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Now is the time to be in Real Estate!!!!

Many people feel that this is the worst market in decades and that many Realtors are dropping like flies. How can I say that this is a good time to be in Real Estate? The answer to that is two-fold.

First, although sales are off, now is an excellent time to create business relationships with people, such as networking and touching base with your sphere of influence. With the bottom at the end of the tunnel and some light appearing just ahead, it would be good to have customers for when they feel the market has turned.

Next, now is the time to perfect you niche in the market that you are going after. Many people are going after distressed properties, while others are focused on selling or buying. Now is the time to develop yourself as a Realtor or agent, and laugh in the face of rejection. There are many agents that have sold 30 or more properties this year, because they have selected a niche in the market and perfected methods to obtain more and more clients with it. You can to, it just needs to be the one that fits you best.

Finally, don't be afraid of rejection. Many agents became lazy due to the success of 4-6 sales per week and in some cases, per day, where clients came to them. You have to go to the clients or do something different to get their attention. Without that you will get lost in the shuffle of agents.

From a buyer's perspective, now is a time to get Monster Homes for 200-300K in Modesto that are actively listed and not a short sale or a foreclosure. At least that is what they are going for in my region. Imagine a 3000-3500 SF home for that price. When the market turns, these people will make a nice profit when they sell for 100-200 K more than that.

If you think now is not the time to be in Real Estate, then look at the opportunities that this market has provided agents, buyers, and sellers.

Posted by Matthew Zgonc, REALTOR® for Modesto, CA on 05/12/2008 04:13 PM

Comments (13)

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13 Comments on Now is the time to be in Real Estate!!!!

I have been working on Realtors on the bubble to get referrals.It is a win -win.

05/12/2008 04:18 PM

by Greg Hampton North Georgia Mountain Property,Blue Rid (Re/Max Around The Mountains)

Matthew - I am in 100% agreement with you. That is why I am currently in training as I wait for my new salesperson's license to be processed by the CA DRE!

05/12/2008 04:21 PM

by Tiffany Wilson (Shorewood Realtors)

Hi Matthew,

I agree, now is a good time to be in the business if you are thinking outside the box... Have a great week. Michael A. Caruso

05/12/2008 04:26 PM

by Michael Caruso Real Estate Group

It is amazing to me that others just don't see the light that everyone whom I have ever met in real estate that has a niche does so much more business then those who try to do it all.

05/16/2008 01:35 AM

by Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI (Washington Co, Beaverton, Oregon) (Kastings & Associates, Oregon)

Matthew, all excellent points about why it IS the right time to be in real estate. If you love the business and have systems in place it is always the right time.

05/16/2008 09:52 AM

by Gary Woltal - REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty)

Thanks for this post. I'm in DC this week at the NAR mid-year meetings, and the refrain from everyone is how important it is to remind people that real estate is local. Some markets are up and some are down, some are flat. If we focus forward and not back, we'll come out just fine.

05/16/2008 09:56 AM

by Gretchen ~ Lifestyle Denver

Matthew, well said about having to do some thing different to stand out, especially in this economy.

06/11/2008 02:02 AM

by Duane Marlink, Rate A Home (Rate A Home)

Loved your blog. Your right ,it can only get better.

06/12/2008 09:50 PM

by Pamela Hurwitz (Hunt ERA)

Matthew, when I tell people that I recently received my license, I get an incredulous look and the question "Isn't this a bad time for that?" My reply? "This is the BEST time for me to enter in because I have the time to sit, listen and learn before I start transacting." Then I get the light of admiration in their eyes for my positive attitude. It's a great feeling. Perception is reality. Let those wallowing in self-pity do their thing. For me? I'll be out there developing my network and learning from the different perspectives of others more experienced.

06/13/2008 10:09 AM

by Joanna Quan, Notary Public, Certified Signing Agent (Joanna's Notary Services)

Matthew, actually thinking about getting me Brokers license back into working order. It can't be any harder then trying to sell our product to agents, LOL.

07/10/2008 02:06 PM

by Duane Marlink, Rate A Home (Rate A Home)

Amazing and well said post. I 100% agree with you, now is the time to develope and build relationships.

I have had quite a few people looking for rentals...those rentals will be ready to buy in a year or so, and by then I will be ready to work for them again. Some rent to own some lease options...All good.

SOI...build it and keep it strong. Sales are definately picking up, and now is the perfect time for new Realtors to learn from their mentors.

07/13/2008 09:46 AM

by Belinda Sanchez, Realtor (AgentOwned Realty Company)

HI Matthew,

Thought I would weigh in from my side of the fence as a Stager.

Homeowner's are calling me to come out to do a consultation to see if they should invest in their home to sell it now or wait until next year.

First off I always start by saying this a conversation that needs to take place between themselves and their Professional Realtor.

The next part of the discussion is that it is a great buying opportunity if they are moving up for the very reasons you stated. Having lived through three recssions in my lifetime, I know the opportunities are there for those that actively seek them instead of saying years down the road..You know I could have bought that property for x numbers of dollars way back when and sold it for this amount now.

That usually gets them thinking that they should be in the market now and not wait. I am in the same business as Realtors. Moving properties. I do what I can to make my Realtors look good to their clients. My success is their success. It's really as simple as that.

07/13/2008 10:00 AM

by Michelle Finnamore CSP (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.)

I have people that are buying condos right now and are want to sell them in a year or so to move up to larger homes.

07/13/2008 10:06 AM

by Matthew Zgonc, REALTOR® for Modesto, CA (ERA Village One Real Estate)