*This is part III of a series  of posts that I am writing regarding the "new" real estate market; in this new market, we as professionals have very different challenges than ever before. THE "NEW" REAL ESTATE MARKET: Do YOU Know Who You Are Dealing With?  comes from the concern I have for all in our industry who are now dealing with a very different clientele in a very different market.                        First, we are dealing with the possible acquisition, sale--or loss of the largest purchase that a person will ever make. Because of this we need to make good choices and decisions and we need to make sure we know who we are dealing with. Second, we are in a buyers market now versus the decade long, sustained sellers market; this gives the brokerage community a whole new set of rule... 02/11/2010

OVER PRICING HOMES = HIGH INVENTORY + LESS SALES + DESPERATE SELLERS = CONTINUED HOUSING CRISIS: A FORMULA FOR DISASTER IN A FRAGILE MARKET PLACE!!!   We MUST do in-depth research before we price properties!!! ....and we MUST price properties as if our lives depend on it.(...because they do!) If we don't face over-pricing head on, we will see the inventory levels climb like never before! Not only that, the desperation seen and felt by huge numbers of sellers that we witnessed during the downturn in 2008 will likely re-appear! In many markets there are still great numbers of desperate sellers.     OVER-PRICED HOMES = HIGH INVENTORY +  MORE DAYS ON MARKET + LESS SALES + DESPERATE SELLERS = CONTINUED HOUSING CRISIS. In my last blog post, I mention the above formula to the umpteenth agent w... 02/04/2010

                     OVER-PRICED HOMES = HIGH INVENTORY + LESS SALES + DESPERATE SELLERS = CONTINUED HOUSING CRISIS. We MUST do in-depth research before we price properties!!! ....and we MUST price properties as if our lives depend on it.(...because they do!) If we don't face over-pricing head on, we will see the inventory levels climb like never before! Not only that, the desperation seen and felt by huge numbers of sellers that we witnessed during the downturn in 2008 will likely re-appear! In many markets there are still great numbers of desperate sellers.                     OVER-PRICED HOMES = HIGH INVENTORY + LESS SALES + DESPERATE SELLERS = CONTINUED HOUSING CRISIS. In my last blog post, I mention the above formula to the umpteenth agent who said he would take an over-priced lis... 02/02/2010

CRISIS: OVER-PRICED HOME=HIGHER INVENTORY+LESS SALES+DESPERATE HOMEOWERS=CONTINUED HOUSING CRISIS. We MUST do in-depth research before we price properties!!! If we don't, we will see the inventory levels climb like never before! In my last blog post, I mention the above formula to the umpteenth agent who said he would take an over-priced listing but would schedule a reduction in the agreement in 30 days or 60 days. There are still huge numbers of people who do not understand the importance of correct pricing---and we direct the whole real estate market; or at least we are supposed to! I my last blog post "How do you handle a seller who wants you to over price..." I was amazed at how may agents feel it is ok to over-price a listing "for a short time like 30 days" ...let me remind you all... 02/01/2010

How are you handling sellers who want you to over-price their homes? It may seem that the owner who insists on a couple of hundred thousand more in their asking price should be accomodated, especially if you are not the only broker on the hunt. But pricing properties properly should be priority #1 As we all know, if a seller wants to sell their property sooner rather than later, you are really doing them no favor if you are not totally straight with them---things are not like they used to be in real estate. Most sellers have an idea of how the recession has affected real estate prices; most however, still believe their house is the best house in the neighborhood and should get more money than the next guy's. This is not the time to acquiesce just to get the listing. HOW ARE YOU HANDLING... 01/30/2010

IF YOU WANT A PIECE OF THE ADVERTISING PIE, BETTER GRAB IT!  It may not be there if you delay; we hear all kinds of Realtors are completely out of the print advertising business!....Not that they are thinking about it or analyzing it or even doing research on if they should do it or not---no! They are completely out of the print advertisng business. Reasons are: "too expensive", "my customers only use the internet", "print ads never pull!" or "print ads are dead!" So I put my safari hat on and headed into the AR jungle and asked: "IS REAL ESTATE PRINT ADVERTISING REALLY DEAD?" HERE IN A PIESHELL ARE THE RESULTS:                                  IF YOU WANT A PIECE OF THE ADVERTISING PIE, BETTER GRAB IT I POSTED A BLOG LAST WEEK THAT WAS FEATURED AND RECEIVED OVER 200 COMMENTS AND IT WAS... 01/28/2010

