Dear Mr. & Mrs./Ms. Consumer,

Thank you for reading my blog.  Perhaps this is the first post that you've ever read, or perhaps you are a regular reader.  Either way, there is no way for me to tell who you are unless you reach out to me.  If you prefer to remain anonymous, please continue to do so.  My hope is that you are enjoying my blog, and hopefully gaining some valuable information from it as well.

The reason for this open letter is to let you know about some of the things that you can expect from me in 2008.  I purposely waited until the middle of January to write this because I've found that by this time of year everyone has moved on from the holidays and returned to business as usual.

Here are some of the features that you will find on my blog in 2008:

Market Reports - These reports have been done quarterly thus far, but they will be done monthly going forward.  This will allow you to keep more accurate tabs on the Long Island real estate market.  The most recent quarterly reports were just posted. 

{Click here to view the Suffolk County reports.} 

{Click here to view the Nassau County reports.}

If you don't see your particular area listed in these reports, I would be happy to provide one for you with absolutely no obligation on your part. 

Things To Do On Long Island - As a REALTOR®, it is important for me to have knowledge of the things that make living on Long Island great.  As a family man, I experience many of these things in the same way that you do.  It is my goal to provide you with honest opinions of the places that I visit.  Whether it is a day at the Long Island Children's Museum, dining at a local restaurant or attending a local fair, I will do my best to share my experiences with you in the hopes that you can then do the same with your family.

Dr. House's Real Estate Chronicles - This is a new segment that was announced at the end of last year {Click here to read announcement}.  This series is designed to tell it like it is to both buyers and sellers alike.  If you've ever seen the television show "House," you are aware of the fact that Dr. House tells patients what they need to here, not necessarily what they want to hear.  This honest assessment of real estate trends is designed to help consumers make educated choices about buying / selling a home.

While this is written from the perspective of a Long Island REALTOR®, the information provided transcends local markets. 

Long Island Issues - Some things do not transcend local markets, such as our rising taxes and affordable housing issues.  To see a sample of the type of posts that will discuss Long Island issues, please check out this 2-part series Long Island Housing and Tax Solutions (Part 1 of 2) and Long Island Housing And Tax Solutions (Part 2 of 2).  

Relocation - The affordability issues on Long Island are a major factor for Long Islanders that are thinking about relocating to other parts of the country.  As a relocation specialist, I know that this is not an easy decision for Long Islanders to make, but this trend is definitely a growing one.  This year will be the beginning of a major push to provide Long Islanders with information about popular relocation destinations.

Family - Like most people, family is the most important part of my life.  The best way to provide you insight into who I am as a person is to share my family experiences with you.  This will include stories about things that we do together on Long Island, issues that we all face as parents and more! 

You will not only learn about my family, but also about other families on Long Island and their stories.  A very special story about one particular family will be featured in the near future. 

As the year progresses, this list of topics is sure to expand.  One of the best features of a blog is that it is always changing.  It has occurred to me that many of you (the consumer) are reading these posts, but most of you don't share your thoughts.  Of course, I've never asked you to, so you might not have felt comfortable doing so.  I want you to know that you are welcome to make any suggestions that you would like to about the things that you would like to read more about in my blog.  Your opinions are welcome anytime on any of my posts.  If you'd like to share your thoughts, but would still like to remain anonymous, please just use a first name, or initials. 

My goal is not to tear down the walls of anonymity that most people enjoy while reading a blog.  My goal is to let you know that your opinions matter, that your suggestions will be taken seriously, that your questions are important to me and that I will do whatever I can to make my blog something that benefits you.

I may not know who you are, but I know that you are out there, and I want to thank you for reading my blog.  If you'd like to contact me for any reason, my information is listed below.  I look forward to having more interaction with you in the coming year and beyond.

Sincerely,

Adam Waldman