really fun to learn how to do house building techniques! There are even women builds.

So get out there and help someone get into a home. It's the right thing to do!

I just finished reading Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

This is an interesting read that allows you to figure out your top 5 strengths and allows you to concentrateon making those strengths stronger rather than concentrating on your weaknesses.

I am Achiever, Adaptability, Positivity, Strategic and Woo. After looking at these 5 strengths, I'm feeling a little bad as the last few months have not been very positive and I've missed the boat on adapting to the housing market. Not that I haven't been trying. I just needed to step back for a minute.

Now that I know I have been my worst enemy, now I can concentrate on expanding what I know!

It's a great read. It brings light to what you thought about your self and some new info that will make sense. So why concentrate on your weakness?? Go for your strengths. I challenge you to find out what they are!

I am currently working on 3 short sales. For whatever reason, I've not had the opportunity to actually go to a closing yet on a short sale. Usually it was the client who just gave up and refused to cooperate.

I really wonder how long the short sale will be so prominent in our area and fear it may be around for quite awhile. Why?? With GM and the bankruptcy scare, it will have a new effect on many of the home owners in my area.

While the short sale is a difficult process and takes patience and hard work to get together, it can be a correct choice for many. I takes more time and energy than a traditional sale. It is interesting how we have taken on the role of problem solver in yet another way. Any one who is willing to work on a short sale on behalf of a client is truly looking out for the best interest of that client. But they need to be willing to take it all the way. I currently have one in place that could have been sold over 6 months ago if the process had been handled correctly.

This is a difficult time for many sellers and is important for us to truly find a way to help! But no matter what we do, we need to do a good job with it.

If you know of someone who is in this position and doesn't have a clue how to deal with it, call!

It seems to be a better option than letting the home go into foreclosure and all that goes with that. Many people still don't know or understand the process so get the word out!

Last week I attended Realtor Government Day and found some concerns that you may want to know about in the state of Wisconsin. The issue is Senate Bill 93/Assembly Bill 136 would allow property tax assessors to enter onto private property without being subject to trespassing laws.

If this bill becomes law, property tax assessors would be able to enter your property without (a) permission or prior notice, (b)limitations as to when assessors can enter on to a property or for how long they may stay, or the frequency of visits.

The recommendation from WRA: Oppose this bill unless changes are made to adequately protect the privacy of property owners and the fundamental right to exclude others from their property!

So if you don't like this proposed bill, I suggest you let someone know! Be part of the process!