Keith Strawn

Trying to conduct a real estate transaction without the services of a full-time Realtor is like sleep deprivation.

Until you get a good night's sleep, you don't know what you're missing.
Likewise, folks trying to buy or sell property without a full-time Realtor have no idea how much unnecessary stress they've been experiencing, and how much time they've been wasting, until they sit down with a qualified agent.

How many folks have you dealt with over the years who "just wanted to deal with the listing agent?" These folks spend countless hours driving themselves around town, looking for signs, calling listing agents, visiting various websites, and calling more agents off these sites.

And the whole time, these buyers think they are being efficient.

I spent a couple of hours with some folks last week who reminded how important our jobs are. I was showing them one of my listings. They began to pick my brain, and I began to pick theirs.

I discovered they were seeking "owner financing," ideally over a period of four to five years. For a variety of reasons, these buyers are just not in a position to take on a conventional bank loan at this moment.

We all know there are some owners who are in a positiion to offer owner financing, but those of us in the business also know many of sellers right now are folks who bought in the peak years of 2004 and 2005, utilizing one of the myriad 100 percent financing programs available at the time, and have seen their properties depreciate over the past few years. These sellers are not strong candidates for owner financing.

Other sellers might be in a position, equity-wise, to offer owner-financing, but they might just not be inclined to do so. After all, most buyers want to get their money and move on. They don't want to wait four or five years to get paid.

Then, these buyers began asking me about foreclosure opportunities. Again, there are foreclosure and short sale opportunities in my town, Beaufort, SC, but this request is at direct odds with the desire for owner financing. Individuals facing foreclosure or a short sale are just not candidates for a four- to five-year financing plan.

It's hard to tell if buyers "got it," but it felt very good to explain to these buyers that they would likely be running around in circles until they enlisted the services of a qualified Realtor.

Realtors bring genuine value to a transaction, through our experience and knowledge.

If there is a Gmail maven out there, I need your help.

I am attempting to load up a particular category of contacts in my Gmail account. However, after I input the name and email address, and save it, I'll go back and the email address won't be there. The name will be there, however.

Any ideas? Does that sound familiar to anyone?

Is there an easy, quick way to get an answer from Gmail support?

As always, any suggestions are appreciated. Have a great day.

I despise the Florida Gators. I'm a Georgia Bulldog, and the Gators have used my team as their personal whipping boy 15 of the last 18 years, including a humiliating 49-10 thumping this year.

Yes, I loathe everything orange and blue. But the Gators will embarrass Oklahoma tonight.

It's not what I want. It's what I think is going to happen. It's what I know is going to happen.

But, remember, OU fans, our business is all about honesty. WE DON'T TAKE OVERPRICED LISTINGS, and we don't foolishly make our football picks with our hearts, instead of our heads.

42-14, Gators. Wish the Sooners and the Bulldogs better luck next year.

In 2008, my friend Jay received his first command with the United States Marine Corps, at 29 Palms in California.

Now a Lieutenant Colonel, Jay has more than 100 men and women under his command, and, as C.O. he is responsible for everything from run-of-the-mill dereliction of duty to allegations of spousal abuse. When I asked him how he can possibly handle all these responsibilities, he referred to his Sergeant Major, one of the highest-ranking enlisted men in the Corps.

The Sgt. Major, Jay explained, is a C.O.'s eyes and ears within the command, an objective voice who will tell the commanding officer what he needs to hear, not just what he thinks the commanding officer wants to hear.

"So," I asked Jay, "the Sgt. Major has carte blanche to speak to you as openly and honestly as he sees fit?"

"He's bullet proof," said Jay, without hesitation. Translation. As long as the Sergeant Major does it in the professional military manner that is expected, the Sergeant Major is not only allowed to speak his mind, he is obligated to speak his mind, without reprisals.

When you put your house on the market this year, I encourage you to make your Realtor bullet proof. Don't seek out an agent who simply tells you what you want to hear.

Your Realtor is your objective voice within the housing market. He or she is your Sergeant Major. You are well-served by a Realtor who tells you, Mr. or Mrs. Seller, what you need to hear, and not just what you want to hear.

That is the way to sell your house.

Have a great 2009.

I don't know many of us whom would want to see another year like 2008, but did we not all learn a thing or two from the year that was?

I won't presume to speak for anyone else, but I can speak for myself when I say I got a measure of perspective from 2008.

1) I learned from 2008 that my beautiful, understanding wife and my six healthy children are much more important than the number of sales I close. Money comes and goes, but I've only got one chance with these guys to the left.

2) I learned from 2008 that keeping an eye on the outgoing cash-flow is as important, if not more important, as the amount of the incoming cash-flow.

3) I learned from 2008 that there is genuine opportunity for personal growth and reflection in a terrible real estate market.

With all that in mind, I'm ready for 2009. There can be no more surprises. Can the economy get worse? Sure, but at least now I know it's a possibility, and I have girded myself for that possibility.

I stopped by the office for a short while on New Year's Eve, and happened to be the last agent to leave. Before I did, a young lady and her son came into our Bay Street office, to ask for a map, and a few other sundry questions. She was visiting from North Georgia (north of Atlanta), and is pondering a move to our beautiful Lowcountry.

So, today, I will have plenty of wonderful family time of my own, but I will also have the opportunity to assist this young lady, as she decides if Beaufort is a place she might like to hang her hat.

It was a VERY GOOD OMEN and a nice outgoing gift from 2008, which taught me quite a bit.