Wednesday, March 4, 2009

What would I be thinking if I were trying to sell?

This thought goes through my head often. Many sellers call our office with questions about our fees. The subject quickly changes to market conditions. We gladly take the time to talk.
I think they just need to know more to help them make decisions about selling and they are looking for ears that will take time. If I were in their shoes, I would be asking a lot of questions also.
Are buyers looking again? ... Are banks lending?...Does it pay to advertise in the newspaper?... Are any of the stimulus programs going to help?....Are we seeing an improvement in our business?
Because we close real estate transactions, we do have a pulse on the market.
I'm thinking that, if I were selling, I would learn everything I could about the process and make decisions based on the facts and try to remove as much emotion as possible and that would not be easy!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

3-03-09 is square root day

Today is Square Root Day.
It is a holiday celebrated on dates where the day and month are both the square root of the last two digits in the current year. For example: March 3,2009 (3-3-09).
The next square root day will be April 4, 2016 (4-4-16).
Square Root Days fall on the same nine dates each century!
(it's more fun to talk about it than the market)

Happy Square Root Day!

Monday, March 2, 2009

The Waiting Place..for people just waiting.

Normally, this is the time where the spring real estate market activity usually furiously begins..
But it seems like everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a buyer to come, or a seller to go
or the phone to ring, or no snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their equity to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
(paraphrased from my favorite book - "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" )
by Dr. Seuss