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Oh What Joy And What Surprise When I Opened Up My Eyes....

By
Real Estate Agent with Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC 919-819-8199

...and saw an informed Realtor standing there...

With apologizes to the 1953 novelty Christmas song “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas”, today's buyers and sellers of residential real estate just might have a better shot at finding a hippo on their doorstep Christmas morning than finding a real estate agent who can answer the tough questions about what's going on in their local real estate market.A Hippopotamus for Christmas

It's a great time to buy” and “We've definitely hit the bottom” are not answers, they are sound bites. Sound bites...which do absolutely nothing when it comes to explaining how it could possibly be a great time to buy when everybody says buyers can't get loans. Sound bites...which don't explain why, since we have hit bottom, raising the price or holding firm when your home hasn't sold is not an option if you actually need to sell your home.

There is absolutely no point in arguing whether or not Americans still want to own homes. It is part of our culture that we want to own our own little piece of paradise; a place we can paint, decorate and fill with our own “stuff” without asking permission. We want to raise children with a place to play and a sense of belonging. We want to be part of a neighborhood or community, with the rights that comes with home ownership, to raise our voice in decisions that affect us. We want a dog.

Buyers and sellers have lots of questions and they deserve real answers. When the news reports FEWER FALL DELINQUENT IN PAYING MORTGAGES (NY Times 11/18/10) on the same day another reports that MORE HOMES ENTER FORECLOSURE PROCESS (Market Watch 11/18/10), a real estate professional isn't very professional if s/he can't explain what the heck is going on.

2010 was one of my busiest and most productive years in 30+ years in real estate. That would never have happened if I wasn't committed to understanding and explaining to my clients EXACTLY what is going on in the Chapel Hill/ Durham market in specific and the Triangle, North Carolina and U.S. Markets in general.

Got some tough questions? Bring 'em on. Confused by the obvious conflicts in conventional wisdom? Don't be, I'll help you sort it out. Want information about buying or selling that, when you hear it, you know in your gut it is true? I've got it.

2011 is going to be a great year to be a great real estate agent. Just like 2010, what it isn't going to be is a year that a mediocre agent can make a living. Sorry to sound harsh but if we've learned anything in the last few years it surely must be that accurate information, negotiating skill, the ability to explain what's happening and plenty of real life experience are what our clients need from us to make one of the most important investment decisions of their lives in one of the hardest economic environments of their lives.

I'm dedicated to my profession and able to prove it. Let's talk.

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SarahGray Lamm is a licensed, full time, residential real estate professional in the Triangle area of North Carolina with over 100,000 hours of experience. She specializes in serving the real estate needs of home sellers, home buyers and investors in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham and Northern Chatham County and is proudly associated with Allen Tate Realtors, the Carolinas #1 independent realty company.

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Disclaimer: Comments and contributions via ActiveRain.com (or other electronic or print media) do not establish an agency relationship with any third party. Blog posts are intended to be informational only. Please be advised that real estate practices vary by region, from state to state and from market to market. The information contained herein does not constitute legal advice. All parties in need of legal, accounting, tax, or real estate guidance are directed to consult with the licensed professional of their choice. Please seek specific guidance from a retained professional in the specific field(s) required to service your interests.

 

Comments (8)

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

2010 was my best year ever in the business. Hoping for a rocking 2011 for myself and all of us in Active Rain!

Dec 24, 2010 02:04 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

congratulations. It is nice when I here that someone who works hard and puts in the effort is doing quite well.

Dec 24, 2010 02:06 AM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

Real estate business is for professionals. I am very much looking forward to 2011. Best to you

Dec 24, 2010 02:08 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

SarahGray   Arthur and I just stopped by to wish you and your family the Merriest of Christmases and a very Healthy and Prosperous New Year

Dec 24, 2010 02:09 AM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

Excellent post. . .the winds of opportunity comes on us all. . .is the set of your sails that determined if you had a great 2010 or not. . 

Love your post and I feel joined to you.. I did have a great 2010 as well

Just stopping by the wish you a Merry Christmas 


Dec 24, 2010 02:17 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

SarahGray - first of all I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.

This is a good call to action...t o learn as much as we can about what IS going on in our particular market and to be able to communicate that information, and answer buyer and seller questions, effectively.

Jeff

Dec 24, 2010 02:23 AM
SarahGray Lamm
Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC 919-819-8199 - Chapel Hill, NC
Realtor - 100K Hours of NC Real Estate Experience

Thanks, all, for stopping by and I wish all of you, some of my favorite "professionals" all success in 2011! See you there!

Dec 24, 2010 02:50 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

It may be late, but I suggested this post, darnit!  Man ... as your "big brother" I'm darned proud of you on this one.  Just amazing!  You tell it like it is.  So very refreshing. It sure makes me wish you and I were in the same market. 

I send my very best wishes to you for an even better and more prosperous New Year.  Stay safe and happy ...

Gene  

Dec 29, 2010 09:08 AM