I got a phone call today from a staff writer at the Newnan Times-Herald, our local newspaper in Coweta County Georgia. The journalist asked if she could ask a few questions about the local real estate market, and I said that I would be glad to talk as long as she liked.
She started with the usual questions. "How's the real estate market today" and "Where do you see it going in twelve months" and "how long will it take to sell the standing inventory in the county?" At some point, I realized that most of what I was telling her was bad news. The number of buyers is down, and the market is extremely soft for sellers.
So I added something like "and of lot of this is media driven." Her tone changed immediately. "Really," she asked? "Tell me how!" I thought she was trying to dismiss me as a disgruntled agent, but as a matter of fact, this was the real story she was seeking. We talked for about an hour about the real causes of the current crises, and how the media was no longer just documenting the plummeting market, but was instrumental in reinforcing the negative image of real estate prices and mortgages in the area.
We finished with a very positive attitude about how it is a great time for buyers to find values, and that certain areas of the market were fantastic investment opportunities. I left her with all of my contact information, and told me to call her anytime with any questions that she had concerning real estate in the area!
To my surprise, she said that she would, and that my courteous and helpful insight made me a source that she would use often. Good for her, and good for me! We all strive to make headway in our local markets, and being called upon by the local for opinions won't hurt my reputation either. It's a win-win, and I sure am glad that I gave up a little of my time in an effort to help stabilize the real estate market in my community!
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Richard Weisser, Broker, Associate Broker,
Auctioneer, E-Pro, CE Instructor |
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