A suggestion for your story final content presentation: Those person(s), the ones that you are patiently waiting for callback from, that have important contribution to your article subject-matter-content, the one's who don't reply to important subject-matter question; as a result, I would suggest, list those people by Name, position, and your proposed question presented for inclusion within your article content; it just follows, that way we all will know what question remain unanswered, but otherwise your article is complete with all important content as your publish it, and we the reader can explore the missing unanswered parts ourselves. Also, present or include your own opinion related to your information discovered.

And, that in my thinking, makes a complete article and cites what might be missing from discovery information sources, will cause us (or at lease me) to think: I need yet to find these additional facts for the rest of this story closure.

I love it!......Nice Blog John...........Furthermore why do so many real estate "professionals" on here choose to NOT sign their real name? They contend they are in the field, they give facts, opinions, yet who can we pat on the back for the advice? I would never hide behind opinions based on facts. Right or wrong don't hide. There is brilliance among us all!! It just seems so many are embarrassed to be in the field or admit to being wrong.

I say we have an Open House blog party at the News Tribune. I maybe the only one there but at least I showed up.

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

I really have to chuckle when Pat Maddock trys to inject a sense of urgency to buy now!. Suggesting that you will lose out if you don't act now! This is not very effective with potential buyers who have heard it so many times before from misguided Real Estate Professionals like Mr. Maddock. With the median home price off it's high by $35,000 over the past year, I'll take my chances with disregarding his advise.

Johnsherman- what purpose would listing the agents by name serve? Is it to somehow punish them for not playing ball? Do they have an obligation to provide content to the News Tribune? I'm not one of those agents, I'm merely curious as to your goal.

Ray- My name isn't on my posts as I don't participate in this blog to generate business. But, again I think you knew that.

againstthetide, The one thing that Pat Maddock mentioned is true; you never know when we hit bottom until it starts going up again.
Ray, why is it so important to you that people post their name on the blog? I'm in the business and like Mike_T I don't use this blog to promote my business as you do!

Fair answers....... Very fair!

Your expert authorities are real estate agents? People who have a vested financial interest in people buying, and the market not declining further? That doesn't seem a little suspect to you, especially since these agents are saying the exact same thing agents ALWAYS say: right NOW is the perfect time to buy!

Look, maybe they're right and we've hit "bottom." Then again, these agents were saying a year ago that Washington was going to avoid the downturn completely. Clearly, they were flat-out wrong. Perhaps that should have been mentioned in this article? What exactly are these agents' powers of prediction? It seems to me just as likely that, since the downturn hit us later, the "bottom" will hit us later too.

Next time please consider some "authorities" who are at least somewhat objective on this issue. Real estate agents are salespersons--nothing wrong with that, of course. But salespersons are not the person a journalist should go to looking for advice on the right time to buy a particular product.

"if you are waiting for the mkt to bottom out you are going to miss it"

I truly wish you didn't post this remark. The bottom of the market will be prolonged and it will not be a specific month. Again, I wish Agents and Mtg professionals will base their opinions on facts not trips along the West Coast that indicate we are in better shape then others. Its like telling a patient suffering from a disease , well it could be worse you could have cancer.

Find investors for their opinions. People who put their money where their mouth is. Look what they are buying. Do you need a list of names? Maybe you can watch BZH, LEN, KBH...Watching the home builders gap up and sustain will be a sign of a recovery. The mkt is a forward looking indicator and its telling us all the REAL MESSAGE...I strongly urge everyone to listen to what the CEO's of AXP, AIG, C, and WB are telling us. These are the "experts" to listen to.

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

BrentHartinger, it seems you don't understand the real estate business. People who have been in the profession for years do have insight on what the market may or may not do. However, being in the business for nearly twenty years does not make me an expert, but we do see and understand trends. I myself, do not listen to the mainstream media for what is going on nation wide concerning real estate. I look at statistics, trends, interest rates, what my company forsees, and the inventory. By the way, my company has called the national market right on for the last eight years. When everything falls into place such as interest rates, and declining inventory, and prices starting to bottom out, I would say the bottom is here. Also, it depends whether or not you're a pessimist or optimist. I always look at the glass half full. There are signs nationwide that indicate a turn-around is near. Even though this is the worst mortgage bust in history, does not mean the market is doomed for years to come. How many times has the stock market crashed and yet, has always rebounded? Real estate is no different and the market will turn whether you want to believe that or not. As far as telling the public this is a great time to buy, it is always a great time to buy real estate. You need to remember one thing; they don't make the dirt homes sit on anymore. This is why I buy regardless of the market, there are always great deals out there and that is how a smart business person creates personal wealth for themselves. It's called keeping an open mind and taking chances now and then. Remember one thing; any chance you take, make sure it won't put you under finacially. That's being responsible and accountable.