I POSTED A BLOG LAST WEEK THAT WAS FEATURED AND RECEIVED OVER 200 COMMENTS AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE USE OF PRINT VS. INTERNET ADVERTISING. THIS IS THE RESULT OF EVERYONES INPUT. So, we know that if everyone in real estate had their choice, they would pay nothing for advertising; but we also know that nothing from nothing equals nothing. As of late, we are all hearing how we should be doing internet advertising, social media, Google, Public real estate websites: "It's Free Advertising!" (or costs very little compared to print ads) we have been hearing this for over a year now, perhaps 2.  Sounds too good to be true to me! ...and you know what they say about that! (If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!) This is what drove me to try out print advertising again after I had stopp... 01/27/2010

I just wrote a post (THE FIRST DECADE OF A NEW CENTURY IN A NEW MILLENNIUM--THE NUMBERS TELL IT ALL:) and have had some one ask me where this is? Can you guess where this is? Bet you can't tell--it is a spectacular place and not many will be able to tell---go ahead Guess! Clues for the state where it is located: Home of many Indian tribes water, water everywhere unusual land mass Early home of furniture makers Great vacation spots That's it--no more clues! Please respond with your guesses! We will see how well our fellow Americans know this wonderful country we live in!!! 01/01/2010

How do you feel this morning? Hangover? Fearful for the new year? Relieved that we made it into 2010? It's more than just a new year---We have begun a new decade!!! The first decade of a new century in the new millennium!!!  TIME TO TAKE THE LEAP INTO THE ABYSS AND CREATE A NEW LIFE FROM NOTHING! It struck me as I woke up this morning: What an opportunity; this is what I have been waiting for! This is a new decade and a "new slate"....we can begin now to really look at our lives and make the changes that we need to make. This is not just another new year---We have made it through the first decade of a new century!...and all of this is taking place in a new millennium! #2 THE NEW CENTURY IS A PLATFORM OF DUALITIES--Nothing is predictable; the other side of a situation will present itself... 12/31/2009

Long Island's Southampton is a Village located on the Eastern part of Long Island in Suffolk County on the South Fork. Southampton in one of the more renowned communities on Long Island. It was settled in 1640 and became an incorporated village in 1894 and is the oldest English settled town in New York State.   It is sometimes called the playground of the rich and famous as Southampton has the reputation its beautiful white sanded beaches, upscale shopping, fine restaurants, antique shows, and horse evrents.  Other popular sites in Southampton Long Island is the Old Halsey House, Parrish Art Museum, Long Island University Southampton College, and the Southampton History Museum.  Southampton has several districts and buildings included on the National Register of Historic Places. The spe... 11/04/2009

Southampton L.I.is located on Long Island's South Fork. Southampton is a Village in one of the most popular areas on Long Island in Suffolk County.  It is sometimes called the playground of the rich and famous as Southampton has the distinction for remarkable beaches.  This includes the most favored in Southampton L.I. called Cooper's Beach with its white sandy landscape. Southampton is also known for its upscale shopping, fine restaurants, antique shows, and horse evrents.  Other visibles ites in Southampton Long Island is the Old Halsey House, Parrish Art Museum, Long Island University Southampton College, and the Southampton History Museum. The first-class Estate Section of Southampton takes you past graceful mansions with the address of choice being Gin Lane.  It is a lavish stretch... 10/02/2009

09/20/2009

The Town of Southampton, NY is making it easier for first time home buyer's to purchase a full time residence in the Hamptons. The town is now offering an exemption of the Peconic Bay Region Tax Community Preservation Fund for those who qualify. Purchases must meet the following criteria; Subject property must be primary residence No prior ownership at anytime in previous three years Buyer does not own a vaction or investment home anywhere Buyer's household income must not exceed limits defined by SONYMA (currenty $122,160)for one and two person household for Suffolk county Subject property must be within 120% of purchase price limits defined by SONYMA low interest rate mortgage program for one and two person household category for Suffolk County (currently $765,168) for improved proper... 08/06/2009

