Trevor Elliott

If you are like me you know some people. You probably don't remember everyone you grew up with or meet but every once in a while they resurface and you connect.

The power of Facebook is amazing. Some I have been found by many and found some too. It is awesome to see what others are doing and were they are. The coolest part is being in a service industry and finding serving some of these people. Now I must say the blogging and the Facebook don't seem like work but it is a good way to prospect. Heck, I even have my car the REMAX Scion XB on Facebook. (add it as a friend if you want) The best part is the stream of people that know and like you come to you with their business.

So, next time you feel guilty for adding friends while working don't. Get onboard and find those people you've lost the connection with. Odds are they may need a place to live in some day.

My office tours every week. Something I noticed is everytime we go out we beat each other up. We all come back with price as the biggest factor. I have calculated an average of 8% less that list price. Why do we do this? We are trying to get realistic. We are trying to get prices down. The real question we need to askl is why are we taking listings that are overpriced. We may not be buying listings but we are not being realtistic with ourselves or sellers.

I purpose when we are taking a listing we have tour. Get an honest opinion before and then base condition upgrades from there. I know this is backwards but what kind of impression does that leave a seller with. If 20 agents say its worth X are they likely to listen? What I see is after the fact the tour feedback says lower the price and pick the place up and the sellers feel like they have been picked on. They are defensive at that point and we are left to calm them.

This is my Principal Broker when he sees terminated listings due to inactivity and price. Scrooge?

Seasons change, elected officals terms of service end and with it bring new oppurtunities. History is forming us as a nation. We are becomes something new. We are living within our means, we are creating our destinies and now is more exciting than ever.

No, I did not steal these words from President Obama, but he and I both know what we have to do. We have to get out in our communities and make a difference. We have to own up to our mistakes and make resolutions for change. You may be asking what does this have to do with real estate? Well it means helping your neighbors sell their homes by keeping your up. I means finding creative ways to revitalize our neighborhoods. It means volunteering at schools, it means changing our mindsets from me to we.

Housing is something that we will always need and this is a time to look at your long term goals and determine how real estate can benefit you. Rates are at record lows, prices have deflated and now is the time to buy. Yes, getting a loan is difficult but there are options out there. Oppurtunites arise and finding a way to overcome obstacles is success.

Being in this industry everyday it is hard to look at it objectively. The market is what it is but sometimes I am surprised at what I see and hear.

Banks have lots of inventory. Buyers want a deal but also want to see what rates will do. Sellers want to sell but there is so much competition that they have to make thier homes attract which means price.

I had a conversation with a buyer just yesterday. I have been in contact with this buyer for a long time. He said to me, "If I buy this house, it will be $120 less than my rent". No lie folks. That is what he said to me. I didn't do the math for him, but he gets it.

That open my eyes to the oppurtunities that lie ahead. Times are risky, but with risk comes reward. Let's sharpen our tools, find properties that make sense for buyers and sell away.

Rates have dropped but my buyers are not calling me back. Is the Christmas Season the focus of buyers attention?

Why now? Don't get me wrong I am thankful. I have buyer with a house in escrow and the lender renegoiated the rate. It is saving them about $85 a month on PI. I love that.

The media loves to hamper or production say "Rates could get even lower". Again this is great but the sense of urgency is stiffled by this stuff.

Are the rest of you seeing an increase in buyer activity?