Ray Wilburn, CPA, MBA

This market is a lot like deja vu. It's happened before and it will happen again. I mean when you go to the beach and you walk along the water's edge when the wave goes out you don't forget that it's going to come back. You aren't shocked when your toes get wet. It is the same with this market. Use your head not your heart. I don't suffer form a lot of the worry since I do not watch commercial television. I read the news, listen to public radio and watch my real estate numbers. I remember as a kid growing up and we hit a rough patch in the eighties...we hit a rough patch in the seventies, the forties, the twenties...lol. Isn't it obvious that the wave is just coming in to wet our toes again?

We live in a GLOBAL economy. The normal laws of economics must be applied on a global scale. Things will be okay. There are folks like myself (and after reading my blog possibly you) that will take advantage of this market and buy everything they can get their hands on! Now is the time to invest in aggressive items. Now is the time to buy what you can. If you own a home and were trying to sell it now is the time to sell it and roll any profit you have into a new bigger and better home because you will literally clean up in 18 months when we are passed this little time and the wave goes back.

Utilize my website to do your research (www.RaymondWilburn.com) and when you are ready to buy, or sell and then buy give me a call, or email me at RayWilburn@kw.com.

Talk to you soon.

Ray Wilburn, MBA, Realtor

www.RaymondWilburn.com

RayWilburn@kw.com

This market has been truly wonderful. In a down market it gets rid of all Realtors who are not serious. It also gets rid of a lot of time wasters. You simply can not last in this market if you are not purposeful, educated, and efficient.

I do feel for the folks who are losing their homes it is truly tragic, but at the same time I have to say they should've gone with a qualified Realtor. No Realtor worth their salt sells a home to a buyer that they realize really can not afford the home. It is obvious when your buyer is asking you questions 'is this worth it?' 'can I afford it?' etc. A person that is well educated on their finances and their prospective purchase isn't going to ask you those questions.

Anyway why do I love this market? It does away with lots of nonsense. I do not have to waste time with sellers. i call, and then I explain my points of difference with other Realtors and I explain to them how we can get their home sold in 30 to 45 days. How in the world do I do that? Well you'll just have to email me at RayWilburn@kw.com contact me via my website www.Raymond.Wilburn.com or give me a call (my number is on the website.

I will talk with you all very soon.

Ladies and gentleman it is always a powerful thing when someone goes the extra mile for you. I am a Realtor, and a handsome one at that. When a client needs my help I go out of my way to help. Which is why one of my client's needs me right now so I am jumping into the fray for my client. Why you ask? Because it's just part of being The People's Realtor in West Seattle. The name: Wilburn...Ray Wilburn.

Here's the scenario: My client purchased a super nice condo in West Seattle, but then got called away on business (long term assignment). This is literally two months after finalizing the purchase. He calls me and asks if I can help. What do I say? I say heck yeah! If a client needs a property manager then that's me. if a client needs a dynamite Realtor who knows how to navigate the rocky and troubling waters of a soft mark, hey I'M your guy! Heck, if a client needs a fricken kidney...I'll certainly sympathize but he/she can't have mine!

There is a tool that is necessary in this market, and that is the new and improved 2008 model realtor. A person that is saavy enough to negotiate for clients, and still is willing to lieterally put his/her neck out for the client in really becomming the client's Realtor for life.

When you're ready for that type of Realtor let go of the insecurity, and worry...and stop by the home of The People's Realtor! I'm just like the A-team, but you'll have no problem finding me!

Thanks,

Ray Wilburn, MBA

www.RaymondWilburn.com

RayWilburn@kw.com

Well Mr and Mrs For Sale By Owner, All this ruckus about the real estate market and then new mortgage hoops to jump through mean that right now there's a 5000% chance that you've improperly priced your home. Oh yeah. That means that your home that you are selling because the mortgage is too high, or the home you are selling cause you must move, or because you are divorcing your spouse is now going to sit passed the average time (10 days is the lower end of the average for Everett, Washington Area when listed with a Realtor, or at least on some sort of listing site). What does this mean in plain English?

Your home will sit for four to six months guaranteed

Statistics indicate that you will eventually list with a Realtor

you will have to pay the expenses on that home for the additional time

You will most likely have to wait the time it takes you to realize that you need a helping hand (four to six months) plus the time it takes most Realtors to convince you of the right price (another four to six months).

