Wine and roses, sunshine and butterflies? Maybe. Maybe not.
REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL.
I speak glowingly of my work, of my local market. I'm not trying to put a spin on the reality of today's real estate market. I'm not pretending it's all wine and roses, sunshine and butterflies -- it's not! You know it; I know it.
BUT . . . it's not as bad in our area as the media would lead you to believe. Some talking-head in New York has no real idea what is going on with real estate in the Wilmington NC area. They're just saying words someone else wrote, and saying it with such authority, the general public is buying it. That's wrong on so many levels. Just like you aren't supposed to yell FIRE in a crowded theater, you shouldn't terrorize the public with incorrect data.
Here's the truth, as I see it: 
It is harder to get a loan these days. For the most part, that's a good thing. People need to buy homes they can comfortably afford -- that's key to financial security. The days of giving a loan to anyone with a heartbeat are gone -- thank goodness!
Some homes are harder to sell. There have always been some homes which, for a myriad of reasons, have been harder to sell. Homes which are unique, over-priced, dated or un-cared for, are always a challenge.
There is a glut of inventory. The foreclosure debacle has skewed our market, and that stinks. But, that's our reality for right now. If you're thinking of buying a home, foreclosures can be a great bargain.
Real Estate is local. When you're buying or selling a home, the numbers which 
matter are local market numbers, not national.
Doesn't it make sense to listen to, and heed the advice of those who are "doing" as opposed to those who are "reporting"?
There have been days when I've wondered, just like you: When will it get better?
It is getting better . . . slowly, but surely. It may not be happening as quickly as we'd like, but it is happening.
Talk with a REALTOR® you trust. Get the truth from a local agent. They know your local market and what's happening there, and can give you the best advice about buying or selling a home in your area.
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