Kate Stanford

The cumulative effect of living and working in a community for a period of years is measured by how much you will be missed if you no longer participate. When I'm making a call inviting an agent into our working group, I am often met with "what does it have to offer to my advantage?" After speaking with an agent who is either going to try to cut costs by going with a very meager overhead office which requires him to fill the role as his own pr person, office administrator and fill the primary purpose of selling real estate, or choose to join an office with a cohesive group of like minded professionals with a staff in place to advertise and run the office, it reminds me that our communities we raise our families in and interact with our neighbors for years are run similarily.

One of my new friends who is connected to a group of my long time friends said to me the other day a quote, 'A measure of a man's worth is the service he gives,' to paraphrase. When you are spending time coaching little league or running the girl scout cookie drive or volunteering in a classroom, your own children benefit and you make connections to people who will be valuable for a lifetime of friendship through common interests. You will run into some of these people in different capacities in different stages of your life, and maybe share new, timely common interests which will make those connections just that much stronger.

When we step into the role of benefactor or volunteer in a capacity to benefit for the public good in a role outside of our own immediate gratification, our effect can be even greater. We can accomplish more because we are focusing strictly on benefiting the greater good. This can be in the role of city council, board member, managing a public garden. When you step up from the necessary and appreciated task of managing systems you are involved with to nurturing systems many are benefiting from, you will see the effect you have is great.

Just as when you decide how to direct your career within a community of like minded professionals, one real estate agent can join a team whose drive is to grow the business for each, causing not only the sought after commeraderie that so many agents really thrive on, but a level of achievement that can be measurably increased through planning and consistent contribution. This is what is known as "the buzz" we are all trying to achieve and what is the driving force that attracts new members into the group. What we have to measure is how to get from "me" to "us" in the fewest giant steps.

Within the past week, two knowledgable bank owned listing agent resources have mentioned that we're only about 1/3 through the reo, or bank owned properties that will be listed for sale. A few of my clients wonder if we are experiencing a dip in housing prices for homes for sale, and I would respond that the correlation is correct.

Known holders of massive amounts of real estate owned properties have been holding them in "pools", releasing banks of homes for sale at times strategized to not glut the market. Investors buying paper from lenders have entered into the arena, and are in some cases also lending institutions buying from others.

While the lowering of prices is current, the overall picture is that the prices as a whole are at the lowest they've been since 2004, and any further incremental lowering will be a small percentage of the sales price outcome. It still stands to reason, if you are to drive by that home in a month or several months down the road, will you do a double take and wish you had just put forward that extra bit that would have ensured that you are enjoying that home today? If not, drive on and keep looking.

I find it ironic that the banks that received bailout money are now offering homes for sale that are in substandard condition, not even financable in some cases. Conventional home buyers are unable to compete for these purhases in that they have to enter the rehab loan arena, and go up against cash investors. This is a loop hole that was unforeseen and should be addressed by the agencies that financed this opportunity for the lenders to redeam some of their outlay.

The spring bump is here and home buyers are looking to get into their new homes at the beginning of summer! Rates are as low as they can get, and reo s abound driving the average home sellers' prices down.

Calling all clients who would like to grab while the grabbing is good. I am going back into my network of friends for about 1 1/2 years, finding just the right property for them, and calling with a benefit. My attorney was flattered that I remembered his off hand request months ago, and only brought to his attention a property that would bring him the most potential upside as an investment.

There was a time when I likened digging referrals out of former clients to uncle bob staying on the sofa. Some times you have to know when you've stayed too long. Targeting only the clients I can actually find an advantage for is providing them a service they would otherwise miss!