Well, broker, you seem to be responding to an argument I wasn't making. I never said that the market wouldn't turn around. The issue is when is the best time to buy in the months ahead. You betray your bias when you admit flat out, "It is always a great time to buy." Had I bought last fall (as all the "expert" agents said I should), my home would now be worth 11% than what I paid for it. If for some reason I had to sell it now (and plans do sometimes change), I could be down $50-$100,000--more with the 6% commission. I honestly don't understand the point of your comment, which seems to be mindless cheerleading, as if I'm a child who needs to be led around by my hand. Is that really how you view your clients? In fact, I have an excellent record of investing in real estate, mostly because I've ignored the cheerleader-agents and done my own research. But the great point of this whole debate is that, when writing an article about the "state of the market" and "whether or not this is a good time to buy," real estate agents are not authorities who should be quoted; they're marketers with a vested financial interest in a particular point of view. And your comment completely proves my point. (P.S. I'm not saying agents aren't important--they are. They just perform a different function than in implied in the article. And for the record, I agree completely about buying and investing responsibly.)

Well, broker, you seem to be responding to an argument I wasn't making. I never said that the market wouldn't turn around. The issue is when is the best time to buy in the months ahead. You betray your bias when you admit flat out, "It is always a great time to buy." Had I bought last fall (as all the "expert" agents said I should), my home would now be worth 11% than what I paid for it. If for some reason I had to sell it now, I could be out $50-$100,000--more with the 6% commission. I honestly don't understand the point of your comment, which seems to be mindless cheerleading, as if I'm a child who needs to be led around by my hand. Is that really how you view your clients? In fact, I have an excellent record of investing in real estate, mostly because I've ignored the cheerleader-agents and done my own research. But the greater point of this whole debate is that, when writing an article about the "state of the market" and "whether or not this is a good time to buy," real estate agents are not authorities who should be quoted; they're marketers. And your comment completely proves my point. (P.S. I agree completely about buying and investing responsibly.)

I completely agree with BrentHartinger. Why on earth would someone ask a salesperson if "now is a good time to buy" whatever it is that they are selling?Especially a news journalist who should know better. I haven't checked any archives but has there ever been any official statement from the RE industry that any particular time was "not a good time to buy?" I mean ANY time - go back as far as you like.

Like I said, they don't make the dirt anymore. Your argument is valid. However, by having an opinion that all Realtors are just "salesman" is ridiculous. The saavy agent knows that investing in real estate at anytime is building wealth for the future. Do you honestly think it will take a multitude of years for the values to appreciate again. This is not my opinion, this is a fact. Granted, if you had bought in the last two years and had to sell you would take a hit. But that is an exception to the rule. Most buyers, barring death, divorce, or some other unexpected event plan on living in their home for at least five to seven years. Regardless of what the current market conditions are, if you buy and hold you will make money on your investment. Again, fact not opinion. Your point that agents are not authorities on market conditions and when to buy is not a valid one. Like I said in my previous blog, my company has called the market exactly for the last eight years and I will still use their studies before anyone else. So, you can call it "mindless cheerleading" or whatever you want, the bottom line is and always will be, real estate is the best long term investment anybody can make regardless of market conditions.

broker, I don't know about your assumptions that Real Estate is the best Long term investment around, that is your opinion and your entitiled to your opinion, however, what BrentHartinger is saying seems reasonable to me, I'm not going to put my trust in an agent to determine the best market conditions for buying a home, because according to NAR, PCAR, there is never a bad time to buy a home. This is simply counter intutive, if you are in the market to buy a home, and the market is going south, "Now would not be the best time to buy" I'm not looking for a long term trend, I'm looking for the most house for the least amount of money, in a specific area of Tacoma. This I would suggest is what most buyers are considering. Your companies ability to predict trends is not something that interest me as a buyer. My opinion is that real Estate will bottom out in the next 12 - 15 months and that will be the best time to buy. ( Only my opinion )

