Recession.  That is an ugly word.  Unfortunately, it is one that we as a public are facing in today's times.

In my thoughts there are many different types of recessions.  The one that most focus on is the one involving the economy...I guess you could say that my personal recession is affecting my personal economy...

2008 has started off pretty good.  Had a buyer in the first part of Janurary close a home and has since referred several other buyers to me with those buyers making referrals as well.  So times are not bad, I have done good business so far this year, ranking as one of the top 10 in my office in sales so far this year.

My recession lately has been with listings.  Not a listing to be had in the past few months.  Maybe it is due to the stream of buyers that have been coming my way hurting my marketing efforts, maybe it is the "comfort factor" kciking in....feast or famine, we do only what we have to in order to survive....I don't know.

I do know that we are in a pinch right now.  What do I mean?  I mean it is hard to be either a buyer's agent or a listing agent right now.  Let me explain....

Buyer's agent:  As we all know gas is rediculous!  I joked with my mortgage team member the other day and told him I was going to have to come see him for a loan....he thougt I was talking about for a house...then I said I need to buy a tank of gas..LOL.  You really MUST pre-qualify your buyers, both in mortgage terms and level of commitment, now to make sure your dollars are being invested, notice I did not say spent, wisely.

Seller's agent:  Seller's are really having a hard time.  I suggest to other agents in my office to complete a CMA on any property they have listed on a WEEKLY basis until things turn around.  I can tell you that some of the buyers I have been having all have wanted to live in the same neighborhood for some reason.  I will be closing on #3 in that neighborhood in June and possibly working on #4 - SO I KNOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD and what the houses are appraising at.  This has benefited my buyers twice....making offers that seem low, countering and then having the appraisal come back in the range I selected thereby resulting in the seller lowering the price.  If the listing agents are not doing CONSTANT CMA's then they are not on top of what is happening in this area and the sellers are not going to be happy.

Anyway....I am back at my FSBO efforts hard and heavy as I see new signs popping up almost daily.  So hopefully the recession, at least my personal one, will subside soon....but you can rest assured my CMA software will get a workout when it does.