What Really Goes on at My Book Club Meeting

What Really Goes on at My Book Club Meeting

I belong to two book clubs because I love reading books. It is as simple as that.

I'm the fiction novel type, but have been known to read the occasional autobiography, or a sci-fi best seller. For Mother's day, I received Steven Tyler's new book, "Does the Noise In My Head Bother You?" I can't wait to get started.

Every month the book club gets together at one of the member's home and that host is responsible for the book selection, coffee and a munchie. The host also has prepared the reading guide questions (these are downloadable online) or some outline of the discussion.

If this sounds intimidating, it really isn't. We have a lot of fun because our discussions not only center on the book, but also on happenings in the neighborhood.

You see these two book clubs are in separate neighborhoods and populated by the people of that neighborhood.

Do you see where I am going with this?

After the general discussion has ended, I am invariably asked, "So what is going on in the neighborhood?" And they definitely mean the real estate goings on..

Here I have a captive audience that is basically awaiting the pearls of wisdom from my lips. Granted they are not ready to sell now, but someday they will be. I have received a buyer referral already.

Once I determine which ones are really interested in knowing the recent goings on and which ones only have a casual interest, I ask if they would like to receive their neighborhood's market report by email. No one has refused so far. Because real estate is not the primary focus, it is really a soft sell- the kind I love best.

And so I have an additional task that I must perform on Bookclub Mondays. I check the market changes in the listings, pendings and solds of that neighborhood so that I am as prepared on this question as I am on who was the protagonist of the story. Because both questions always come up.

Yes, I am locked in to these book clubs. I would not trade them for anything. Because where else can you discuss a good book, meet with good friends and know that you are their go-to real estate agent?

For more good information on buying or selling homes in the Oxnard real estate market, please contact me.