OK...I admit that I want it all.  Our market is about 90 percent foreclosure.  It seems like most of them are going with the people who had the vision to see what was going on 2 years ago. 

What are you guys doing to pick up a piece of the foreclosure pie?

Ok...we know that the market is tough....I know I've cut back on lots of stuff.  My assistant, travel, and worst of all, my cleaning person!  (And massages, too)  All that was easy when we're making the big bucks...but let's me honest, most of us are doing some belt tightening. 

Just between us folks...what kind of adjustments have you had to make that you can conserve the bucks, but don't feel like a pauper?

Over the last 19 years, I've worked for 4 different franchises...ERA, RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker and Prudential.  I've had different brokers try to solicit me over this time period....so the question is...how important is the sign, and how important is the agent?

I feel that the agent is the reason for repeat and referral business, although I've had people contact me because of name recognition of the brand.

What do you think?

This is a question that has been buggin me for a while.

I've been selling homes in Solano and southern Napa county for 19 years.  I'm comfortable with it, know the area, can drive anywhere without a GPS, and feel confident matching areas with clients.

Lots of the newer agents in my office are selling in Brentwood, Oakland, Berkeley...all areas about 20-25 miles away.  Personally, I don't feel that I am serving my client when I go way out of the area, but lots of folks are doing that, and making lots of money.

 I  know that that the Code of Ethics says something about not going beyond your realm of expertise...do you think this is a violation of the Code of Ethics when you wander out of your area....or is it an expansion of your comfort level?  After all, we once had to learn our area.

I was feeling this tonight, when I was doing a brief BPO for a client on a San Francisco property.  I know if it goes on the market, I would probably refer it out, but agents with 6 months experience that can't even spell San Francisco are listing them.

I'd like to hear thoughts on this..............

Do any of you other bloggers love the reaction you get when a buyer finds the right house?

It is magic to watch...first they stroke the fireplace mantle, then maybe caress the cabinets, let their fingers run over the granite counter tops.  I call this "making love to the house".

 Then...the tape measure comes out, and it's placing the couch and entertainment center.  Then, there's always an objection...this wall is too short for the dresser.  (Deciding a $600,000 purchase over a $400 dresser). 

 Then comes the what if and do you think (What if we close in 45 days) or do you think they'll throw in the washer and dryer.

No matter how many times it happens it's magic.  What buying signs do you guys like to watch? 

I had already written a blog, and went to add some tags, and the blog got eaten^&*()%#$^*$%)())

So...here are some pix of Benicia...a wonderful historic town on the water close to San Francisco!

I'm not sure how to format photos on this site...but here are the descriptions.

The first photo is the old State Capitol.  Benicia was the capital of California for about 18 months.  The entire legislature of the state met in this little building, the senate downstairs, and assembly upstairs.

The second photo is the old railroad depot.  Before the bridges were built, railroad cars were ferried across the Carquinez Strait.  The building now is the office of Benicia Main Street program.

The third photo is the gazebo...a popular wedding site and site for many fairs, too.

The fourth photo is the sunset looking towards Vallejo.  We are lucky to have water orientation, and the cool sea breezes!

Let me post this before it gets eaten again!

Lately, I've been hearing lots of EEyor-isms

The market stinks...

I'll never sell another house again...

I'm broke.....................

Do you guys remember EEyor..the poor soul on Winnie the Pooh who would complain on a perfectly sunny day that it may start to rain?

 So we have another rainy season in real estate....my own personal sales dropped by 50% last year.  But we can't survive with a black cloud over our head.  All that would do is attract more negativity, and it would spiral down and down.

 So, I propose keepin an Eeyor-free zone.  Instead of grousing about the market, foreclosures, using your house as an ATM, etc....let's focus on the positive.

I challenge you to write down a win each day.  It doen't hve to be work related...maybe you went to the gym when you didn't want to...maybe you acknowledged someone in the office and made them feel better.  Maybe you read a book instead of watching Idol.

Each win helps keep out the negativity.  In this market, we HAVE to keep going, we HAVE to look at the positive, because like all markets, the worst will pass and those of us who survive will be a whole lot better off!  

Do you like walking down the street, and everyone knows you?  You'd love Benicia.

Benicia is the kind of town where, like Cheers, everyone knows your name.  Of course it has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Warm, fuzzy feeling
• Don't have to prove yourself
• You have to watch what you do

Disadvantages:

• The law of Raleys.  Almost everyone in Benicia shops at Raleys.  The law of Raleys is:  "The number of people that you run into is inversely proportionate to how good you look."  If you are going in for cold medicine, your hair is sideways, you are in dirty sweats, and you don't smell too good, you'll run into everyone you've been trying to impress.  If you have a great hair day, and are dressed to the nines, you'll run into nada.
• You can feel like a big fish in a little pond.
• You have to watch what you do.

If there is an excuse for a parade in Benicia, you'll find one.  The most popular ones are the 3rd of July (we start early) Torchlight Parade, and the Halloween parade.  These are classic Norman Rockwell, with parents helping kids march, belly dancers (well, maybe not totally Norman Rockwell), Mustang cars and marchers waving to their friends lining the streets.

I've lived in New York, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco, and somehow settled in this wonderful little town!