FireDream

The Buzz From Real Estate Agents on the Housing Market

I recently had the opportunity to attend Real Estate Connect, a conference that gives real estate, technology and other professionals a place to come together and talk about issues in our industry.  During the conference, I had the chance to talk with realtors from around the U.S. and Canada, and I thought that what they had to say was interesting.

You’d think that, given all of the recent reports in the news and online, real estate professionals would be running for the hills and taking everyone in the mortgage industry with them.  After all, how could any of us stay in business when no one is buying or selling homes?

The fact is, the real estate professionals that I talked to weren’t dropping out of the market-they were pressing harder than ever.  They were excited about learning new technologies aand ideas that would help them increase the types and levels of service that they could provide their customers.  Without an exception, these men and women saw opportunity and hope the in real estate marketplace-not gloom and doom.  And their energy and enthusiasm, I have to say, were contagious.

I wish that every person who is thinking about buying or selling a home could have spent even just an hour with these realtors, because I think that it could spur a new generation of growth.  Let me tell you what I was hearing:

• Homeownership is still one of the best ways to build personal wealth on a long-term basis.
• Just like with the stock market, the rule in real estate is “buy low, sell high”.  People who couldn’t buy a year ago now have the chance not only to get into a home, but also to start accruing equity once the housing market rebounds.
• Homebuyers are seeing more upgrades in homes than ever before, as many sellers are striving to make their homes stand out in the marketplace with new paint, hardware, countertops and more.
• Although places like California, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida have areas in which there is a housing “glut”, it’s not a problem across the board.  While time on the market may have increased nationally, there are states-including Texas, thank you very much-which aren’t seeing even close to the same numbers.  (See Amy Lemen’s great column on buying and selling in Texas this time of year to see what I mean.)

In short, I came back re-energized and excited about the possibilities not just for our industry, but also for consumers.  There are great properties on the market, excellent loan programs and, as underscored by my Real Estate Connect experience, terrific, dedicated and professional real estate agents who are ready to help their clients accomplish their goals.

This blog is intended for informational/entertainment purposes only and is not meant to provide any financial or legal advice.