I LIVE IN ATLANTA GA ACTUALLY IN THE SMALL TOWN OF MARIETTA. IN THE 30 YEARS I HAVE SOLD REAL ESTATE NEVER HAVE I SEEN A BETTER TIME FOR BUYERS! LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS: NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE REAL ESTATE PRICES ARE DOWN / THE INTEREST RATE ON HOME LOANS IS AT HISTORIC LOWS / THERE IS AN $800 CREDIT ( FREE MONEY / YOUR BAILOUT FROM THE GOVERNMENT) / AND ONE FINAL REASON TO BUY NOW / BUYING A HOME IS A SURE THING - ( BUY A STOCK AND THE COMPANY GOES BROKE AND IT IS WORTH -WHAT -$0- / YOU CAN LIVE IN A HOME - PROTECT IT WITH HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE / TERMITE BOND / TITLE INSURANCE! YES YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS SO LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS AND BUY WHAT YOU CAN EASILY AFFORD. THAT HOME WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU - DIRT AND BRICKS AND STICKS. NOW IS THE TIME!

If only you and convince your clients that this is the time to buy. In my area Cobb County north of Atlanta the Foreclosure Market is excellent. I closed a home for $59,000 that had appraised for $140,000 in 2006. Yes it did need work - $10-15,000 - but still in my area that is a DEAL!!! The standard for Cobb County is sales average 98% - 99% of asking price. The Foreclosures are about 14% of the market and the rest of the homes for sale bring even now 94% - 97% of asking price. Interest Rates / Home Prices / Money Available ( if you qualify ) All reasons to purchase Real Estate NOW!!

Long time no Blog - In the month of July 2009 it will be 30 years I have been licensed for Real Estate Sales in the State of Georgia. NEVER had I seen a year like 2008. It has occurred to me why this has affected me and many others in the Real Estate Business - and Yes - Yes - Yes to all the reasons that come to mind - but I think the big difference is 24 News. Let me make my case - I was relatively new in the business in 1982 - Rates were 16% - unemployment was 10% - It Was Bad! But I did not know how bad - CNN was started in 1980 - no one watched - You got your News at 6 p.m. - if you were home and I was young and out and about! Now CNN - FOX -MSNBC - CNBC - FOX BUSINESS - News on you computor or cell phone - News all the time and it's difficult to get away from it!! So get up every day with a plan - have a TO DO LIST - Talk to People - Get on the computor ( Active Rain / Face Book and others ) - AND DO NOT WATCH THE NEWS - maybe the weather - I feel blessed to be in this business - my destiny is in my hands and I still like what I do - That's all anyone could ask for.

In todays Real Estate Market your listings have to Stand Out from the competition.

My listing was in the Best school district  / Priced at market value / No Offers in 90

days. For the second listing we reduced the price from $189,900 to $179,900 and I

convinced the Owner to put Granite Counter Tops in the kitchen to replace the 1974

formica fake butcher block  tops!

In the first 30 days of the new listing period I had two offers and Sold it for $180,500 and not closing cost

to the Seller! $600 over list price. Price competition is a losing battle - with Foreclosures and motivated

Sellers only reducing the price will not get your listings sold! You have to make them POP!! Owners have

to be convinced to spend a few dollars - and I know that is Very difficult - But this strategy will get

you listings SOLD!

The more difficult the market the more positive we Must Be - Now is the time to Advise and Encourage

all our clients and pospects. Be careful  - we are not attornies or accountants - or financial advisors

( would any one admit to being a financial advisor now??  A quick phone call would help establish your

role as their Real Estate Advisor. E-mail or US Mail lists of Comps for your closed sales would show

your peoples where their home stands in the market place. Stats for your area can be helpful

( Make your own decision here ). Long blog shore - Be Positive - Have a Good Attitude - and be

persistant in keeping in touch and Advising your Clients with information that shows YOU ARE

THE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL!!

Every day there is new information on what the Goverment is doing to stabilize the financial

crisis. How does this effect our sellers and buyers? - our local market - ME?? The term fast on

your feet applies. We can not control the market - WE CAN DEAL WITH IT - Come what may!!

Real Estae Agents get the job done - we coordinate - mortgage brokers - inspections - repairs -

zoning issues - home owner associations ( I had $10K in fines to get a house closed ) - appraisers

-  processers - closing secretaries - and many more ! ! Just add World Financial Meltdown to the list

and GET IT DONE and go to CLOSING ! !

Coach Mark Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs uses this term to inspire his players to complete

the task at hand. Anyone can use this to push forward in Real Estate or Life. Make that next

phone call - Blog today - Did you complete the TO DO LIST? - Did you make one - FINISH

THE DRILL!!

The stock market down almost 700 points and in the Newpaper Pending Real Estate Sales are

up. Whick would you rather have - a piece of paper ( Stock Certificate ) OR REAL ESTATE -

Dirt and Bricks and Sticks!!

The last few years people wanted more - and they got it - TOO Much House  - TOO Many Credit Cards -

and the list goes on - - - - ! Now as Realtors our job is to work with the people to show them the path

of Real Estate Values. You Buy Stocks when they are low. Why not Real Estate? The Bonanza of

Foreclosures now on the market - WOW! - This is a way for the average citizen to built wealth for

the future - and - pay NO Tax on $250,000 - $500,000 in income - on the sale of their primary residence.

First Blog - Getting that young couple or single into their first home still gives me a great feeling.

Last year I Sold a lady her first home - she was 63!  If that does not give you a thrill - then maybe

you are in the wrong business. I still enjoy it after 29 years! In these times remember home much

wealth the American Public has gained by owning Real Estate.