In plain English it's expensive and time consuming to list your home. And it is simply throwing money away to list it at the wrong price. Ladies and Gents I guarantee you that your home is at the WRONG PRICE . You are personally involved in the home, and you do not have access most likely to the experience and information that a Realtor has.

Interview as many Realtors as possible. Meet with someone that is going to be honest with you. I have told clients and will continue to tell clients that it may not be the best time for them to sell given the price that they will be able to receive. I suggest contacting me and setting up an appointment. If your home is already on the market then it won't hurt to meet with a Realtor. If you are thinking about putting your home up for sale then it is IMPERATIVE that you make an appointment.

I will value your home for you for free and provide any forms or help you need. Why? Because it's win win for me.

-I know the value of the inventory in my area so it helps with buyers.

-Statistically you will end up listing with a Realtor eventually and if I am a non-pushy, resource to you, then you'll probably choose me.

-If you do not use me, you'll remember the handsome devil who was so helpful and maybe refer me.

Log on to www.raymondwilburn.com today!

Everyone is very very frightened now with the changes in the mortgage industry and the news media with their constant egging on of the chicken Little's (help the sky is falling th world is ending...and all that blah blah blah). The truth of the matter folks is that the world is not ending. The world for many of us is just beginning. This is the time where people become rich, or at least where people are able to put themselves into a position to retire well. Let's talk a minute about a few of the ‘scary' things that are happening and talk about how they are potential good things for you.

Mortgages are going to be harder to get.

-Ladies and gents this is a good thing. If mortgages were harder to get a year ago we'd have a heck of a lot less foreclosures happening right now. People who were not necessarily ready for a home in the price range they were considering were given all types of money and they were simply not able to handle it. They were not able to handle it because they went into the deal with an unrealistic approach. With the proper research there wouldn't have been nearly as many foreclosures. Things unforeseen do happen, but a majority of the foreclosures were due to unrealistic thinking and a jump on the bandwagon sort of hysteria that always hits in a seller's market. Empower yourself and do YOUR DUE DILIGENCE so that you can cash in while others cash out.

The economy is going down the drain!

-The economy is always going down the drain. It's always in a state of flux, but up or down it doesn't really matter because an educated investor makes money and makes investments no matter what the market is doing. Do you hear Bill Gates worrying about the market? Or Warren Buffet? No you don't. And you don't because they simply do their due diligence and continue to make smart educated decisions. I'm not saying that now is the time to buy a home, but if buying a home is 6pm...it's about 545. You need to stay abreast of what is happening in the economy and stay tuned to changes in our WORLD.

I want to wait for the market to bottom out.

-The only way to know when the market has bottomed out is to see it rebound. This means stop being greedy, and get out of your own way. That's 'stinkin thinkin' right there. Get over yourself do your research and get busy livin! I mean stop being greedy. You're greed will make you miss it.

My home's value is dropping as we speak.

Your home's value is not dropping. Ladies and Gents this is a big misconception. Your home is worth what you paid for it...that's it's value to you, then it has a value in the market place, what someone else will pay for it. For you to lose money on your home you would literally have to sell the home for less than you paid for it (or less than it's cost for you) and realized a loss. If you have purchased your home within the last year then stop looking at it's value! You will need to hold it for at least 5 years to realize an appreciation and if you hold your home for five years and do not realize any appreciation then think of the tax benefits you've received the time you've lived there and hold it some more.

Again as I advise all of my clients you must look at things dispassionately. This is how wealthy people remain wealthy.

The truth of the matter is that you need to stay informed. Read the articles yourself. See them at my website. The truth of the matter is that there is no need for you to panic, but there is a reason for you to contact a Realtor. And interview many Realtors. You must be sure that you have someone who is not a yes gal/guy and someone who will talk to you and give you the truth. I will tell you if it is not in your best interest to sell now, or if you are in a position to buy now.

What you need to do is meet with me and as many realtors as you can. You must do your research, or find a qualified representative to do it for you. Hang tough folks like I said those of us that survive will be nice and chubby on the other side!

It's just like when we were kids. The dark is scary, until you understand that there is nothing inherently scary waiting for you in the dark. You simply need to memorize the layout when the lights are on and you're fine. Well it's the same for your financial well being.

I'll talk with you soon!