Susan Hofflander's Discussions

Here's the deal, I don't know if your state has Exclusive Buyer Real Estate brokerages, but that's the best way to go.  Exclusive buyer agents ONLY ever represent the buyer.  Some people have a very cynical view of agents, and I feel bad about their negative experiences.  But, there are agents out there who want to get you the best deal possible while helping the buyer assess their level of risk.  These agents allow YOU the buyer to make the decisions.  Anytime you have an agent that also represents sellers in some transactions, they have to change hats between each property they show you.  So, if you don't buy this house and you move forward on other showings, unless your agent is TOTALLY exclusive, they will be switching from your representative in houses not listed by their company to an agent who represents both the buyer and the seller in the next house.  Get an EXCLUSLIVE buyer agent.  Do a goole search for EXCLUSIVE buyer agents in your area. 

Hi, Steve! Again, I have to say I feel bad for people who have had bad experiences with real estate agents.  Corona Nick says you'll be "stuck" with an agent if you sign a contract.  Not true.  Each contract gives buyers AND agents a way out of the contract if anyone is unhappy.  The contract means you are hiring that agent to work on your behalf.  It sounds like one agent has already bitten the dust in your transaction.  They may have deserved it, I don't know.  What I do know is that NOBODY wants to work their butt off with the possiblity they may not get paid.  I do great work for my clients as evidenced by my testimonials.  I pose this question to Corona Nick, if you went in to your job and your boss said to you, "OK, here's your job and there are several other people doing this work as well.  But, only one of you is going to get paid for the work you're doing. Sorry!", how hard would you work?  Those who don't value the knowledge and expertise of a professional negotiator, especially those of us who work EXCLUSIVELY in the buyer's best interests are not people I would ever let in my car.  I know that I know what I'm doing and what I have to offer is of value to me and to my clients. 

Hi, I'm from Minnesota.  I'm an Exclusive Buyer Agent.  My business was gang busters in '07, but a little slow in the first half of '08.  I'm really trying to improve my marketing and prospecting.  Amazing to me that, nationwide, foreclosures are still only about 2.5%-5% of all mortgages.  Wish the media wouldn't be so alarmist.  Makes people scared and when people are scared, they cocoon.  The big alarming numbers for the first quarter for foreclosures were .99%!  Sheesh.  Any thoughts? 

The numbers come from the Mortgage Bankers Association, not from me.  And, according to again THEM, not me, the numbers of foreclosures are as high as they are because of the record numbers real estate transactions conducted from 2000-2005.  I still contend that, though these may be record numbers for as sound as the mortgage industry has been since the beginning of time, we do need to keep some semblance of perspective.  Media reporting panic does not build confidence in order for us to participate in righting the imbalance, does it?  Please put the sarcasm away.  I'm trying to keep this professional and above board.

And, the media reportage about certain areas (AZ among them) indicates that market decline and foreclosure numbers are more dire in those areas than others.  I still contend that home buyers don't see the whole picture when the media reports "Real Estate-BAD!!!!".   Shouldn't there be an alternate message here "This is a great time to buy!"?  So, don't paint me the dumb one.  If you're not out there trying to promote that message, who's the worse off?

BTW, azrob, y-o-u-r means YOUR.  Y-o-u-'r-e means YOU ARE.  Don't mean to be insulting, but perhaps we all have our weaknesses. 

AZROB, I don't disagree that the circumstances are dire, but how does constantly ramming a negative message down people's throats help to right the imbalance. You completely miss my point about the media looking for everything that's bad and not assisting to make it known what information (albeit, small amount) is going to help get the idea out that buying real estate isn't a bad thing? Hurricanes are devastating, but do we not need to find a way to pick up the pieces and move on to something better? Or do we insist on focusing on how horrible it is, how horrible it is, how horrible it is and not try to be a part of the solution? And, how do we do that? I don't want to fight with you, but how do we make lemonade in order for us to survive and to be part of what's going to help right the sinking ship by assisting buyers to buy the properties available? I know that's not the only thing to be done, but that is a part of it, is it not?  This forum should be more about us supporting one another.  I don't care to engage my fellow professionals as though this were some adversarial football blog or something.  I am sincere when I ask these questions of you.  If all you can see and all you are perpetuating is negative energy, that's what will come back to you. 

AZrob, we clearly have a completely different approach as to what part we play in the larger picture.  I still won't engage in a mud slinging contest with you.  I believe that kind of negativity is counter productive.  (though, my post a few entries back was somewhat mean, drawing your attention to your lack of linguistic skills).  You seem really angry.  I guess, if possible, it would be more productive to engage in an exchange about how WE as REALTORS assist in helping to make any forward movement.  In all of your posts you keep insisting on your message which has validity as I've acknowledged before.  What I find disconcerting for you and for your clients is that you don't have a balance to your diatribes.  What are you doing to garner business?  Are you telling eveyone how bad it is and, if so, how's that working for you?  The only place we agree is in slamming the media.  The few media outlets reporting the "bottom every single month" as you suggest is mainly the real estate industry media.  The other more public media outlets continue to report the alternate point of view.  But, I guess they're all media, nonetheless and wanting to keep THEIR business going by selling papers or magazines or websites or whatever. 

I'm in!  Let me know what to do. www.buyersrealestategroup.com

Not sure who these people are but they just approached me about a lead generating program.  Anybody have any dealings with them?