New Beginnings For a New Year

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams

I have been promising myself that I would start a blog this year. So here I am, starting. What to write about that hasn't already been done? So many posts I read are quite interesting, and worth taking the time to read. I especially like Ken Montville's posts and Katerina Gasset had one recently about working 24/7 or, NOT working 24/7, which I thought was a good reminder for us all.

Here in South Florida, more precisely, in Wellington, near West Palm Beach, aside from the fact that the weather is GORGEOUS (what more could you want?), business is comprised primarily of short sales and foreclosures. No surprise. I just closed a short sale in about 45 days, which is very good I think. Others are in the hopper, but are taking longer for various reasons. So often, the short sale bank is the holdup, so if there is a good reliable lender and a skilled listing agent on the other side, the sales can happen!

Sellers who purchased early on who need to sell are in good shape to do so if they are not greedy and stage the home and price it properly.  That means, if there are a lot of foreclosures and short sales nearby, try to price it in the same vicinity even though that is a "regular transaction". Buyers would love to jump on a non-short sale property priced like one! Forget the hassle of waiting for unspecified lengths of time!

The buyers are beginning to get off the fence and there is lots of opportunity out there for those of us willing to put in the sweat equity. No one ever said it would be easy. But if practicing real estate (and finally getting it right!) is your passion, this is a great time to be in business.

Comments (7)

Thomas R. Martin Broker/Owner ICPM
Investors Choice Property Management - Sacramento, CA
Property Management the way it SHOULD be.

Good to see an upbeat attitude in this market. We are doing pretty well out here in CA as well. The weather is a bright sunny 55. Not as warm as I'd like, but good weather to hit the ground running in 2009.

Jan 03, 2009 03:29 AM
Stephen Butler
RE/MAX CENTRAL - Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV

Your post echos the situation here in Las Vegas.  Sellers here are starting to realize that their competition is the REO's and short sales and price accordingly.  Also like you, I am seeing things start to pick up here.  I just sent a letter to the editor to the Las Vegas Review Journal which was published today which I bet would also be applicable to your market.  Here is the link to it. http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/37036334.html

Jan 03, 2009 04:06 AM
. .
Adak, AK

Congratulations Laura, you made a promise to yourself and kept it. Way to start 09!

09 will bring us challenges like more short sales, and they will affect some of our "regular transactions". I do appreciate when one of those comes along, but for the most part just about every transaction has some twists and turns - and that's where my skills are really put to work.

Someone once defined "normal" as a setting on the clothes dryer!

Wishing you a fine 09.

Kent Davis

Jan 03, 2009 04:09 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Hi Laura

Wellington is an outstanding market with the buyers seeing the great value the market.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

Jan 03, 2009 04:17 AM
Laura Jaffe
Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams - Wellington, FL

I love that--Regular is a setting on the dryer! Maybe that is just where it belongs. And you are right in that the vanilla sales are the same generally, but the tough ones raise us up and show our differences in skills.

Happy New Year 2009!

Jan 03, 2009 04:19 AM
Phil Booker
Booker Realty - Fredericton, NB

Hi Laura, great name, just like my daughters. It's always nice in trying times to see PMA ( positive mental attitude ). Only a few, during tough times seem to be able to make lemon out of lemonade. Or should I say " when the times get tough the tough get going "Keep up the good work.

  Well, Laura, not like your beautiful climate we in Fredercton, N.B., Canada are having some beautiful snow storms during a boamy -20 degree temperatures. My last Open House, just before Xmas, during a blizzard, garnered 10 couples showing up and one of them bought on the spot. Go figure! That is what I love about this business 40 years later. Most unorthodox. Wishing you a very successful 2009!

Jan 03, 2009 05:00 AM
Laura Jaffe
Jaffe Realty Group at Keller Williams - Wellington, FL

Well Phil, I know it's cold where you are. Come to sunny FL and warm up! That is something with the couple buying during a blizzard. They either were under the gun or just really fell in love with that house. I remember, when I lived in MD, showing a couple a home in a blizzard and having to go back to present the offer later that night. Can't say that I miss the cold or the snow!

Here's to success for us all this year!

Jan 03, 2009 05:12 AM