Comments on: You Can’t Handle the Truth!

By: Week in Review: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced plans Sunday to take control of troubled mortgage giants | 4realz.net

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:35:38 +0000

[...] me of a similar situation I had with a comment just a couple of weeks ago. One torqued-off agent couldn’t handle the truth.” [...]

By: A Different Perspective? | The Hotlist

A Different Perspective? | The Hotlist — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:09:13 +0000

[...] me of a similar situation I had with a comment just a couple of weeks ago. One torqued-off agent couldn’t handle the truth. [...]

By: Amy Jones

Amy Jones — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:39:06 +0000

Kudos, Jay, you hit it on the head. Over the past year, I’ve talked more potential sellers into “staying put”. They’re always flabbergasted when one of my first questions is “Do you HAVE to sell now?” Honesty breeds a loyal client base which “A Agent” apparently hasn’t figured out.

By: Louis Cammarosano

Louis Cammarosano — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:50:58 +0000

Jay
Statements by realtors exhorting their brethern do opposite what the market and your professional opinion might dictate smacks of a cartel type mentality.
I would think THAT is the impression that realtors would like to avoid!

By: Joseph Bridges

Joseph Bridges — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:13:50 +0000

It is funny how many can’t understand that we must do our best to deliver the truth to our clients. This year my brother and I have told many different sellers it isn’t the best time to sell because that was and is the truth right now. If a seller wants to sell then we are happy to help them but if they have options, such as Steve mentions about renting homes, then we let them know that. Sellers always appreciate the honesty and refer their friends and family who do have to sell or buy. Funny how the truth has great rewards.

By: Steve Belt

Steve Belt — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:09:53 +0000

I’m renting and renting and renting home after home after home, because my clients are consistently making the decision, now is not the time for them to sell. A few of them decide to sell, but most decide to stay or rent. Sellers rank in the minority, for sure, and successful sellers are yet again a minority of the sellers.

By: Jim Gatos

Jim Gatos — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:51:33 +0000

Actually Jay, I have to disagree with you somewhat, and if you knew me personally, generally I’m pretty much somewhat “cynical” and tend to form my own opinions no matter what.

I think the question of whether it’s a good time to sell or not is all a question of relativity. The last time I saw something like this was in the early 90’s . All of the sudden, “FOOM”! A 15% – 30% drop (or so). Not as many short sales and foreclosures then. Prices stabilized and in the mid 90’s everything was pretty much stable. Then slowly around 2001 prices went up and then “BOOM”! Really up! Then in late 2004, “FOOM”! down again.

I personally think it’s an individual matter. If someones NEEDS to sell, they should. If they want to pay the “PITI” until the market goes “BOOM”! again,they can, but I personally think that won’t happen for about 7 to 10 years. I don’t see values much now; I think prices pretty much stabilized in Mass; however, if someone where I am wants to sell, they’d better hurry up and call me. Yeah, they say in Mass prices have come down, somewhere around 5%=7% in a year, but I think the best thing to do when giving out advice is to study the absorption rates for the specific property in question and look at ALL options. Ask some of my clients; if a property is well priced, it will sell in any market. You see, RIGHT NOW may be the BEST TIME to sell, depending on the situation.

By: West Hampstead London

West Hampstead London — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:44:06 +0000

Its like any other business, and we are all linked in some way; plumbers, carpenters, carpets, cutlery,etc. Enjoy the good times and prepare for the bad at the same time. But be good to your clients and you can rely on return business and recommendation in the future.

AND can I just add that it is obvious that “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” is the all time best Jack Nicholson film.

By: Jamey Bridges

Jamey Bridges — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:07:50 +0000

Jay, great post. I have to say that “A few Good Men” is one of my favorites as well . Reactions such as “a agent” continue to surprise me, although I am not sure why at this point. For some people it will be the right time to sell (divorce, estate sale, etc) and for others it won’t be. As true real estate professionals we have to provide advice to our clients with market conditions and allow them the opportunity to decide if they want to sell or not.
Just as an attorney can advise you NOT to go to court, but you decide you want to anyway, we must take the role of advice seriously for our clients. Even, if at the end of the day that means we don’t get a commission, we have to put the client first.

By: Lane Bailey

Lane Bailey — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:58:04 +0000

I get tired of that. It is a great time to sell… It is a lousy time to sell… It doesn’t matter. Those are all true right now, and they are all false. It depends on the situation and the location and many other factors. There is no “perfect time to sell” or buy or anything else.

Too much NAR Kool-Aid kills more brain cells that booze.