I respect your opinion. What I'm trying to say to you guys is if you are looking to invest for the future for yourself, then real estate is the best way to go. So, that being said, it's always a good time to buy because there are always good deals in any market. You have to realize one thing; there are thousands of real estate markets nationally, and that is where consumers such as yourself get mis-informed. Everything you hear in the media and the web is that real estate is in the dumps and we're years away from recovery. The media never, and I repeat never tells the public that there are a multitude of markets nationally and that is a fact. There are alot of areas in the country now that are seeing recovery. Again, fact, not a opinion. Oh, one last thing. I've been doing this for nearly twenty years and I've never advised people to buy because it's the right time. I ask them if they are buying for an investment or a home for themself. Just remember, we are about to see bottom, so don't miss something you've been waiting for. It could come and go before you realize it.

Johnsherman- what purpose would listing the agents by name serve?

Mike-T: Thank you for asking that question; it follows for truth of contained within presented article.

Well, the intent of my suggestion to "name that dog" and their title for "what paw they have placed into this article's content"; as a result, was not directed toward any real estate person, company; it follows, I consider the responsive and pending article input information sources would have been title companies, builders, multiple-listing service, mortgage lenders, City of Tacoma for taxes paid, and the Pierce County Assessors office sales data for trends with Pierce County; but not a sales-person for real estate company response.

And, just thinking about residential home sales; as a result, I have always wondered why when a person purchases a wood frame home; naturally the home is reverting back to wood-rot, decay, and destruction over many years. But, within our residential neighborhoods home structure values continue to increase with time as the structure deteriorates? With business use property this effect is accounted for with deprecation credits and with time the value become zero or salvage evaluation. So, your thought about how this works for the average home-owner?

Maybe the average home-buyer is getting smarter; as a result, looking at what they get for the current real estate seller's prices, with what they are willing to pay, and cost of home fixes or improvements over future years. And I almost forgot, there most-likely is a lot of incentive for our County, City, and State Governments to support these inflated home values for property that would otherwise be depreciating each year until it value is just gone.

So, let me and everybody know what your thoughts are why prices of homes went down and why people should just-step-up and pay more in the tomorrows?

I started my home buying process in late 2006, funny we started then because we were afraid with rising prices we would be priced out of the market. While we worked with an agent she kept telling us we had to offer as much as we could afford, via an ARM instead of the fixed loan we had approval for in order to be competitive and to avoid being out bid on the house we wanted... Good Thing we didnt listen to her. We still bought, with a nice low fixed rate and we ended purchasing with Redfin before their pricing restructure. We have lost value since the purchase but we put 20% down so we feel comfortable were we are... the thing that bothers me is when we started to look it was a great time to buy as we would get out priced by the market and now is a great time because of all the great low prices... my humble opinion is also that Agents will say and do anything to drum up business and close a deal.

MJ Arnold ~ mom, wife, dog owner, teacher and home owner.

Arnold thats why the people you choose to represent you should be paid salary (like Red Fin) and not have a HUGE vested interest in making the sale. 4- 6% remains insanity and whenever that carrot dangles in a transaction the interests of the client becomes second to the recipient of the commission.

The system is broken and when the repair is finished I assure everyone here Real Estate will be conducted differently for Buyer and Seller and we will all look back at the 4-6% to sell a home and laugh. The Buffet is coming to a rapid end. Ask the folks at J L Scott about yesterdays latest office closure . Another one bites the dust!

Soon you will walk into the major Brokerages and their signs will read " Buy from this office and receive 5000-15000 towards your purchase." This will be the only way they can compete. Heck, nobody pays 3% to List anymore. Its already 2%. *** But, soon(and far more importantly) the public will see the big picture that every home listed on the MLS has money that is the buyers. The Buyers will be educated on how to simply ask for it and in return the Buyer will assist their agent in finding their home.

Its all about education.

