Prepare for Spring’s Housing Thaw

In the famous quote by Joseph P. Kennedy “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” and to reiterate and expound in first voice as a Realtor® from excerpts in real estate opinion, reports and notes by Ron L. Phipps, NAR president; as a Realtor®, the going has been tough—and all Realtors® in the industry have been going, going and going! It definitely has been a long, cold and bitter economic winter in real estate which is affecting our own state of Utah and across the nation. The nation as a whole has seen some of the most challenging economic times that are facing each of us personally as Realtors® and as citizens of the world. 

With the rivers running swiftly looking like they might overflow their banks, there is definitely a hint of spring in the air with the melt of winter’s snow. I know all of us are ready to welcome the promise of warmer days ahead and have it stay that way for awhile. So it is with the projection of Real Estate for 2011.

Here is an overview of what is happening in the market.

Pending home sales: In late January, we reported the fifth monthly gain in six months.

February: In February home sales dropped by 10%. 

Home sales for 2011: 5.3 million sales are anticipated

Consumer confidence index. The Conference Board’s measure of consumer confidence dipped in December, but was up again in January to levels not seen since spring 2010.

These are all positive indicators of what is anticipated in home sales for the year of 2011. Beyond that, we have much to be thankful for. Home Ownership Matters!

References:

http://www.realtor.org/rmonews_and_commentary/Opinion/1101_notes_president
http://www.realtor.org/rmonews_and_commentary/opinion/1102_notes_president?presentationtemplate=rmo-design/pt_articlepage_v1_print&presentationtemplateid=1b18c0004a12c9a4b7e1ffbdd1ec736f
http://rismedia.com/2011-03-24/anticipating-a-spring-thaw/

My First Video Production

Dale Huber
21 Years Old First Time Homeowner
April 15, 2010

Wow this is awesome, I just completed my first editing of a movie I took last year of a closing of my client, Dale Huber who at 21 years of age bought his first home. 

Nine months later I finally got up enough nerve to try my hand at editing the one and only movie I have taken with my new camera. So this is the birth of my first video.

I will have to get busy to find out how to record all my own music to avoid future headaches.

For those real estate peers who are old hands at this, I'd appreciate any constructive criticism you might have to assist in my first stab at this art form. It took me about 16 hours to complete since I had to learn how the program worked. I used Widows Movie Maker which comes with most computers and is a great program to learn the basics before investing in expensive video editing programs.

Murphy's Law

For the past year Murphy has been hanging around a lot, enforcing his known, as well as unknown laws on a day-to-day basis with no rhyme or reason.

According to O’Toole’s Commentary, Murphy was an Optimist.

I’ve always wondered why Murphy’s Laws have had so much weight since the beginning of time.

Well, it is written… and on the eighth day God said, “Okay, Murphy, you’re in charge!”

I thought I had seen it all!

Well besides putting out fires and dealing with one particular obnoxious and difficult Buyer's agent, I was able to close on three properties this week and have three more scheduled in the next month. Everyday is always different and every transaction takes on a life of its own.

Just when I think I've seen or heard it all, it never ceases to amaze me what good old Murphy can do to your day.

Oh...I think I will ask Murphy to go visit that difficult Buyer's agent I mentioned!