Real Estate Ramblings from Utah

Okay, so I'm a little late to the blogosphere...but eventually even the most reticent among us must venture into the unknown!

Greetings from a newcomer!  As to my profession (Real Estate Broker), I've got a wealth of experience; however, in this realm, I'm but a babe.

Being that I'm stepping out into the darkness here, I might as well play Hansel & Gretel and place a few tidbits out there of that with which I'm familiar:

• To plagiarize only from the best, these are the 'best of times', and the 'worst of times'.  Our marketplace, like most places in the nation, is starting to flatten out.  In my 17+ years as a Realtor, this is but one more up-and-down sequence on the roller coaster that is the real estate market.  Even while the market flattens out, I'm always looking for opportunities to pick up good properties for both my clientele and my own portfolio.  This is the best time to start seriously looking to pick up good properties, though it may be the worst time to sell--depending on ones perspective.
• In spite of the doom-and-gloom spewed daily in the popular "let's-not-actually-do-any-research-rather-copy-from-The-Times-and-other-regular-suspects-stories" media, there are actually plenty of good loan products out there for those who haven't already been scared off by the aforementioned crowd.  Are there going to be some rough times in the mortgage industry?  Of course!  But then, who in our industry didn't see this train derailing years ago when the mortgage industry began making loans to anyone who could fog a mirror--regardless of their circumstances or invalid social security numbers!  This bout of mortgage flu is long in coming.  Don't worry; as Annie says, "the sun will come out tomorrow."
• In regards to the former item, personal financial discipline will still yield good opportunities for those who know the meaning of 'personal financial discipline'.  Those who believe that they can magically afford to purchase a home beyond their means just because the loan officer said they can, will find themselves inevitably contributing to the 'meltdown' in the subprime market.  Obtaining a mortgage loan doesn't miraculously infuse personal financial discipline on anyone.  The concept is supposed to precede applying for a mortgage.
• I enjoy my profession!  There is great satisfaction in getting acquainted with a buyer or seller's circumstances in order to offer the best options to them in their objectives.  Everyone has a unique set of needs/wants, and I always look forward to seeing the satisfactory results of our mutual efforts.

I'd love to bang out a few more lines; however, I'm heading out with the family to pick apples before the whole bunch fall from the tree.

 Until we meet again, have a swell day!

gf