Every day I listen to the news, I read everything I can and I'm always willing to get into conversations about the real estate market with anyone/everyone who wants to.

I think we have fallen prey to the news media and what they are selling.  I am not an ostrich, but I am an optimist.  My glass is always half full.  Although our economy right now is terrible, the stock market and the real estate markets are in bad shape, we are allowing the media to do a self-fullfilling prophesy for our business.

Almost everything you read or hear is about short sale and foreclosures.  They do NOT make up the majority of the market-yet!  Why are we not concentrating on selling/buying homes with people that are still financially viable?  Sure, there is quick money in short sales and foreclosures, but is this really what we want our market to become?

I don't.  If you have two short sales on a block or in a subdivision, the person (all things being equal) who is trying to sell his/her home because of downsizing, upsizing, relocation or any other reason and has had all his/her ducks in a row doesn't stand a chance.

Let's not let this market go down the tubes because the media says it is.  Let's try to be patient and keep things on an even keel.  I'm not saying to ignore the short sales and foreclosures, just don't let them take up a majority of your time and your energy, just like they don't take up a majority of the market-yet.

Margo