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

Come on Ray, there is no trend nationally that supports conventional brokerages will not survive unless they become discount houses like your model. You're statement that no one lists for 3% anymore is ridiculous. Just look in the MLS, the norm is either a 5% or 6% brokerage fee. If you're to state such issues, try to be a little more accurate. I understand your beliefs, but don't talk fairy tales about something that has no merrit.

Broker, I don't believe that a new model needs to be referred to as a "discount" model - with all the negative connotation that particular word
suggests. It's just a "different" model. I think that there is plenty of room out there for more than one fee structure. There may or may not be any national trend toward major change yet but people like me do not see the rationale in paying a fixed percentage when we all know that it isn't twice as much work to do a deal on a 600K home compared to a 300K one.

Broker people have complained that they do not want to see myself and others go round and round about this.

As you know I cannot see what the conventional brokerages are still charging to LIST. I can just tell you from my last 6 HUD's each of the brokerages charged 2%. Getting 3% from sellers in the next 5 years to LIST will be a miraculous achievement.

In monitoring Brokerages I'm just amazed by the amount of new ones that come out every month offering 199, 299, 599, 1%......The secret is out my friend. Now, and far more importantly, is educating the BUYERS to always ask their Agent:

"If I help you find my home, how much will you give me?" Many of the independents at Skyline are doing it now...

Time is on our side. The public is far too smart to let this continue. The key to Real Estate will be lead generation and making profits from advertisers not directly from the consumer. BANK ON IT!

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

Ray and stilllooking, time will only tell. But I definitely will not bank on it. One more thing; who has the majority of market share. Trust me, not discount brokerages. I call them DISCOUNT because that is what they are. Everything they offer is discounted, from commissions to service.

stilllooking, I personally don't find a negitive connotation regarding the words discount broker. If the standard charge is 6% and you are charging $500, you would be considered a discount broker. This is not a new business model, It's not a bad business model, it's just simply, charging less than the Industry standard. I know there are some posters that like to bluster about how they are going to change the Industry, however, the reality of the situation is something very different.

When people are beating a path to your door, you really don't need to discount your product or service. Agents that creamed it out during the fat years, are now realizing that times are leaner, and they have to cut there fees to get more business. This is supply and demand 101.

Zillow's CFO Spencer Rascoff was interviewed on yahoo tech ticker. His basic contention is that people may get upset about how much they have to pay to sell or buy a home, however, they still use their traditional, Real Estate Professionals to get the job done, and he really doesn't expect that to change anytime soon. My opinion is that buyers and sellers would really like to spend less on the biggest asset in their personal portfolio's, however, they don't want to make a mistake, so they end up doing business with a traditional professional. This might change over time, but it will change slowly if at all.

againstthetide; THANK YOU!

"This might change over time, but it will change slowly if at all"

We agree to disagree. Lets discuss it in person at the Tacoma/Seattle Home Show. Just sit with us for an hour in the booth and watch what REAL people tell us.

"I'm not going to pay an Agent more then my doctor"
"My agent did nothing but put it on the mkt"
"I found the home. She just opened the door"
"I hate agents"
"I wish I knew you existed before I bought"

I can go on and on. The fact is this. Yes, it will change. Slowly, is up for debate. But, my oh my, how it will change.

Again, I say it.....time is on our side.

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

broker, I have no particular ax to grind on this blog but, I'm not sure why anyone would spend time responding to such trifling bloggers. There are those who will have an engaging and thoughtful conversation and there are those who just sling mud and nonsense.

"I'm not going to pay an Agent more then my doctor"
"My agent did nothing but put it on the mkt"
"I found the home. She just opened the door"
"I hate agents"
"I wish I knew you existed before I bought"

If I where King of the world I'd bannish such speech, tar and feather the blogger, and throw him into the dungeon, only to come out to apoligize to every blogger he has ever offended. ( That should take him about a year ) Then, he may come out seeing the errors of his ways and be a productive agent once more.

Good Lord! "Be a productive Agent?" I sold more homes in Nevada and Washington in the last 12 months then you have sold in your entire life...This is nothing try blogging at Seattle Bubble. If you can't handle this heat do not even try venturing over there. Again I invite anyone to sit in our booth at the Seattle or Tacoma Home Show and listen to the publics opinion of Realtors.

I have been an RN for over a decade and served in the Army for 10 years. The 2 most outrageous practices being conducted today are 4-6% to sell a home and the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy in the military.

