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!

Listing agents are taught, from day #1, to get the listing ~ no matter what.

Why?

Because the broker wants more signs up to create the appearance of a larger-than-life market presence, and because listings provide listing agents with “inventory” and a chance of making a sale.

Listing agents hope to get a call from someone who drove by, pulled a flyer (if they had flyers in the box ), and liked the curb appeal of the home.

Plus, listing agents have a chance of getting paid if another agent in MLS sells their listing.

But, all of those opportunities turn into challenges when a listing agent overreaches and takes a listing just for the sake of trying to win the monthly office listing contest.

One current popular strategy is for agents to list as many homes as possible while hoping they will get lucky and some of them will sell.

I know agents who are currently carrying 25-50 listings, hoping that "something" will work! 

Wow, what a concept ~ having to “get lucky” in order to get paid?

My strategy is precisely the opposite ~ I won’t take a listing unless I’m sure I can sell it.

Which is why I routinely decline most of the listings I am offered.

And, why I manage to sell nearly all of the listings I take, including this one yesterday.

Real estate is difficult enough without taking large numbers of listings that are overpriced, filthy, difficult to show, and owned by sellers who don’t care if they sell.

That said, I am never too busy to consider your listing if you have a salable property, are seriously-motivated to sell, and would like to benefit from my  experience.

I have survived and thrived through many down markets during my 36 years in real estate.

Our current market is a walk-in-the-park compared to 1982, 1991, 2001 and other "fun times".

I’m always interested in taking a salable listing, regardless of market conditions.

Thinking of selling?

Able to handle some straight talk?

Give me a call at (208)938-5533 Direct and let's figure out a time to sit down and talk about your situation, okay?