Peter Lavelle

It amazes me when I see how the current economy affects the general population, how the media portrays "Doom & Gloom", and how "we" REALTORs react. Is it my imagination or is what I see from day to day real or surreal? WAKE UP!!!

Ok, what I see from my colleagues is the same gloomy picture portrayed on the boob tube; turn it off! This is a great market we are working in, the world of professional cleansing and creating one or more niches for yourself. So the bank will not approve the buyer you are trying to work with? Guess what, even in a great economy; they still can not afford to buy a home. Why are you working with non motivated sellers, who want to dictate their price and your commission; and buyers that can not get pre-approved to buy a pack of gum? So we blame the current economic situation of the world because we are not recieving settlement checks.

I work in a city that offers grant monies to assist first time low to moderate income earners purchase a home. I choose not to work with this type of clientele. I have made the choice to list and market higher end properties, as well as getting into the REO market, and work with buyers that can put a substantial amount of a deposit with the agreement of sale; not a $500.00 minimum and another after 15 days. The difference is the rate of return on investment and amount of aspirin needed. This is the niche market me and my partner decided to work in. Our colleagues, and my wife, figured we had gone mad to do this, but in reality, who can afford to buy a home in this economy? Those with decent credit and those that can afford to make this kind of investment.

My point is, stop chasing people that do not, or can not, afford to buy a home; another reason we have this subprime mess. Stop taking a listing just to have a listing, trust me, unmotivated sellers will give you ulcers in the long run. Stop paying attention to the media circus. Stop, step back, re-evaluate your business practices, and create your own world. Remember, your business is what "you" make it, not the economy. People are always going to buy and sell real estate, it is up to you how you spend your limited time on this earth and who you spend it with. Happy hunting.