One is slowly coming to an end and I suspect the other to abruptly be terminated. Its all about common sense and education. When you have neither you will remain a victim. I'm an advocate for change and be thankful you have a choice now.

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

I'm sure there is a nice blog in Seattle, please feel free to spend as much time as you possibly can on the other site. I'm sure you have sold more than I have in the last 12 months, I'm not an agent, nor am I long winded delusional discount broker. In regard to don't ask, don't tell, your secret is safe with us.

in re to secret safe with us--

"I'm not a Lesbian. I hate men, but I'm not a Lesbian"
Elaine Benes

and

"Let me tell you, I didn't intentinally bare myself, but now, I wish I had. For its not me who has been exposed, but you. For I have seen the nipple on your soul!
Elaine Benes

in re delusional discount broker--

your wasting your life!

I am not. What you call wasting I call living. IM LIVING my life!

Do you have a job?

No!

You got money?

No!

Do you have a woman?

No!

Do you have any prospects?

No!

You got anything on the Horizon?

No!

Do you have any action at all?

No!

Do you have any conceivable reason for getting up in the morning?

I like to blog in the News Tribune!

againstthetide
(all in good fun)

Wow-such anger! Ray maybe instead of blogging you should start working...so let me try and understand the difference between your service and a tradional broker.
Now if I list with you I pay $500 up front and can see that you spend your time blogging and sitting at a booth at a home show. Or I can list with a professional that has a proven statistical track record watch them get the job done..again I am not out any money like the $500 I gave you up front and I am only paying upon results of which terms I have agreed to. There is no guarantee with you except the %500 I am out...I believe people are willing to pay for a professional. There is enough room for all business models...just as there are different stores to shop at...Nordstrom or Walmart, Kmart or Macy's. There is a difference out there. But I am still not sold on why shopping with you and giving you money up front to have you sit on a folding chair at a home show will help me.......

Oh my oh my Walnut. you still dont get it after 6 months of me trying to explain it to you...Let me try yet again!....List with whoever you want. I suggest us or MLS 4 Owners. We offer listings as a courtesy. Our company was made for Buyers. Do you hear me Buyers! One last time Buyers....!! Look at Red Fin..They want Buyers!! We want Buyers... I have been sick as a dog this week from travelling to Nevada opening a 500 office. Everyone coughing on the planes..ugggh. My staff attend the shows and open doors. You will rarely see me opening a door for anybody. I suggest again you educate yourself about ourselves and Red Fin. You still have not taken the time or just remain ignorant.

Anger?....Seinfeld quotes? Blogging for me is relaxation. I don't like TV except for CNBC, Seinfeld, and Family Guy. I must say I'm also captivated by our latest Presidency race. But, I assure you I never get mad over anything in the blogs. Except that darn RCG. They drive me nutts! A group of Agents and Mtg reps pacifing each other and unwilling to OPEN their eyes!

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

Wow! This thread has taken an unusual turn...

I am not an agent, I am not an investor, I am not a bubbler or blogger.

What I am is an average Joe who is in debt for a condo in Tacoma. Although I still have equity after the long year of declines.

We listed with an agent last September, at 1.5% for the first $100k and 3.5% for anything over $100k. With 2.5% to the selling agent.

We got an MLS listing, a keybox and a glossy flyer in the mailbox. A couple market updates but nothing that I could not have found out myself. The only thing I don't get as an outside is access to the MLS data, but that is changing as well.

Some showings, no sale.

We relisted with another agent, 6% traditional commission. Same thing...MLS listing, a keybox and a glossy flyer in our mailbox.

Some showings, no sale.

Now some of you should at least listen to Ray. As it stands, I would pay approximate 8% to sell my condo. That includes commissions, excise taxes and other fees. If by some miracle I can sell the condo at $210k that is $17k to sell my condo. ABSURD!

If I need a MLS listing, a keybox and a glossy flyer, why would I not pay Ray $500 bucks. I could make my own flyers and offer the selling agent 3%. I would pay approximately 5% for commission, excise taxes and other fees. Total on $210k = $11,000.

Why would I not want to save $6,000 dollars? That is a pretty good chunk which would go back into a downpayment on the home we want to buy.

