Katie Evans

I was fortunate enough to remember my Great Grandmother as a child. At the age of seven and five, my brother and I thought that she was the epitomy of crazy. She would give us a dollar and tell us to hold onto it. We might need it someday. Her favorite stories were about the Great Depression. We thought that listening to her was worst than the depression.

Now I am thinking we need to listen!

In school. we learned that the stock market crash of 1929 started the great depression. We all had to memorize that Black Tuesday was October 29, 1929.

However, it was a greater problem:

Essentially, years before the Great Depression was years of prosperity. Jobs were plentiful. This was the first taste of American spending! Banks began to loan everyone money for cars and furniture. Many believed that the newly born Federal Reserve would stabilize the economy.

In 1928 and 1929, the Federal Reserve was worried about the increase in stock prices. By 1928 and 1929 the Federal Reserve was worried about the high level of the stock market. They attempted to "cool" the market. They made it difficult to borrow money for stock speculation. They also raised interest rates. It feared that the "bubble" component of stock prices might burst suddenly.

They say that hind sight is 20/20.

The U.S. economy was already past the peak of the business cycle when the stock market crashed in October of 1929. So it looks as though the Federal Reserve did "overdo it"--did raise interest rates too much, and bring on the recession that they had hoped to avoid. Essentially, they distroyed the village in order to save it.

Doing a little research on this has been scary! These problems are very similar to the state of our housing market. The Federal Reserve has worked since 2000 to make sure the bubble hasn't burst. There was 82 pages of blogs about "the bubble" on Active Rain. We has Realtors like to control the situation. It is frustraing to realize that we have no control. Where do we stand? Have we hit bottom? I don't know about you but I hate the news. I woke up this morning refreshed and ready to start my week. Then to hear about Freddie Mae and Fannie Mac.

We do not know where we stand. Only one thing is for certain, this period of history will be in the texts books.

We all need to remember what doesn't kill us makes us stronger! We will bounce back. Hopefully better than before.

Abbot Farms is a doublewide community located in Ayden, North Carolina. The school district is Ayden Elementary, Ayden Middle and Ayden High School.

The average sales price is $75,564. The average list price is $80,389. Therefore, buyers are accepting 94% of the list to sales price historically. This data is compiled over years 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Common streets in this subdivision include: Tobba Court, Blackmoore Run, Farmview Court, and Walton Drive.

There is currently one home active in this subdivision. The list price is $69,900.

For active homes in the Abbot Farm subdivision, visit my website www.greenvillehomesnow.com.

Need to list your home in the Abbott Farms subdivision, call me directly at 252.341.5052.

Katie Evans

The Key Group

I am so proud of myself that I just had to share.

It started as a simple request. Hey Katie, we are planning our class reunion. We wanted to get your input because you have such good ideas.

Gave them my ideas.....

Next email.......Katie you are so good at this. Blah! Blah! Blah!

We communicate a few times them it comes. Listen Katie we were talking and you are so well connected still in Farmville and so good at planning events. We were hoping that you be our local point of contact for the reunion.

I waited about two days. Could I dare do it?

I pulled out the word that I am just learning to use:

NO!

Here is my response: Thanks for my vote of confidence. With a growing business and three children, I do not think that I would be able to give the reunion the commitment that it deserves!

It felt so good.

I am so appreciative for my business. It has been an outlet that has enabled me to grow as a person. It has taken me almost five years to learn that it is okay to turn down a listing.........AND A CLASS REUNION JOB! I will for once just go and enjoy myself.

This blog is no shape of form my endorsement of any candidate for president. I still am very undecided where I stand.

However, after listening to the news this morning I AM PISSED! Now I have to get this off my chest.

First, let me give you a little background on me.

I am a mother to three beautiful children. They happen to be EXTREMELY CLOSE IN AGE. Try 5, 4, and 3! I make it very clear to all my sellers that they are a big part of my life. I have refused listings because my children were discussed as a possible liability. I have lost buyers because of tball games and dance.

I can find another buyer or seller. The first day of kindergarten will never happen again!

Having children has made me a better Realtor. I understand more than ever the importance of time management. I have learned the value of building a team. I have even learned to use my children's social activities as a way to network!

Sarah Palin is a mother of five children. All of us had made choices we would not want our mothers to know about. Let alone the entire county! I do not have an issue with her daughter being pregnant. It is not the information that bothers me. It is the media twist on the information.

HERE IS WHAT PISSES ME OFF! The reporters and media implying that she cannot do her job BECAUSE of her kids. I watched an interview this morning with Palin's best friend. Maggy Rodriquez with The Early Show actually had the nerve to ask her who would keep her kids while she was Vice President. Here is a novel thought: the DADDY! Behind every strong woman is a strong man. There is also preschool, daycare, and school.

I am sure over the next few weeks we will learn more about John McCain's running mate. I look forward to the opportunity to listen to her speech tonight to see what she is all about! I would ask any seller, buyer, or agent to not make preconceived notions of how I run my business because I have a family. I work very hard. Like I tell my sellers, "I have the got tos: got to eat, got to drive, got to pay for childcare!"

Thank you Sarah Palin for some very vaulable lessons. Mothers can be anything they want including the most powerful person on earth! SO Mothers GO SELL SOME HOUSES!

As an agent in today's market we are faced with a challenge. It seems that many of us have free time on our hands. Some have so much free time that they have gotten full time jobs!

The RE/MAX that I work in had 55 agents at the start of the year. Now we are down to 35! Many went to offices where the fees are less. Others have gotten out of the real estate business. I made a commitment to this business five years ago. I am still committed to assisting people in the Greenville/Pitt County area buy and sell homes.

If you are planning to sell your home in the Greenville area, your selection for your Realtor is more importtant than EVER!

All Realtors in today's market are NOT created alike!

Here are some things that set me apart from other agents in my market:

1. I actively discuss market conditions, listings, and my feelings on blog!

2. Three websites that are hosted by some fabulous compaines: tigerlead, numberonexpert, and point2nls.

3. You home will be enhanced on both realtor.com and remax.com .

4. Visual tour with the ability for me to see how many "web shoppers" we have weekly.

5. Aggresive payperclick to guarantee maximum exposure!

6. Full time listing coordinator to make sure all of the "details" do not get overlooked.

These are just a few of the things that we do. Please feel free to RING THE KEYS! I would love to sit down with you and discuss in greater detail your specific needs!

Please visit my websites:

www.greenvillehomesnow.com

www.pittcounty4you.com

www.callthekeygroup.com

www.ringthekeys.com

Katie Evans

The Key Group of RE/MAX Preferred Realty

(252) 341.5052