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2009: A year of new tomorrows

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential Choice Properties

I guess I have been pondering where I have been, where I am going and is it going to be different. In reflection there is no question that the velocity of change is so much faster than its ever been. In stepping back observing this phenomena, I am somewhat befuddled. Can I keep up? Will I make the effort? Will my agents accept the changes? Will my clients give me a chance to catch up to them?

After spending more than 30 years in this business I think I can safely say that I have seen it all. High rates, no mortgage money, 20% inflation, mad sellers, mad buyers, mad agents. Narcissism running rampant through the industry as individual demands supersede any concept of group or team goals.

I realize that it is unfair to judge our entire industry when the above emotions are exhibited by almost every other industry or folks we come in contact with. Its just a feeling I have when there is so much negativity exhibited through the media, newsprint and yes on line.

But the good news is that there is and always will be hope.  This site and the folks who populate it have given me education, inspiration to make tomorrow better.

The stories of spirit, business sucess, and new technologies are going to make those tomorrows a lot better.

I have also hurt with a lot you when you told of of some pain. I hope you don't mind, because I also share in your joys.

Its nice to see Active Rain grow. But isn't it a shame that out of almost a million NAR members only about 100,000 plus are members our site.

Anyway, thanks for the mentoring you provide and selfless example in sharing your thoughts. Those tomorrows should be exciting.

Sam

Patrick Johnson
Windermere - Bellingham, WA

Very nice post Salvatore. It seems like we have experienced all those things in just the last 8 years that I have been selling real estate, not to mention the 30 years you have been doing it. I have learned that every day is new, and not to take any business for granted. Every day is a year of new tomorrows :-).

Patrick Johnson, ABR E-pro

Windermere RE, Bellingham Wa.

www.PatricksHouses.com

Jan 28, 2009 11:36 AM
Jon Wnoroski
America's 1st Choice RH Realty Co., Inc. - Green, OH
Summit County Realtor

Hi Salvatore - I agree.  Your post is very nice and it certainly reminds us that the market will change and that we have been through peaks and valleys before.  We will survive and we will prosper over the long run.  With change comes adjustment and we have been good at doing what we need to deal with whatever the market puts before us.  Best wishes.

Jan 28, 2009 11:49 PM
David Width Jr.
Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Thanks for the post Sam. It is the few of us here, the ones that really put forth the effort to help eachother and educate our buyers and sellers, that are going to survive these tought times.

Jan 29, 2009 05:04 AM
D B
Quakertown, PA
e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Hey Sam:  I agree with the others.  It is a good post.  And, Active Rain sure is a great resource to learn from others each and every day.  There are alot of new friends to meet here that are willling to share their knowledge.  Now, that there are 133,400 members, you can see the pace of new people is growing even more rapidly.  Finally, I am seeing some of the Realtors I have worked with in the recent past, showing up on Facebook.  It is catching on.  Those of us that embraced technology sooner than the others, will have a star that is shining ever so brightly.  Others look up to us at the top.  It is a good feeling.

Active Rain is such a good resource for us.  Simply put, it makes the telephone ring.  It increases our income for us.  It is better than free.

Thanks once again for giving us this opportunity Sam.  I am interested to see what response Nick gets on his upcoming class on this subject.

Don

Jan 30, 2009 07:57 PM
Salvatore Ruta
Prudential Choice Properties - Bethlehem, PA

Thanks to all of you who responded to my " New Tomorrows". The Ruta Team members are on our way for an exciting '09

Feb 04, 2009 02:10 PM