                                                                                                IT MAY  NOT SEEM to be that jam-packed, but to the local people here in the Hamptons it is "bursting at the seams!" The historical, white store fronts are brimming with color for the summer! The parks are ready for the picnics, the bandstand is ready for a performance to draw in the summer cowds on a late summer day--blue skies are the order of the day, hopefully! Most people from new York City are here for their vacations; no more trips to Europe, at least for those who take vacations in August....so-long to the crowded European beaches; hello to the sweeping white sand that meets the deep blue horizon! Because of the cost of air travel and the exchange rate of the dollar, most savvy travele... 08/20/2008

    I heard this news this morning as I was getting ready for work; Dianne Sawyer was interviewing Neil Cavuto from Fox Business News Channel. I rushed to stand in front of the TV, hoping to hear the source of the information from Neil's mouth...no such luck! The tidbit came out as an aside and was quickly brushed over by Dianne as the segment on the current economy ended. How did she think the idea would affect her topic? Was it really "off topic" as she appeared to abruptly end the interview? I think not---I think it was an attempt to avoid any further "positive" information to enter the conversation. It just was not what ABC wanted the public to hear during this report. Instead Dianne went to the matter of Neil Cavuto's illness, MS, which he suffers from. Don't forget, this is an ele... 08/06/2008

There's NO Feng Shui in The Hamptons?  I was thrilled to hear the Hamptons Home and Garden Show on Long Island, New York is coming up and went to check the details of the show.  If you've never been out to The Hamptons, it's a very special place in New York.  While I'm not there as often as I am in the City (in the summer be prepared for major traffic jams), the Spring is the perfect time to go and every year a huge event is held there.It covers the entire weekend and vendors from all over come to show the latest and greatest.  The lectures are free and this year cover everything from Specialty Food and Liquor tasting, a live auction and a free fitness evaluation with nutritional advice to a huge array of speakers on almost every subject imaginable.  The second day of this event is for ... 04/30/2008

                                                                                                                                                                          Is anyone else out there having difficulty with other agents/brokers right now?A very good friend of mine, who works for the same company as I did for many years, called me the other day and asked me if I was finding that things had changed in our community. She was asking specifically if I had been having difficulties with fellow agents, such as "pocketing" a listing or losing a listing to another broker, while you had the listing!At first I was surprised by her question; not because things are going so smoothly right now in our area, but because she is the last person that I ever expected to hear this kind of problem ... 04/27/2008

                                           Today, while watching a report on CNBC, I heard about the  "click" Controversy surrounding Google and other search engines that sell pay-per click advertising programs........There is no regulation!!! WORD HAS IT THAT THE PERSON RUNNING THESE PROGRAMS JUST SITS  THERE AND CLICKS AWAY TO RUN UP YOUR AD COSTS!!! REALLY IRONIC since I have just had a very frustrating experience with Google this morning regarding my new "Adwords" account!! It all began when I kept seeing my competition (in the Staging business) pop up on the first page of a Google search. It happened all the time and so I asked one of the stagers I know how she got such good postioning and she told me she uses the advertising campaigns that Google offers and she  appears right up t... 04/25/2008

           VESPA!!!         When you stop to think about it....just what did one do with one's free time before ActiveRain?I can't even remember--All I know is that now, when I come home from the office, I sit down and read, read, read posts....they are a fountain of information.NOW, I LOOK BACK:I have participated in a contest or twoI have written more than I ever thought I couldI have made my own advertising videos (Thanks to Jeff Turner)I have learned more about technology than I ever wanted to beforeI have people from all over the country communicate with me, and I with them I have forged deep friendshipsI think I may have even created an adversary or twoI have participated in one heck of a LONG blog partyI have had memorable discourse with other bloggersI have had disagreements, ma... 04/13/2008

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  While this phrase keeps coming up in the press, in boardrooms, and in real estate offices across this land, "All real estate is local" has an even deeper meaning to me today than last year, or last month or even last week.I hope to explain to all those who may be interested, how this market differs from most; the following may not be applicable to any other marketplace, but it is totally unique, and to me it's uniqueness is it's real value.The Nation is tied in knots right now regarding the sub-prime mess and no one i... 04/12/2008