Gambling on Real Estate

Hello Anyone out there? Any one at all? Hello???

How many people have gambled on real estate in the last few years? I can think of, oh about, maybe millions.

Real estate has been, and probably always will be a good place, no make that a great place to put your earnings to grow personal wealth. How many bank accounts can you put money into and borrow against it to go on vacation, put a kid through college AND get a tax deduction? Then when the time is right cash it in and make a sizeable profit. There are not too many out there that I can think of.

 Then how come we are all in such a pickle right now? I think that is because Americans have always been a take the risk kind of society. We like gambling, sometimes we gamble it all, just to try and get ahead. The wild frontier, the gold rush, the oil rush...now the housing rush has come and now gone.

This rush has lasting and far reaching effects to the nation and its citizens. It affects how we buy things, where we buy things, more people are out of jobs or are teatering on the brink of losing everything.

So have we reached the bottom yet? That is a question I hear alot. Is this the bottomw, will it be next week, next month next year? I feel the bottom is reached when you as the buyer or the seller feel like you can;t wait any longer. Only then will it be your bottom.

 The media has sold us a rotten bag of no good feelings. Every night you turn on the news, there is something being reported about where we are financially. How are we suppossed to feel better about ourselves, the nation, the economy? Let's turn this around, let's send out the good mojo feelings, good news..let's get the word out.

 Buyers, now is the time to buy!!! Deals abound, rates are great..get out there and BUY! Sellers, if you don't HAVE to sell, don't. WAIT! Let's get the homes that are on the market gone before anything new comes on.

 Sellers are still in the drivers seat, if they play the market correctly, and that would be wait, wait until you have to make a move. Buyers you too are still in the drivers seat, you need to be a smart shopper. Look, listen, do your research,then buy. Understand the market place, work with seasoned agents, respect the sellers and you will win every time.

Word of warning for Sellers - PRICE RIGHT! Remember the show "Price is Right" ? If you didn't get the correct price for those outlandish prizes you were buzzed off the stage? Well, it is the same thing with selling your home. Price it too high and all you have done is sell your neighbor's home for them. Then if you do any price reductions the voltures will come circling and think you are "dying" to sell your home. They will make some low ball offer to see what you have in you. Once that happens your trust in real estate is shot. You don't take the offer and will forever second guess your self. Price is key, actually price and staging are everything in today's market place.

 Buyers - do your homework - don't think because the media claims this is a buyer's market that you can just offer a seller a price that is $50,000 under the asking price. Invesitgate the area, check the comparables, is the home truly worth the asking price? Is the neighborhood priced right? Does the home offering you what you are looking for? If you answer yes then write the offer fairly. Remember you might that same seller sometime.

In short, work with a qualified agent, do your homework, price correctly and think about this major decision you are making. Now is the time to invest in the market for future growth.

 And let me know if I can help you own your piece of the great American Housing Market!