Looking back on the “Glory Days” of real estate with fond remembrance!

I know what you mean but this is still the best job in the world! Work hard and you can be successful. I do miss all the goodies but maybe the 5 pound of Christmas cookie weight will stay away..My pants will thank me!  

At least we aren't also back in the early 80's with 20% interest loans. Was so excited back then when we were newly-weds trying to buy our first home and the seller's lender (or attorney) forgot to put in a "due-on" clause in the original docs. We assumed at the "very low rate of 7.75%!"

At least the rates are low now!

Being a relatively newb to the industry, I have seen the cutback which was obvious in just the last year. Coming from the oilfield industry, I am used to big parties for rig-raisings and such but even in the oilpatch, things have changed. It is a very new world we live in.

Ah yes, I do remember that. But the "goodies" gifts that meant the most were the ones delivered in person by happy clients.

During the years when I was a broker my husband was a building contractor - so he was the customer going into various building supply stores. They didn't have many sweets set out, but since he was one of their biggest customers, they always invited him back to the office for a "bit of Christmas cheer."

And those people gave gifts to good customes. The hardware store owner gave him a case of Black Velvet one year and a 5 gallon bucket filled with crab legs, fresh from the coast another year.

I wonder if they're still doing that today?

Maybe not.

Thanks for this post.  It is across the board - everyone used to get a little something to say "Thanks".

Hey Richard..

Maybe 2012 has some goods things instore for all who hang in there.. Maybe none of the candies & treats, but I was never one with a sweet tooth. Adult beverage... you bet!

Cheers to All and Merry Christmas!

I've been to five different industry holiday parties in the past two weeks.  Hopefully that's a small sign that there are companies out there that are at least getting by.  I certainly haven't been visited with any unexpected gift drop offs though!

Richard we were just talking about that today. A broken gingerbread house was delivered to our office, (who eats those anyway), but it was from within the company! And we have a nut bread, given to an agent who sold a new construction 5 years ago in a certain development, the builders wife dropped it off for her. That was a shocker, LOL.

Otherwise it is nada, zip, zilch. If I want to snack, I better have my own!

I am seeing this everywhere. Our local mall has given out discount coupon books for the various stores in the mall. I usually save about $100 a year on these coupons books. Guess what? No coupon book this year. Bummer.

I work from my home and seldom go into our office, so I wouldn't know.  What I do know is that I am busy with buyers right now, and at this time of year, no matter how good the market, there have been times where showings were at a standstill.  I'm trying to fit buyers in on this upcoming Christmas weekend, but I am not going to work on Christmas day.  I am having Christmas Eve lunch for my son and his family since it's the only time slot I could get with them, and I'm having a hard time with buyers that want to look on Saturday.  I am feeling optimistic about 2012. :)

Hi Richard,  Call me the optimist or the cups half full.  I think the glory days are coming back in the next 3-5 years!

When I was an insurance adjuster it was the same way.  December was one round of free dinners, lunches and lavish parties with the attornys and vendors.

I didn't much care about the parties as much as the checks rolling in. Florida is a 24/7 365 day market place. The intensity was like driving a Corvette down an on ramp of Interstate 95...

I do think these times are coming around the corner soon. The sign of the times does get a little more obvious this time of year it seems

This is the time to give, not receive, so remind all your suppliers of that!  LOL!  Seriously, around here years ago, it was one long week of party, party, party.  Builders often had some of the best ones!  But lenders and other real estate offices competed for attention.  DUI roadside checks weren't prevalent then, and I think a lot of us cringe at the memory of driving home from some of them.  Over all though, everyone had fun and it was good for comaradie amoung agents, and an opportunity to renew friendships and make contacts that lasted all year.  I miss that, but here in Burlington, there is still a lot of good cheer going around (without the alcohol, of course) and it's a great time to be alive and thank the real estate angels for the life we've chosen and the wonderful people in our profession (the only ones who truly 'understand us').  Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Season's Greetingsto all!

True...So True. I came into the biz 6 years ago and it was still like that at Christmas. That soon ended though. It was fun while it lasted.

Thank you for the post.... It's pretty low key this year here too, with a smattering of cards, chocolates and cookies.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and think about all the pounds you won't have to lose in January!

Even with our down market here in Tampa I would have to disagree seems everyday I stop by the office (2-3 times a week) there is something new on the coffee counter and then a fairly steady flow of emails containing invites from New Home builders, Title, Lenders and other companies about their office parties and Open Houses.  My pants must be shrinking,,,,

Richard, for some reason you seem to get featured a lot, and so I've read a lot of your posts.  And of all the rainmakers that I read on a fairly consistent basis, you seem to spend a lot of time lamenting the current state of the market.  I actually love this market, and have seen my volume increase every year since 2008. 

I don't want to go all "psycho-analysis" on you, but perhaps a more optimistic outlook would help a bit.  Lots of houses are selling, including a $400,000 house I just sold to a guy moving FROM Newnan to Pensacola.  He was an ActiveRain referral from an agent in the Atlanta area...and this buyer told me the market up there was doing great.  It sounds like you've surrounded yourself with a bunch of turkeys, and need to start hanging out with the eagles in your area.