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Don't let the news media get you down

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty Austin - AustinHomesforSale 565060

It seems like every time you read a newspaper, turn on the tv or listen to the radio, there is always some economics expert giving his doom and gloom predictions of another pending mortgage meltdown. Though it is true that we are nowhere near the conclusion of the mortgage fiasco, one thing to keep in mind is that real estate is very much area dependent. What I mean by that is that though parts of the country have become figurative ghost towns due to foreclosures and relocations, Austin is one of the few metro areas that has enjoyed consistent economic growth. The Austin area is not without its fair share of foreclosure and short sales, but those areas primarily affected are usually in first time homebuyer communities in the outskirts of town. You will find the occasional foreclosure or short sale in the heart of Austin, but those opportunities are few and far in between because of the mass appeal of living close to where the action is. At social gatherings, when I meet someone new and I tell them that I am a Realtor, they usually ask "how's the market?" My usual response is "why do you ask?" It seems that people put too much of an emphasis on the real estate market and how it is doing and how it relates to the overall economy. Purchasing a home does impact and stimulate the local economy, but as with all other investments, there will be periods of appreciation and periods of depreciation. The days of flipping homes based on assumed appreciation are over. Real estate alwasys pays great dividends if treated as a home and an investment.

To learn more about Austin Real Estate, visit my site at www.romeom.com  

Drick Ward Property Management / Broker Assoc
NEPTUNE REALTY - Virginia Beach, VA
"RealtorDrick" - Experienced Representation

You know I see this happen all the time. People watch the news and see all the horrible things going on throughout the world and get all down. They should really try and stay optimistic. Thanks for the clip. Drick

Apr 15, 2011 10:26 AM
Mike Carlier
Lakeville, MN
More opinions than you want to hear about.

Some people look at real estate as if they were trading it like they do in the stock market.  There are few true real estate investors crying about the market.  Most are doing quite well.  The rest of us are interested in real estate because we need a place to live, and we want to either move up, move down, move in (from renting), move out (give up and become renters), or stay where we are.  Of those options, only one or two are hurt by a slow or down market.  If you want to move down, lower prices will have a slight effect on the transition.  If you want to move out, you're probably broke, and the condition of the market doesn't matter.  Everyone else should be happy that the market is slow and prices are lower.  In retail they call it a big sale.

Apr 15, 2011 10:27 AM