Frankly Speaking

Recently DataQuick released its report showing that the Southern California Real Estate Market was still feeling the effects of the collapse we experienced at the end of 2007. In the Southland home sales overall are down slightly in year to year comparisons. On a similar note the median sales price from across Southern California has fallen modestly from a year ago to today (280K from 285K). The total number of sales in the six county area was down nominally for the 10 th straight month when compared to the previous year. This comes at a time when we are usually building some momentum as we head into the peak selling season. What this tells us really is that there is still some buyer hesitance to be dealt with. According to DataQuick, “sales have been below average for a protracted period of time. And, there is little doubt that there is a pent-up demand out there”. Buyer hesitation seems to be coming from a continued fear of prices falling further combined with the reality that quali...

Last week while in Austin Texas for some training, while reading the local newspaper, I came across the story of Zach Thibodeaux. Zach is an eight year old boy who is suffering from a degenerative disease known as Cone-Rod Dystrophy. This disease is rapidly robbing Zach of his sight. In fact, at this point in his life, he has already lost 75% of his vision in one eye, and 85% in the other. Soon he will be blind. Currently Zach is on a fast paced tour of New York City, in a feverous attempt to see all that can with the hope that those visions will be committed to his memory. His story is tragic, incredible, and inspiring all in one. And it made me think…Why is it that despite all the opportunities that we have before us, we often can’t see them before it is too late. I have said many times (in many different ways) that today’s market offers buyers and sellers many opportunities. And, yet we fail to see them. Quite probably because we take today’s opportunities for granted. A seller toda...