All of the experts seem to agree that the “shadow inventory” is out there.  Houses that have gone through the foreclosure process but for whatever reason are being maintained in inventory but have not been placed on the market for resale.

The motivation behind the phenomenon has been described as being anything from sinister to shrewd. Are these institutional sellers simply buried under piles of paperwork, stymied by litigation, or simply trying to stabilize the market in an effort to reap top dollar for their properties?

Whatever the reasons, in Coweta County Georgia there is a significant difference between the number of monthly foreclosures and REO and HUD homes showing up in the marketplace.

I get calls all of the time about houses that have been sitting empty for long periods of time while would-be buyers await the opportunity to make an offer.

The shadow inventory is out there. And it can affect our market dramatically.

And until it is dealt with in a proactive way a lot of uncertainty will remain.

Real estate is STILL a people business. The overwhelming majority of real estate transactions still rely on face to face interaction on a personal level.

Real estate agents work very hard to place their product in front of as many potential buyers as possible. It is time consuming and expensive to list property.

So it logically follows that if our marketing efforts generate interest in a property, at some point, the relationship has to be taken to the next level: i.e. a real conversation.

And while I enjoy the creativity you employed in filling out the contact information, I often wonder why you choose to hide behind a pseudonym.

If you are looking for a property in my area, I can help you get a great property at a great price. And under most circumstances, my services are at no charge to you. I can provide you with local information and financing options.

I’m not just a salesperson. This is my community and I live here. I know things beyond the posted data on the screen.

If you are just browsing because you are curious about our area, that’s just fine too. We won’t pressure you into doing anything. We are in the sales business, and we don’t want to waste your time or OUR time either!

It is true that if you leave your real name and contact information we will attempt to get in touch with you. We do so because we truly believe that we are in the best position to assist you with one of the most important financial transactions in your life.

We work hard and we are serious about our profession.

Why not give us a chance to show you what we can do for you?

Charity and compassion are wonderful qualities. The ability of human beings to empathize with those that are suffering is unparalleled in the animal kingdom.

There is an old adage that states that “charity begins at home.” And it is one that I take to heart. As a caring human being I often want to contribute.

But there is nothing that is either charitable or compassionate about forcing one’s personal moralities at the expense of another’s pocketbook.

It might be defined as a moral convenience or even political expediency, but there is nothing that could be even remotely defined as charity.

The moral compass will always point us in the right direction.

Do good for goodness sake and no other reason.

Come set your joy on golden fronds
That spice the meadow with saffron strains
‘Tis Spring that waxes, fresh verdure dawns
Awakes as Winter’s crescent wanes!
                    ( R Weisser 2012 )

Spring has come early to Newnan Georgia this year. The “jonquils” started blooming in January and the “redbuds” are resplendent in their awakening.

The trees are already budding out. And while I enjoy Spring as much as anyone, you have to wonder about the impact this unseasonably mild winter will have on agriculture.

The famous Georgia Peaches require a significant amount of hours below 45 degrees to properly set fruit. Not to mention the fact that if they bloom too early, a late frost or freeze can ruin a crop.

But like it or not, we have no control of the weather and must deal with it as it comes.

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the flowers!

I love railroads and I love history. And fortunately, the two are so interconnected that you can’t appreciate one without having a fondness for the other.

Most of the main railroad lines in America were constructed in the 19^th Century. Any town fortunate enough to be situated in the path of the railroad enjoyed a sudden burst of prosperity.

On the other hand, many villages that were bypassed soon faded into obscurity.

The availability of transportation became a necessary component of community survival.

Many modern railroads follow the same right-of-way as their 19^th Century counterparts. And most are punctuated with bits and pieces of local periods from times long past!

If you want to learn more about history in your area, try following the railroad. You just might be surprised at what you might discover.

If you think that the phrase Super Bowl® is in the public domain, think again. The mark is owned by the NFL and its use is strictly monitored and controlled by the football confederation.

Most real estate agents probably don’t think this topic has any application to the business of selling properties. After all, we don’t hawk pizza or televisions or beer.

But using the phrase to promote a commercial endeavor, such as a “Super Bowl® Open House” probably requires a license from the NFL.

Fair use of the expression is likely limited to stories about the game itself. For instance, if you are writing about events during the game or even a journalistic diatribe about fair use of the mark!

Would the NFL issue a cease and desist order to an agent for violating the trademark? Probably not, but the law is the law and if we profess to follow the rules then we should willingly comply with them.

As we plan our “Big Game” parties and celebrations, we must keep in mind that fun is fun, but business is business.

And the two shall not mix!

Disclaimer: The writer is neither an attorney nor an expert on trademark issues. The content contained hereinis only the opinion of the writer. When dealing with any legal issue, always seek the advice of an attorney.

The requirements for real estate licensure vary from state to state. In many jurisdictions, getting a real estate license is a lot easier than getting one to cut hair.

Many suggest that the standard be raised and that more education should be demanded in order to sell real estate.

And while some decry this as a “protectionist” attitude from incumbent agents in order to eliminate competition, I see it differently.

Due to the changes in the actual practice in real estate sales and the ever increasing threat of litigation, strengthening of the licensure process would serve to protect the licensee as well as the public.

The ability to get a license quickly and easily is not a boon. It is a curse.

How much better would it be to send a newly licensed agent into the real world educated and informed?

The agent would benefit as much as anyone.

And be better equipped to serve the public.

There was a time when the MLS was king. Multiple Listing Services fulfilled a specific void in data aggregation and provided a unique source of information that was easily shared by real estate professionals.

Each MLS has its own propriety system for the collection and dissemination of data. In some places, such as Atlanta Georgia, different MLS services compete for membership.

But the simple fact of the matter is that the advent and general acceptance of the Internet as THE venue for information service has rendered the MLS as obsolete. As a matter of fact, even the large aggregator sites should consider their days as numbered.

As search engines become more and more sophisticated, the individual platform will ultimately yield to the enormity of the Internet as a single connected entity that can be indexed and searched at will without the need for third party intervention.

I am seriously considering “going it alone” without an MLS and retaining complete control of my data and content.

It may seem radical now.

By the end of the decade it will be the norm.

Some things should be common sense. If someone tells you that business is slow, or that they are having trouble making ends meet, the best response may NOT be something along the lines of “oh really? I am having my best year ever.”

How much better would it be to say something like “I’m doing okay, is there anything I can do to help you get things going again?”

People that are hurting need support and not a reinforcement of their failures. Not everyone has adapted quickly enough to the current market to maintain the same level of business as in the past.

There are ways to help that may be mutually beneficial. Could an experienced agent be a useful addition to your team? Is there some way that your combination of lead generation and another agent’s people skills be a profitable match?

Empathy can only take you so far. Working towards a real solution can take you the rest of the way!

And it could be both cathartic and lucrative!

The woodpile and the furnace grate
Await the tardy guest waylaid.
Is Winter past or only late…
Asleep, to stir another day?
              (R Weisser 2012) 

It seems as if we haven’t has any Winter at all this year here in Newnan Georgia.

As a matter of fact, even though it’s still January, the yellow bells and jonquils are already blooming.

And although we enjoy a relatively mild climate here in the Southeast, we do occasionally get a real taste of Winter, as these photographs from previous years will attest!

Here's wishing you snow if you want it, and sunshine and warm breezes if you don't!