Our bank foreclosure specialists had to attend a day-long meeting here in Palm Beach County, Florida yesterday.  They have said that, due to moratoriums on foreclosures the past month or two, they've been a little shower than they were.  They were told yesterday that the wave of foreclosures heading their way any minute now is unbelievably large.  Get out your real estate life rafts!

I run some statistics each Monday.  One of them is the inventory of housing units (all types - but they are mostly single family) in the Intracoastal section of West Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach County, south of Okeechobee Blvd. down to the town of Lake Worth and east of I-95. 

This morning's total came at 435.  I flipped back through my chart to this time last year and the number was ..... 538.  That's a 19+% drop.  "They" said we had a 5 year supply of inventory - and this would reduce it to four years - but there is always a supply of inventory; never ZERO.  So, Hey, we are headed in the right direction!

South Florida, West Palm Beach .....most of 2007 I played with my cooking recipes .... most of 2008 I lived off rentals and withdrew from savings, withdrew, withdrew.... There were NO files in the "pending" section of my file drawer.  Any agent who said (s)he was doing well was lying.

Suddenly I have two of my listings under contract, two buyer sales awaiting closing, another good offer coming in on another listing, and a rental listing almost rented.  How wonderful!

I've mentioned before that when any house under $100,000 comes up in my immediate area, I immediately go and see it - that way I can find the diamonds in the mess of the foreclosures and short sales to recommend quickly to buyers.

I've been doing this for one month - and taking stock today, I learn that HALF of what's out there has already gone under contract.  The greatest percentage of those under contract are at the lower end of that group, but boy do they disappear quickly.  You need a score card these days to keep tabs!

I have a listing. Selling agent has an FHA buyer. Contract signed. All okay. Loan in process.  I get an e-mail.......

....from the loan processor to the selling agent who forwarded to ME ---- they want a copy of MY driver's license so that they can ascertain that I AM NOT ON THE FHA WATCH LIST!

The WHAT?  17 years in the business.  Hadn't done FHA deals in years.  Remember that I thought it unusual (but not much brain thought beyond that) that agents had to sign the FHA addendum to the contract......

WELL!  Yes, I had to produce my driver's license to National City (the lender) here in South Florida, Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach ...... so that they could ascertain whether I have been involved in any previous fraudulent deals!

While it's momentarily off-putting --- it's ABOUT TIME SOMEONE STARTED CHECKING!!!!!!

This morning's Palm Beach Post released sales figures for Palm Beach County, Florida as being up 134% in the past month (from March 2009 to April 2009).

A lot of this increase can be attributed to bank-owned properties and short sales - but first time homebuyers are taking advantage of the well priced inventory.  So: sales up, inventory dropping ..... those who say the market will still go lower here will shortly be saying that they SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT!

It's hard to focus on the positive things that happened during the day.  EVERYTHING can't be negative.  If we focus on the negative, we defeat our own stamina.

Trust me, there IS something positive in every day.  Take a deep breath; it will come to you.  Capture that postive and tuck it into bed with you!

My broker is fond of saying that Real Estate is a contact sport - you've got to make contact(s).  How right she is.  And there are the old common denominators for contact: post cards to past clients, wearing your office name badge, being involved in your church/community/schools.

But here's a tip that's working very well for me: I'm writing a column for my local newspaper - a series of things Sellers can do to increase their chances of selling their home. You don't need to be a superior wordsmith - the newspaper folks will edit your material anyway. But newspapers are trying to sell papers, and giving tips on how to up the chances of a Seller in today's market isn't a bad thought!  Send your newspaper this idea now!  Suddenly you're read all over town!

I know we're all different, but having information at our fingertips is OOH so important.  Yes, you say, I HAVE THAT - it's called the Internet! 

Well, yes and no.

The Internet is fine if you're trying to research something of a global nature.  But what about the fact that all REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL.

I started a filing cabinet (I could use three) years ago which my broker shakes her head at thinking it's going to (a) explode and/or (b) require me to ask for more space for a second.  I keep files of City information (applications, permits, zoning.....information).  I keep files of similar County information.  When the newspaper publishes information on a project, a subdivision, an issue (roads, zoning, historic), I get out the scissors and make a folder.  Some are overflowing their manilla container - but guess what - the keeper of information RULES.  Can I tell you how many times a co-worker has said ..... "er.....Linda..... do you, by any chance have any information on....."?  HA!

I'm convinced that 45% of real estate is like being a teacher; 45% therepist.  But that leftover 10% has just GOT to be filled with FUN.  Learn to ask questions that get your customers talking about themselves.  Find common ground through those conversations.  Folks want to deal with real estate agents with whom they feel they have a connection.

Goodness me - finding ways to giggle and laugh makes the time go faster while you schlog through yet another home.

Tip:  I bought an EASY BUTTON from Staples and keep it in my car in the armrest compartment.  At opportune moments, I open it like I'm looking for a pen and ----- PRESS IT.  Suddenly as the voice says from deep within:  "THAT was easy!" - everyone is laughing.