You all my not listen to Ray any longer, but if he has buyers ready to go, and I can have an additional $6,000 at the end of the deal, then Ray would again have another buyer, with downpayment ready to go.

A lot of the agenst today need to find buyers and no longer be looking for listings. Just my opinion after being an average Joe who endured this martket over the last year. As it stand now, we are riding this out until next year. With price declines and high 8% cost to sell, we are not willing to give up half of our proceeds to anybody.

I don't know if my situation is the intended fallout of the market crash, but that is my situation. Essentially our family remains in a condo when we would be a buyer if somebody can find a way to start moving property again. Charging a high cost to provide service is not going to correct this problem and get us with our excellent credit and sizeable down payment into market

DannnyG ~ I love you! in the Blogging sense of course. I too ran the numbers when using a traditional agent model. She kept teling me, dont worry about the cost you dont pay me the seller will.

She must have thought I was not intelligent enough to realize that it was "my" money the seller was going to use when paying her after the close was complete. I couldn't understand how the maximium of 40 hours she was going to spend working for us was worth $13500.00. Hello, my boss doesnt pay me $337.50 per hour to perform my job. After afew showings and her inability to listen to our "Needs" we terminated our contract with her sat out of the market for a few months and then found Redfin.

After looking at Redfin's model I was impress and even though many would call them a discount broker there was nothing discount regarding the service they provided. I knew what I wanted, how much I was willing to spend and where i wanted it... once I found the hoe of my dreams I called Trevor (my Redfin guy) while standing on the front porch and asked him if he thought I could just knock on the door. His reply... why not? The owners were more than happy to give us a tour. Trevor of course gave us another tour on the following Monday after which we sat in "my" kitchen and wrote the offer. When the owners arrived, we thanked them for the oppertunity to see their beautiful home and left. Trevor took over from their, he bickered on the price, recommended a house inspector, attended the inspection, and arrange for us to measure the house and on another occasion arranged that we swing by to show out of state relatives all prior to the 30 day closing... What's discount to that over the top, beyond exceptational service.... NOTHING!!

Trevor Smith did more via Redfin than another other JLS of WDM agents did for us. If his service was discount than he puts all of the traditional agents to shame.

Buyers and Sellers dont want discount we want excellence, but when the normal is subpar than we will look of alternitives that strive for a loftier goal and purpose.

MJ Arnold ~ wife, mom, dog owner, Educator and home owner!!

Well I'll be!!!! After coming home from the worst Husky game of my life I find 2 people who get it!!. Danny I'm very happy you see the light. Arnold I know you love RedFin. They are the pioneers but they too are far too expensive. They have a minimum charge to sell of 4000 ours is 500.00. But, their overhead is very high with all those salaried agents. In addition they started charging for tours. Absolutely horrible. Not to mention 66% back to consumer not 75%. We get alot of overflow from Red Fin customers because our pricing is far superior. The bigger Red Fin gets the bigger we get. They have deeper pockets but I sincerely hope they keep pushing like we do at the Home Shows, Commercials, etc. However, they appear to just stick to blogging. They already know what we do. Its all coming this way anyway.

Danny you nailed it. Thats why we get alot of people from conventional brokerages. They can lower their price by 3% and list with us. As the MLS stands today the seller needs to just pay a fair buyers agent commission (2.5-3%) and get access to the MLS. In addition the Seller needs expert advice on pricing with a CMA and Agent assitance when they get an offer. We offer all these for 500. We require the seller to simply just shoot their own pictures and email them to us..If you can't do it then we have Paul the photographer do it for 40.00. Your sign is up the next day with your MLS keybox and free flier emailed to you. None of this is rocket science. But, most on here lead you to believe it is.

Pay the Agent who brings you the offer!! They have the real value in real estate!! Let me say this to you one more time. Pay the Agent who brings you the offer!!! But, soon enough everyone will know this and look back and laugh!

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

The really sad thing about blogs is you can spin anything you want under any name you want. It's rather suspicious that folks only pop up when certain bloggers need to validate or promote a particular point. I'm sure that most blogger are intelligent enough to realize what is really going on here.

