Am I the only one who giggles when yet another “expert” predicts the precise moment when the housing market will recover?

Depending upon the expert du jour, we can select from the following:

• Tomorrow
• Next week
• Next month
• Fall 2008
• Spring 2009
• Fall 2009
• Sometime in 2010
• Sometime in 2011
• Sometime in 2012

I had a thought the other day (didn’t even hurt!).

What if there is no recovery?

What if this is it?

What if . . .

• Demand remains lower that expected?
• Supply eventually equals demand?
• Prices stabilize at affordable levels?
• The speculators/flippers lick their wounds and move on to the next big thing?
• Credit tightens further and buyers have to have a substantial down payment, stellar credit, and be able to afford the home they’re buying?
• Homes appreciate at 2-3% annually like they did five years ago?
• People once again buy a home to live in instead of using it as their personal ATM?

What if this IS the future?

My best guess?

If you’re waiting for “Back To 2005”, it’s going to be a long wait!

Sometimes I dream of offering ala carte fees for each service I provide.

And, when I dream, I wonder what it would be like to get paid for:

• Each home I show to a buyer (with fond memories of the buyer I showed 200 homes ).
• Each listing proposal I present to a seller who thinks I’m “negative”.
• Each home I preview for a buyer.
• Each home inspection I arrange and attend.
• Each negotiation over price, terms, closing date, possession, personal property included/excluded, and home inspection repairs that I successfully conclude.
• Each document I prepare.
• Each document I review.
• Each question I answer.
• Each phone call I return.
• Each e-mail I reply to (with fond memories of the buyer who exchanged 565 e-mails with me, then bought one of the homes I recommended from another agent).
• Each home I photograph.
• Each virtual tour I prepare.
• Each flyer I prepare/print.
• Each closing I attend.
• Each time I tell the truth, even it’s to my detriment.

Most of all, I dream of getting paid for my services when I provide them instead of only getting paid if and when a transaction closes.

If I could get paid for each service I provide, when I provide it, I wouldn’t have to charge a percentage-based commission and listen to people complain about how my fee.

But, for now, I must stick with the existing system, regardless of how flawed it may be.

I must settle for getting paid only for results.

Which is, perhaps, as it should be.