In most cases, the northern and southern areas of California saw much higher gains than we did here in the middle.  In fact, those tremendous and quick accelerations of property values is what trickled up and down to us here in the middle.  And as I have heard my entire life "what goes up must come down."  But what I have experienced is that once it does come down, it may circle the drain for a time, but then it will start to go back up.  And, since we were almost the last in California to experience the great acceleration, perhaps we will be among the first to experience the level when it starts to turn upward.  Even if we circle the bottom for awhile, we will still be selling homes and buyers will still be getting a great investment.  This is very good news for those of us who plan on being a Realtor no matter what the media says.  They have their job security by reporting negative news and Realtors have their job security regardless of whether it is a buyer or seller's market. 

Living and working and selling real estate in the middle of California is getting better every day!  We all see and hear the news from elsewhere.  Today I was talking with my son ... who lives on Maui ... and he was telling me the dire condition of the economy, especially the real estate market.  Well, here in the middle of California, and particularly in Tulare County, the foreclosure numbers were down last month.  And even better, the short sale transactions are actually closing escrow quicker than just a few months ago.  The banks, investors and other lenders are becoming educated to what it takes to actually reduce their foreclosure numbers.  It is the best time to buy real estate.  Maybe not the best time to sell, but absolutely the best time to buy is now.  If anyone wants to buy a home in the middle of California at a great price should start looking here.  Stop listening to the news media.  If you want to know what the market conditions for a specific area really are, you should talk to a Realtor who lives, works and sells in the area you want to buy. 

There are few other professions today offering a topless ceiling to wherever you want to go.  It may take a little more than mere determination and drive to get there.  So does anything else worth going after.  Think about it.  What other "job" allows you to choose your own working hours, schedule them as you prefer, pick who you want to work with and for and then ... and this is the very best part ... decide how much money you want to make.  With the epidemic pace of negative reporting about real estate sales at, right now is the best time to start educating clients, past clients, friends and friends-of-friends about the valuable and marketable truth.  Buy NOW and watch their investment grow over time.  The exact same way real estate has always been a good investment is especially true today.  Buy low, sell high.  It does not matter what the market "looks like" to a reporter that matters to a satisfied buyer or seller.  It does not matter what type of market it is called.  Getting buyers and sellers together is how I choose to make a living.  And that choice is better any day of the week than making a living for an employer who chooses when, how and who I work with and then pays me only what that employer thinks I am worth.  I love the mad potential being a Realtor gives me.  It really is the best job on earth.  Even in this "market."