The people are confused. They want to believe the worst about bankers, lenders and real estate agents. They want to believe they should have been able to purchase their house for nothing down at 2% interest for 1/2 what it was worth and sell it for 5 times what they paid for it. Why? Us--we wanted them to be able to do that, too. So now making a major appearance in the campaign process in a presidential election year will involve "protecting the populous from you and me".
There WAS a bubble and it popped. There WAS a mortgage crisis and it hit us all very hard. Yes, we can and very well should be pointing out the 95% of good things that never ceased in most markets. We should point out the fact that 90% stated income stated asset investor loans are still available. We should point out the fact that the FHA Secure Refinance actually can help tens of thousands of people not lose their home to foreclosure even if the process has already begun. But if we are not honest and transparent--if we do nothing to calm the fears and right the confusion of the public at large by presenting REAL FACTS about our market area and PLAIN TRUTH about the status of the mortgage market this will drag on for much longer than it should.
Positive thinking and positive spin are definitely needed. There has been so much negative talk and so much negative skewing of data--putting the worst data in the forefront and leaving the best data in the shadows--that all of us together in concert are making only minor headway in our effort to call attention to the realities of individual markets.
What can you do?
Blog by gosh! Blog!
Report the truth about your market. Report the number of homes listed, sold and pending. Report about the mortgage industry and what is happening in your area. Mortgages are local to some degree as well. In Atlanta it's still quite easy for us to get bank-worthy borrowers into properties at great rates and little down.
Not too often do new invitation only blogs come along that are specifically for our industry but my final Christmas Gift to 23 of you is to participate in the new "The 24 - A Real Estate Blog" at http://www.blogx3.com
Viral Real Estate - been around for about 6 months but undergoing a complete rebuild
KennyCook.com - my personal blog about real estate, mortgages and real estate investing
There are tons of other blogs, too. Yes, Active Rain is powerful and I am very happy to be a major contributor here. I even get a lot of traffic because of my presence here and have met others with whom I have developed a good relationship. I learn here, I teach here--but it's not the only cart in the apple orchard.
The one key most people miss about blogging is to link back to your money maker. Your money maker is your website that sells. You also need to link using keywords such as, for my example, Georgia Home Loans or Florida FHA Secure Refinance.
Network Face to Face
We can join online social networks anytime anyplace. One thing I love about them is I can do them while I'm doing something else. I can do them while I'm watching sport or a movie. They will never replace good old handshakes. It takes time to build an empire and one of the best places I can think to start is your local business association or chamber of commerce.
Most of them have monthly or even weekly meetings where you get a minute or so to tell what you do and what kind of leads you are looking for. Believe me--you show up at about 3 or 4 of those and don't just be a "guest" and you'll find business eventually.
Help answer people's fears and concerns about the industry when you get your 30 seconds or 60 seconds to speak. If you're in a market where it's still trending down in value get the numbers together and let people know what you really can do for them right now. Don't lie to them or mislead them or even give them false hope.
Bottom Line
We need YOUR VOICE! Your articles to be published anywhere you can. Get out and campaign for change in your industry. If you want real change contact your representative, your congressman, your senator. If you think getting rid of all stated income loans regardless of assets and credit is a bad idea sound off to the Feds.
If you think credit card debt and by now pay in 2012 for cheap furniture is a bad idea call your local radio station and challenge the talking heads. Call Clark Howard and ask him by what authority he gives real estate an mortgage advice.
This is not the time to be quiet and sink into the walls this is the time to be vocal, honest and transparent.
Hey, I'm out there running my mouth every day and working my fingers to the bone showing good buying opportunities for home buyers in my market.
It works more often than not The only resistance we get here is the stubborn high prices. So, I'm just concentrating on foreclosures and new construction. That's where the buys are.
Ken, I agree with you and especially your statement be published anywhere you can. I've been trying to do this and this is also part of my business plan as well. It just seems quite difficult to keep up with all the blogs and then the social networks that I've come across. And I have to admit that sometimes I feel quite stupid in not knowing how to utilize some of the social networks out there. Great post!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Hey, I'm out there running my mouth every day and working my fingers to the bone showing good buying opportunities for home buyers in my market. 
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