What an interesting, challenging and fun time to be a Realtor®! Fun? That’s correct. Remember, those of us who love this business got into it for one reason and one reason only. That reason is to help people. Now, that may sound like complete BS but, sorry, it’s true. We are at a point in real estate when there are a lot of people who need our help. Anyone who got their real estate license to make lots of quick cash, work a little and only when you want to, or for of the wrong reasons, must be very disappointed. Actually, most of those types are no longer in the business or are planning their exit from the business as I write this. As a matter of fact, California Association of Realtors has lost about 11% of its membership from 6/30/2007 to 6/30/2008, while nationally there has been a loss of about 6.1% and there will be many more to follow.

These days we have to be friend, foe and psychoanalyst to our clients  and it’s great. It’s such a pleasure when you can advise people in ways they haven’t yet heard and give them some relief from their worries. There is so much stress, anger, disappointment and confusion amongst home sellers and buyers that it’s a great feeling to give helpful counseling and to have a positive impact on them.

As they say, every cloud has a silver lining  and our silver lining in this cloudy real estate market is the great satisfaction we derive from helping our clients.