December 03 2008

Having been in the real estate brokerage business for 32 years and seeing many highs and lows, the last 30 day's I was in a dry streak.

The previous month, I closed four transactions, paid bills and the realty is that I have 18 good listings and the past 30 days were the driest that I can remember.

Minimal calls, inquires and this seemed to be similiar among co-workers, including some of the largest companies.

Was this seasonal? was this the realty of the new market?

My reaction, was to make more calls, calling expired, previewing properties, more visits to the MLS, reducing prices on properties that were not moving.

The production, increased listings, the offers that did come in, the buyers and sellers are miles apart and the gap was huge.

Continuance of old fashioned work ethics continued and I found myself staring at mounting bills, and multiple times I left work and went home feeling depressed.

Echoed with negative news, layoffs, the daliy feed of those who are being foreclosed, I have thought of other sources of income and began reading the employment section for a part time positions.

Was I the only one feeling this way?, was it me?

My reaction as a seasoned small broker was both mixed from being depressed and having determination to survive.

Seasoned escrow officers were being layed off, title companies were closing and the jolt of positive energy when placing a new property on the market were have been the mixed emotions that I have felt in the past 60 day's.

Today, I will place in escrow a acreage sale that I have doupled ended, that will close in 30 day's. The buyer came via a telephone call at 4:45 pm one day ago.

What a difference in having an escrow to build ones esteem, there ae no gurantees, but history tells me, I'm going in the right direction.

Jim W Hildreth has practiced in Sonora, CA for the past 32 years