Hi gang,

It's been a long time since i spent some time here, or posted a blog. So I have been feeling the need to jump back in the rain.

I feel very lucky to know that there is a great site like this for everyone in the real estate business and those looking for answers is available. I can always think of something I'd like to know more about, or think of something where i'd like to hear others opinions before jumping into something, and this site has really come through for me as well as being a great place to meet new friends and clients.

So what have I been up to? Well for starters I have been feeling the effects of the economy pretty hard. Got lots of debt and not quite enough to pay for it all.  I had a pretty OK 2008 but there is certainly a lot more I need to accomplish in 2009.

Definitely seeing alot of our agents leaving the business this year. I heard in my company alone we have had somewhere between 20-45 agents (out of 200) not renew their board dues. I recently read that nationally 20% of Realtors are quitting. So a lot of us are in the same boat, some worse than others. So I can understand why coughing up around $1,000 every January can make folks re-evalute things.

That being said. I jumped into Real estate in 2004, and got to taste the madness that goes along with selling homes like crazy and now have the experience of a slumping market. So I can honestly say i feel  seasoned on what it takes to sell a home in different housing markets.

I personally feel at least for my own business that 2009 will be a positive step forward. I can't honestly see too many buyers sitting on the sidelines this year with all the opportunities currently available. The prices, the rates, my goodness.

As i stated above the herd is thinning, and i don't want to sound to much like a Darwinist, but i do think that will benefit the agents that are still here that practice professionalism, and operate up to high standards.

Let's face it, there are always going to be folks that need our help, and it's our job to be there for them. These are the times when we can show our worth and value, and laugh about how unnecessary we are viewed by the media in busy years.

In the words of Neil Diamond"Hello again, hello"

See ya around, and if you have a question for me feel free to drop me a line.

-Andrew