I've been quiet through this whole argument, but I'll just try and make one point.
If you've been that unhappy with your Realtor, if all they did was put your home on the MLS and give you a flier, if as a real estate agent you think that a CMA and the MLS is how you sell a home, then you get what you deserve.
I've said it before, and I'll repeat it, INTERVIEW MULTIPLE AGENTS. Know what you want from an agent and ask them how they'll achieve that. It's not hard to become a real estate agent...it's hard to stay a successful one.
Agents who just put the home on the MLS and give you a flier, agents who push just to make a sale, CAN'T and WON'T last.
My average commission is about $8k. That's good money. But how many people would I have to dupe, how many people could I provide poor service to, how many people would continue to pay me for unmet expectations, before I'd have to get another job?
A successful real estate agent's business is built off of referrals and repeat business. It has to be. $8k isn't enough money to live off of for very long. If all we did was screw people and disappoint them, do you really think we'd keep earning enough money to survive on? Obviously, the good agents are pleasing enough consumers that we can stay in business charging our "absurd" and "insane" prices.
I read through the TNT's business blog, and can't find a single other profession where the professionals are constantly being asked to defend (or even reveal) their pay.
It's not the Realtors' job to defend our pay; it's the Realtors' job to earn our pay and the CONSUMERS' JOB to hire the right agent. If all you do is walk into an office, call a number on a sign, respond to a postcard, or hire your high school buddy, then expect to be disappointed.
Every profession--EVERY ONE--has good folks and bad ones. There are bad ones in real estate, partly because it's so easy to get a license, partly because the public hires agents for the dumbest reasons, without interviewing anyone.
How do I know I'm worth what I charge? Because my clients continue to HAPPILY pay me and I continue to DO THE JOB that I told them I'd do.

Dear gigharborundressed,I can always count on you to be fair and see thru it all! I too believe a good agent is worth their weight in gold. There are all kinds of different "consultants" out there, too bad in this profession you have someone like the pepper slamming consultants within his own field. Your right I don't think any other profession would stand for that...Could you see a doctor blogging bad, exagerated mish mash or a lawyer doing that. What was that old saying "if you can't say anything nice..........."

Well said gigharborundressed!

What other blogs do users like GHU, Walnutkitten, etc frequent? I'd like to participate in one that doesn't put up with the negative presence or pimping of the sort we see from one troll here.

I'm not looking for the land of sugar plum fairies where it's all good news all the time. But rather a blog where issues are discussed in depth and users don't fear being bashed by one party.

There's got to be a good one out there, and this aint it.

The claim that 'you never know you are at the bottom until prices rise" is an old sales gimmick aimed at attracting uninformed buyers. The truth is, if you buy now, and prices continue to go down month after month for another year, then you've been suckered into purchasing a house way beyond its true material value (historically homes cost about 3x income).

We've been in a housing bubble that pushed prices up due to easy to obtain 0-down loans and speculative investor frenzy. Such loans are no longer available, and frenzied investors are a thing of the past, so house prices are correcting. It's all about supply and demand. Japan went through a similar situation in the 80's and 90's. Here is a graph of how long it took to shake out:

http://www.canadian-housing-price-charts.235.ca/images/JapanCompare-9-27-06.jpg

So don't believe anybody who tells you that house prices fluctuate as fast as stock prices. There is massive liquidity in the stock markets compared to the housing market, thus stock prices move fast and house prices move slow. Adding to this fact, it is impossible for house prices to rise rapidly right now because we are in the midst of a credit crunch the likes of which we haven't seen since the Great Depression.

For further entertainment, go to http://housingcorrection.com/ and click on the "Median Home Price Charting Tool." Punch in Seattle, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. Take note, that every dot on the graph represents 3 months, and every month that houses fell, Realtors claimed, "Now is a great time to buy. If you don't act now, you'll miss the bottom."

Noting that the Puget Sound area is lagging CA home prices by more than a year, ask yourself how terrible you would feel if you were gullible enough to have believed the real estate salespeople. There are many really excellent RE agents out there who will work hard for you in your best interest. In a market like this, you can be very choosy about whom you choose to represent you. Do yourself a favor and choose one who doesn't repeat to same old mantra of "Now is a great time to buy." Get somebody more informed than that who wants to see you succeed. Having said that, I personally recommend waiting on buying until houses correct at least another 10% in the Puget Sound area.