My business partner (Emily Cross) and I were discussing the Real Estate Market yesterday as we drove around on our office tour of new listings. She recently attended a networking group of young professionals in our community and was approached many times with the questions, "So, how is the market?" and "Are you nervous about the downturn in Real Estate?".
One of the many things I love about Emily is her positive outlook on life. Emily is relatively new to Real Estate, but seems to have more common sense than some of the seasoned professionals in our ranks. She told me how she answered these questions, and I want to share her outlook because I find it to be some of the most SOLID Real Estate advice I have heard in a long time.
Emily is EXCITED about the Real Estate market, because her REALITY is the market as it exists TODAY. She was not engaged in the business during the Real Estate BOOM of the past few years, so the "Real Estate is easy $$$" thought is not a part of her expectations. She did not enter this profession to take advantage of a smokin' hot market or to capitalize on a moment in history. Emily entered into Real Estate as her profession because she wanted to be a REALTOR for the long-term . She wanted to help people buy and sell homes, and she EXPECTED to work HARD for her pay. (Just like most professionals must do to make a living...what a concept!)
I, too, have had interesting timing in my professional career as a Realtor. I chose to work in the Title and Escrow side of the business during the FAT years of the boom. I made the switch from Real Estate sales just before things went beserk in our community and around the nation in Real Estate. I based my career decision on the needs of my family at the time. With a young child at home, the regular hours and regular pay of a corporate position simply made more sense than the hours that a crazy-busy Real Estate career demanded. Do I ever kick myself for leaving during those years of plenty? Well, no, because I got to enjoy TIME with my daughter which, when our kiddos are little, is even more rare and irreplaceable as "The Perfect Storm" the Real Estate industry enjoyed with all-time low interest rates merged with an equity explosion gone-wild.
As we drove, Emily and I agreed on the answer to the Real Estate "market" question....believing it is all how you look at it, and what you are willing to put into it. Perspective is EVERYTHING.
There are Seller's markets (the BOOM) and there are Buyer's markets (NOW). We are blessed to live in a drop-dead BEAUTIFUL part of the country with lush landscapes, salt-water beaches, The San Juan Islands as our backyard, The Cascade Range as our front, fresh water lakes and rivers that run clear, sandwiched (quietly) between two exceptional cities (Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle) with a prestigious University (WWU) anchoring the community firmly with fresh ideas, culture and intellecutal pursuits.
Whatcom County's real estate market will continue to be GREAT because Emily and I BELIEVE it naturally "is" and we are in it for the 'right' reasons.
Live Good. Be Happy.
-Mimi
get to know us better at www.LiveGoodBeHappy.com
"If anyone you care about needs a Realtor, please share my name with them." -Mimi Heading into my 20th year in real estate, I am a third generation Realtor® serving Bellingham and Whatcom County, Washington. My motto is: Do good work for good people.
