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Continuing education is great, and if it were'nt for the fact I'm required to keep up, the chances are pretty good my procrastinative nature would keep me from taking classes.  I am a better realtor because of the required classes, and most particularly the CRS and GRI classes. 

I am not much in favor of placing the "designations" on my business cards.  While I am truly the beneficiary of the studies, my clients really don't care one way or the other.  Most of my business is through referral, and what seems important to past clients is they were served with their best interest coming first, professionally and efficiently.  The fact we became friends during the process is an added bonus.  None asked me before the transaction if I had "designations" or what they mean.

I try and guide my behavior on an old saying:  "Nobody cares  how much you know....until they know how much you care".

We know somehere between 85 and 95% of home purchasers begin their search and begin compiling much of their information from the internet, using sites such, Trulia, Zillow and Cyberhomes.net.

A word of caution to the consumer....those sites can be miselading if not completely erroneous.  You will be far better served if you find a realtor in the specific area you are searching and ask that person to provide you with the information you need to have.

While making some comparisons for a client that had used two of those sites mentioned above and then compared their results to my own Paragon Multiple Listing Service I found differences of approx $200,000 on homes priced at $450,000.  In one case (Trulia) had submitted very nice pictures, but they were of the wrong home.

Buying a home is definitely a process of gathering the information you need to to make a good decision.  The home buyer is committing way too much money to take a chance on not getting it right. 

There are so many good referral programs out there, the buyer can almost start anywhere, and become connected to a professional realtor in any area they may be looking.

Alan Saunders                                                                                                                          Realty Executives Nevada's Choice                                                                      www.carsoncityhomes.net                                                                                        www.alansaunders.tv

From the article:  "Sales & Marketing" by Steve Harney, April 2009 issue of Realtor Magazine.

Ten years ago the role of the Realtor was seen as an information provider....Today, any person with  an internet connection can access most of what they need to know about the real estate market, including how much their house is "worth".

Today, the Realtor has a new role to play.  Although buyers and sellers may have the information right in front of them, they don't always understand the meaning.  The job of the Realtor now is to offer insights helping them interpret the information.  Here are some insights you can offer in response to the questions buyers and sellers are asking today.

1.  Why are the prices of homes dropping substantially in today's market?

Appreciation went into Overdrive....  Historically homes have appreciated at a rate of about 5% per year.  In the six years between 2000 and 2006, appreciation was 89%, or nearly 15% per year on average, which was totally inconsistent and unsustainable.  Today's correction is a move back to the stability of a healthy market.

            1980 - 1985 ...............25%

            1985 - 1990 .....................27%

            1990 - 1995 ................25%

            1995 - 2000 ............................29%

            2000 - 2006 .................................................................89%

2.  How do I determine the direction of prices in my market ?

Although there are no steadfast rules to determine the future pricing, total inventory divided by the number of houses sold per month is a great guideline.  A normalized or balanced market has five to six months of inventory.  If 100 houses sell a month, there should 500 to 600 houses in active inventory.  Based on this principle, if you have on to two months of inventory, double digit appreciation is likely to occur.  Lack of supply will cause potential buyers to clamor over the few homes that are for sale, which in turn drives prices higher.  On the other end of the spectrum (where many markets are right now), there is a seven to eight month inventory.  With this abundance of supply, there simply aren't enough buyers to support the number of homes for sale.

A quick note to let everyone know we are very much alive here in Carson City, NV despite the ongoing stories of doom and gloom, foreclosures and short sales, of downward spirals in home prices and transactions and statistics that appear to have only a relationship with gravity.

In order to maintain good health, and positive attitude, I have given up CNN, MSNBC and other news channels. Depression will shorten your life expectancy, and result in any number of physcial illnesses. Winston Churchill was asked what parts of the newspaper he reads. He starts with the Sports Section, because it deals with people's achievements & accomplishments.

Real Estate is still a great career, and investment in real estate remains a solid framework for most of the American population. I am not sticking my head in the sand to avoid reality, but simply focusing on what I might "Achieve & Accomplish" I sincerely hope you will all do the same.

While our local markets have been in decline for the past two years, with a good portion of our sales coming from Foreclosures, Bank Owned, Short Sales, and REO's, there is now some indication we may have seen the bottom.

In the last 3 months the sale of resale has increased, and inventories have been slightly reduced, but what seems to be the best indication for our bottom being reached is as follows:

Homes in the price range $150,000 - $999.000 in the Carson City area from Nov 30 thru Dec 31, there was a 2.1% increase in price of the homes sold.  Days on the market remained approx the same at 162.

Homes in the Minden, Gardnerville, same price range - same time frame decreased slightly at .03%.

Homes in the Dayton, Sutro, Stagecoach, Mark Twain & Silver Springs, same price range-same time frame increased in price .05%.

Go to:  www.carsoncityhomes.net for more detailed information regarding the area.  On the home page you can visit Carson City, book a golf group...at www.divine9golf.com or toward the bottom of the home page hit the link titled: Alan's Newsletter, Or click here:  http://realtytimes.com/50/AlanSaunders

On another subject, because the real estate market  has been depressed, I have looked at some other areas to provide additional income.  If you find yourself in the same boat, you might take a look at a site I have found to be rather successful.  They advertise themselves to be a free marketing system, and essentially they are, save a few small upgrades along the way.  The only technical skills needed are an ability to copy and paste, along with the patience to follow directions.  A somewhat lengthy process in setting up...but worth it. http://pikrite.ws or a much simpler one offering free web sites is also worth looking at:  http://website.ws/pikrite.