It has been an amazing few weeks in American. Barack Obama is president, Steve Jobs has stepped aside at Apple, my Vista computer has hardly misbehaved, and it snowed at the beach. On top of that I have taken two phone calls on desk duty. One is leading to what looks like a sale, and the other might well develop into something.
As I took this picture of the water behind our home in Bluewater Cove this morning, I wondered if there were any fish swimming beneath the surface this time of year.
Earlier in the week when we had some ice, there were some Mergansers swimming around the the same water. It is a popullar notion that the Mergansers, a diving duck, does a real number on fish populations. I am pretty sure the ducks have much less of an impact than the gill nets in the White Oak River.
I was also thinking about how clear the water has remained in spite of some significant percipitation in recent weeks. I was reminded that at one time this fish nursery behind our home was filled with mud. Because of conservation efforts in the last few years, our water is often very clear.
That makes fishing a great challenge in shallow waters which pretty describes most of the White Oak. Sometimes you are very aware of the brown tint to the water. Other times all you can see is blue water because of the brilliant blue skies that we get. I am just happy the water is clean and clear. I love both colors.
All this got me to thinking about real estate in the next year. Trying to look forward is like trying to read deep and dark waters.
Much of what I could think about real estate comes from what I hear from my colleagues, all of whom are facing some challenges. Just as the ducks have an impact on the fish, I am sure that as my colleagues believe the headlines about foreclosures have an impact on buyers. I suspect that the needs and limitations of the real estate buying population are more important. In spite of a lot of priming of the money pumps at the banks, I have not seen much change in real estate buyers.
What is really happening remains something of a mystery played out in thousands of different locales.
My guess is that like most news, we will not find out the story on 2009 real estate until after the trends are well underway.
In our piece of Coastal NC the real estate market, while showing some signs of life, remains relatively quiet. There are plenty of challenges. The worsening job market is certainly a larger factor today than it was a year ago.
In the end for me personally, it all comes down to this. Listening to doom and gloom is as easy as stopping to chat with someone who has not sold anything in a couple of months. While I can be supportive of other agents facing challenges, I cannot let those conversations define the conversations that I have with the me that keeps me going.
I have to look on the positive side of every situation. The only person that can keep me pumped up and moving forward is me.
With an enumeration of what is headed in the right direction for me, I can keep myself headed in that right direction.
I look at the two properties that I have already sold this year as an indication that 2009 will be better than 2008.
While some have lessened their efforts during the slump, I have continued to increase, enhance, and refine my web presence. There are enough results coming in for me to know that the strategy is working.
My standard marketing efforts have also stayed strong. That includes mailings and strategically placed brochures . Next week I hope to roll out a co-promotion with a popular local restaurant.
I am very pleased with the quality of the content that I have been able to deliver for the Crystal Coast Living Blog which is featured on our company's real estate home page. The electronic village for the Crystal Coast that I have worked on with a friend from Virginia Tech has statted to get some traction. As we refine it in the next year, it will become a great place for potential buyers to find homes and information.
Two of the three small towns in the area are using photos attributed to me, and I am averaging at least two photos per week on the local television station. I continue to get the comment, "So you are the guy who does all the photos?"
When I put my shoes and smile on in the morning, I know that I am headed in the right direction. If I do not have a great year, it will not because I did not give it my absolute best effort. I have promised myself that I will not let myself be talked into a world of doom and gloom. I am ready to acknowledge the challenges, but I will not let them beat me.
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