When there's no wind, row!

I remember figuring out in 1980 that there is no such thing as 'nobody is buying houses'. Interest rates were way high (now they're way low), demand was seemingly low, the then-old timers in the business were telling me they never saw it this bad, yet everyday, when I checked the MLS, there were new listings, new sales, new pendings and people calling to see properties. What I also figured out was if I wanted to be busy, I had to have a consistent plan that I engaged, and work it. My plan was based on how many contacts I made a day to sellers, irregardless of if they were my farm calls, past lead calls, expireds, fsbo's, etc. When I had nothing going on, I stayed on the phone or in front of people. Of course, technology was different, so there was no time spent online, and only a little on getting new catbon paper to work. The only mail I used were handwritten thank you notes to the people who became listing leads in my farm and the like. And you know what happened? There was a lot of business for me as an agent! lo and behold, I was, with the exception of one other agent who used to go canvassing with me and who concentrated on fsbo's when he wasn't farming, outproducing the other 6 or 8 agents in my offices at the time PUT TOGETHER! It wasn't because I was a rocket scientist, and it wasn't because I was selling to family. It was about good, old fashioned, reasonably targeted, consistent work.

I submit to you that concept still works. I am reading many entries on AR from agents who may not have never seen markets temper. Almost any agent who started before 2007 had to learn to deal more with how do you get your contract accepted when there are 6 others on the same property. Now that they know how, they won't have to use that for a bunch of years, till the market gets back to that place.

In the meantime, if they want to have the good fortune of being here to use what was learned pre 2007 post 2015, they'd better get to work making calls, learning their business, honing their skills, going on appointments, being consistent, and doing those things that successful Realtors do when there is no wind. Make sure you know how to use those oars, roll up your sleeves, and get to rowing!

Remember your drivers - appointments, inquiries, contacts, and at the end of the say, conversions. Good luck!

Time is an irreplaceable commodity - use yours wisely

Time is an irreplaceable commodity, the raw material of life. We can use it wisely, sell it, exchange it, waste it or even kill it. To do everything we need to do and be everything we can be, we need to use our time as effectively as we can. Time is finite. If we had forever in our lives, we would have no reason to set goals, set priorities or plan regularly. But the facts are that we are given one lifetime to do it all, see it al and feel it all, and we better keep ourselves on that track. Once time is gone, it is forever spent, gone forever. Even the time you spend reading this is gone, you will never get it back. This isn't a walk-through. It what we get here, we can't buy more time, make more time, squeeze more time, than the 24 hours a day we are given,and all we need to do for us and those around is within that time, and at the end of the day, hopefully with a little time to spare. So, the next time you say where did my day go, have an answer, and train yourself to get as much of the good stuff done in the time allotted. As Tom Hopkins, one of my personal favorite Real Estate trainers, said, "We must do the most productive thing with each and every moment of our time".

Slowdown in REO Sales Stalling Housing Recovery in 2011

A friend asked me to print this recent press release to my blog, so here it is. Don't let is scare you, people always need to live somewhere.

Wayne, NJ, December 05, 2010 --(PR.com)-- According to Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner for Blue Asset Management, real estate investor of performing and non performing mortgages and distressed real estate, the number of properties reaching the end of the foreclosure cycle are increasing and will dramatically add to the supply of homes availble to today's home consumer. The result will manifest itself, according to Blumenkehl, in increased pressure on home pricing, particularly on REO's as banks will find themselves needing to either engage value enhancement strategies which will enable them to open their inventory to buyers who would not otherwise have the funds necessary to rehabilitate the home, or lowering their prices so investors will still be able to create equity for their investments by making the needed improvements.

Blumenkehl added, "The market is not responding well right now to the buying incentives it isn't receiving. The only true incentive available to today's homebuyer are the historically low rates and low prices that are only available to the most creditworthy of borrowers, and that discounts a large portion of buyers who should otherwise be a part of the process of fulfilling the American dream of homeownership. And even those buyers find their enthusiasm tempered by by the difficulties imposed throughout the mortgage loan origination system as designed to meet today's lending concerns."

According to Charles Blumenkehl, the market will eventually thin out, with even areas that have 13-18 months of inventory and climbing hitting their apex, and eventually inventory levels will lessen. When asked when he thought that might be, Blumenkehl said he didn't have the answer but said "God stopped making land a long time ago but he hasn't stopped making people, especially those moving to the United States. Eventually, the people will overtake the land, and the pendulum will swing in the other direction."

For more information about Charles Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company directly at (973)835-1400

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