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First Time for Everything

By
Real Estate Agent with Real Living At The Beach

I just learned about activerain yesterday during a conference call with my broker.  What a wonderful and interesting resource for anyone involved in the real estate profession.  So not only is this my first time on this website, this is my very first effort at blogging.  Please be kind. 

I live in a resort area.  Many people who inquire about purchasing real estate here have never explored beyond the local golf courses or the sandy beaches.  Others who are hoping to relocate out of the cold north east or humid deep south have never even been here.  That is what most surprises me.  The criteria people will use to make an extremely important decision of investing hundreds of thousands of dollars and uprooting their family to a place they have at most briefly visited.  Making that kind of move for relocation purposes is not unusual, but to make that decision when you don't have too just boggles my mind. 

 I am a planner/plodder with a little "what the heck" thrown in for good measure.  So making the decision to leave the safe but not so comfortable world of banking and jumping feet first in to real estate wasnot an easy one for me to make.  I have toyed with the idea of going into real estate since the mid 80's.  So, I missed my share of boom and bust cycles.  But, I was able to sit out and watch those cycles as an interested observer.

When I finally couldn't stand to work another 8 hour day in an office, I already knew the boom was nearing the end and I would be getting my feet very wet during a bust cycle.  During my classes, I was amazed at the naivete of my of my fellow classmates.  They thought they were going to get rich and retire in just a couple of years.  I feel really sorry for them.  Plus the bad name they give to real estate agents in general.  Can you imagine having one of them as your listing agent??  I think I still see a few of their listings sitting on the MLS. 

Wow, don't even get me started on the stuff listing agents put on the local MLS.  I know they have a really tough job, but it would make their job easier if they at least knew where the heck the property is located they are listing!

Okay,  this has turned into a real hodge podge of information and lack there of. 

I'm looking forward to using this as a tool to express my joy, my sorrows, my frustration and what ever else glances through my mind.  If you enjoy anything - thanks for the comments.   If you have tales of woe in the resort real estate market to share - I will enjoy your input.

 

Debbie Creech
ERA Team IV Homes - Poughkeepsie, NY

Cherry,

Welcome to AR where the information is never ending.  Happy blogging!

Feb 07, 2008 01:48 AM
Della Lambert
Keller Williams Consultants Realty - Grove City, OH

Welcome aboard.  I  have been  here only a month and have found an amazing amount of information about the real estate industry and a good deal of good natured fun.  Let's face it, if we can't laugh about our industry we just might go mad......  I am a real estate instructor as well and I do my best to paint a realistic picture of the industry to those wide eyed, get rich quick types.  It can be difficult to convince them of the truth, because they want to believe their version so much. 

 I'm glad to hear that there are other realistic professionals out there who got into the business for the love and fun of it all.  Best wishes in 08.  Here's hoping for a banner year.

 

Feb 07, 2008 01:49 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Cherry, welcome to the AR Family. You did great on your first post. Look forward to reading more of yours.
Feb 07, 2008 02:00 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

 

Welcome to ActiveRain... I have been here forever....  Have fun with AR. 

It's good you have a realistic outlook on the market.  

Feb 07, 2008 02:07 AM
Keith Elliott Jr
KEIRE Realty Group - Manassas, VA
Principal Broker/Owner

Hi Cherry,

Welcome to Active Rain and congrats on your first post! The opportunities to learn and network are incredible here. Best of luck to ya!

-Keith

Feb 07, 2008 06:44 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Hi Cherry,

I see this is your first post on Active Rain.  Congratulations!!  I just wanted to welcome you to a fantastic Real Estate Industry Network!  Welcome aboard, I hope you'll continue to Blog, and invite others.  

Below are some useful Blogs and Groups you may want to visit right away:
You can also use the “search” feature to find almost anything on Active Rain.

Welcome Active Rain New Members

New Members - Getting Started and Active Rain Bloggers - Startup Kit

Before You Write Your First POST!!! and 5 Principles to Creating an Effective Post
7 Mistakes to Avoid on Active Rain

Your Active Rain Settings, Profile and SEO tools.

How To Use Your "My Settings" Page

Active Rain Settings & SEO Benefits

Active Rain Blogs - Finding What You Need

Your Active Rain Profile - Your Masterpiece

Looking for Information or Help with Something?
Your Active Rain Community Resource Guide

The closest thing you will find to an “Owner’s Manual” on Active rain.
Blogging 101 – From the Best Resources on Active rain and
Active Rain Owner's Manual

Do You Want To Be The Featured Agent In Your Area?
Points Breakdown

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GROUPS:

Active Rain New Members Group - A MUST JOIN IF YOU ARE NEW!
It's A to Z for New Members!

Want Free Exposure with your Listings?
Post Your Listings on Active Rain

You can join any groups you have an interest in, or would like to learn more about. 
Maybe
Target Marketing, Real Estate Technology, or you can search All Groups, there
are over 2000 to choose from.

I hope you'll find these to be useful tools in helping you get started here.  You will meet many wonderful people here.

Again, welcome to Active Rain, the best place to start your Blog!

Good Luck to you and your business!
Feb 07, 2008 03:20 PM