I came into the office early this morning to catch up on some paperwork that needs to be turned in and found the halls to be quiet beyond belief. The receptionist is here with a bright and gleeful attitude. But this office that is normally buzzing with activity is silent.
Contrary to what is happening around the country, our market has been relatively stable. We have pockets with high foreclosure rates and many buyers that are hesitating because of the national news. But overall, it has been a pretty good year in the Houston area. In fact, we have pockets where inventory is very, very low. If a buyer wants to be in the presitgious East Shore area of The Woodlands, they may have to wait 8 months or more to own a home there.
In the areas where the market is being impacted by the national news (mostly the first-time home buyers), we have little that we can tell the sellers about why homes are not selling well. Price reductions and staging have little impact in this market. It is particularly tough for the sellers in homes less than 5 years old. With builders slashing their prices, competition for the dwindling number of buyers brave enough to use their own confidence in home ownership is fierce.
I continue to get inquiries from internet clients and have developed communication methods that help them understand the value of working with me. Since these clients could have been snared by impersonal administrative systems that make their needs a commodity to be sold to agents, it is my passion to help them in a deeply personal and caring way. It has made all the difference in the world to my business.
There is much to do today as I prepare for a Great 2008! See you again soon.
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