UNITY ~ TEAMWORK ~ COMMON GROUND
So, I have been sitting here reading blog after blog after blog. I love to read what everyone writes about. I learn some new things and that is way cool. I also find things that I either know or have blogged about myself. As I was reading one today by a fellow "Rainer", I discovered I had a plan!
You see, I have really had a hard time with all of this mortgage crud and all of the negativity about the housing market. While it is true that I am a loan consultant, and that my pocketbook is better when the market is more successful, it is also true that I am an American and a proud one at that. I have been a bit more than outraged with the media. Yes, there are changes in the interest rates, changes in the market, and in the economy as a whole. Yes, some of those things are scary, while others are not so much. But, let me tell you this. If I knew nothing about our industry, and I were watching the news ~ or reading articles online ~ or listening to the radio ~ and even seeing some blogs by professionals, I too would be in a state of panic!
Instead, as we are all educated professional, and we can stand together -- unified, why have we not had one loud voice to declare that yes, things may be bumpy, and yes, we expect to prevail through this time of uncertainty? Is it that we, too, are afraid? Or is it that we are not sure how to do this? I mean, Active Rain alone has 42,5900+ members. If there is strength in numbers (and there is), we do have power. We do have some control over where the media takes this market.
Now is a buyer's market. Guess what...people should be buying homes. They are going to get them for a better price right now than they did one year ago. The interest rates are going up -- guess what, if they continue to go up, you should be buying now, not waiting for them to go up again! And, they are still well below what is traditionally a "normal" rate! Come on, people -- let's get together on this thing. Let's get out there and encourage the real estate market. Hopefully during the process of reading my rambling, you are feeling inspired to help buyers, home owners, borrowers, sellers, and the like to calm down. I am hoping that out of this post, we are able to come up with some solid ideas on how to halt this panic. A panic similar to that just before the Depression -- only there is no need for it. Let's learn from history, not repeat it!
So, a few ideas to help our situation and the economy as a whole are to:
- Send out a press release; if Active Rain were the organization sending it, our website may even get additional media play and coverage. That is never a bad thing! I was once very involved politically, and have had a lot of practice with press releases. When done properly and with good amounts of follow up, they do get solid coverage.
- Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Occasionally, they become feature stories. You want to be an "expert" in your community/city/state? There is a great (and free) venue. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people that read them
- Phone and write in to news outlets who are expressing such negative thoughts and viewpoints to the masses. DO they not realize that the housing market will affect the entire US and global economy? If they do, they should then realize that the economy needs us to be successful!
Please let me know your thoughts on what we can do to stand together and solve this apparent media circus and their crying wolf. I am anxious to hear your thoughts.
;)
Links;)
Tags (Tag Cloud);)
Archives
Great ideas! I love the idea regarding becoming an expert with your area and local paper.