There is a lot of apprehension in today's Real Estate Market. Particularly in Florida where I am from.

The market is soft certainly-no one is disputing that.  But just because buyers are not standing in line waving checks to buy the first offering-doesn't mean it is a bad thing.  In some cases they still are.

Just last month I received multiple offers on a single property. What is the trick you ask?

Simple it was priced right.  Sellers who have owned their property prior to the bubble in pricing have less to lose than someone who over bought last year. More importantly, if they not maxed out their home equity and spent it,they can expect to achieve a "reasonable" profit-with the emphasis being on the word "reasonable".

Let's Take a small house that sold 5 years ago for $60,000 and is now on the market for $300,000

That price is about as realistic as a Heavy set woman wearing spandex pants and telling you she is a size 2.

"The Reality in Realty" is to expect an average appreciation, (given the house has been maintained and improved) to be 10- 20% maximum per year.  You would kill for a stock that paid a 20% yield right?

Well perhaps getting honest with your sellers is the first step of the 12 step "Road to Realty Recovery".

I have had numerous potential sellers say to me "I am not going to give my house away"

The first reaction to this statement I have is...(which of course I am forced to keep to myself but am screaming inside) is At  THAT price you are not going to sell it either!  Struggling to maintain an air of professionalism, one can refrain from hurting your sellers feelings.  I offer the following.

"Let's take a ride".   Perplexed most will do it.  I have already located the competing homes in the neighborhood. At this price buyers are seeing A B C & D at the price they suggested.

"My home is better"  A, B, C, & D have been on the market for 200+ days.

"But I want to sell my house in 2 months".  REALITY CHECK..not going to happen.

In my humble opinion, our service as Professional Realtors needs to include a dose of Realty.

Too many larger outfits are starving for listings it appears, and many are taking the over priced homes which lay languishing on the market as seller become irate they are getting no results.

Maybe it is time that we begin to take LESS listings.   Now I can hear you yelling WHAT! 

Well think about this...We don't get paid if we can't sell the property. Right?

So taking an inflated listing means you have an "unsellable"  product. 

Sort of like trying to resurrect the Pet Rock- the market for that is over.

Having escaped the Corporate World years ago, I have always enjoyed thinking outside the box.

Rebelling I guess, Mid life crisis, perhaps...but I am achieving successful results by incorporating some good old fashioned values. Don't ask what you would not be willing to pay.

Perhaps the way to show we are professional and our opinions have a value is to NOT take every listing.

Just say No.  Rather than look foolish go through all the work and effort to market your Pet Rock.

Price it 5% under apprasial and you may just qualify the buyer who has been waiting in the wings.

Over price it and it can join the 20,000 other homes that have been out there for eons.

With Real Estate taxes skyrocketing, house insurance difficult to get perhaps here in Florida at least, it may be prudent to maximize the buyer pool which has for the past year at least been shelved.

 65% of the potential buyer pool was shut out in the past year of the housing market. Escalating prices forced out good hard working people who simply cannot qualify for mortgages over $250,000.

If the average wage earner has an income in Florida of 40-60,000 they are done for in the buyers market under current housing guideline costs. 

Good news is on the horizon. As prices fall potential buyers become viable once again.

Remember when.... gas was under $2.00 a gallon?  Homes could be bought for first timers earning $40K a year... perhaps the "good old days" are not far away.

Just a thought....