Jerry Davis’s Blog

DON™T SHOOT THE MESSENGER¦Especially appropriate for hard-working real estate agents in the
Michigan market.According to Wickipedia”Shooting the messenger” is a metaphoric phrase used to describe the act of lashing out at the (blameless) bearer of bad news.In ancient times, messages were delivered in person by a human envoy. Sometimes, as in war, for example, the messenger was sent from the enemy camp. An easily-provoked combatant receiving such an overture could more easily vent anger (or otherwise retaliate) on the deliverer of the unpopular message than on its author, thus literally killing the messenger. In modern usage, the expression still refers to any kind of punishment meted out to the person bringing bad news, but has taken on an ironic dimension as well. Now, any adverse reaction, even one so mild as a raised eyebrow, could prompt a protest against shooting the messenger.A syntactically similar expression is “Don’t shoot the piano player; he’s doing the best he can”.  

I am in the trenches (of the real estate market) every day.   Even on those rare complete œoff days I am thinking about my clients and praying for them.   I see real estate agents working harder than ever and, more often than not, for less money than ever before.   I noticed that about 30% of homes listed actually sold in 2007.   This year that percentage will, in my opinion, be even less.   That being the reality, seven out of every ten homes listed by agents will not sell.   Many of the sellers will, in a sense, want to shoot the messenger.   Get rid of the agent who didn™t get the job done and get another who will.   In the vast majority of cases, the agents will have advised their clients that price is the dominating factor for the few buyers available right now.    

My advice to any seller¦if you have a hard-working agent and one who communicates to you the reality of the market and the reality of the down-trend¦listen!   You certainly don’t want to shoot a second messenger do you?  

More and more agents are leaving the business.   That is how hard the business is right now.   It is not easy telling sellers their home is not worth what they hoped.   So, please don™t shoot the messenger of seemingly negative market news.   Just be glad you have a hard-working, caring Realtor who is even willing to aggressively market your home knowing that they might lose over 70% of the funds they are spending to market their inventory right now!   If you have one of those œsurvivor agents¦hang onto him or her.   Take their advice (that blameless bearer of bad news) and let them get it done for you.

“The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.” - Benjamin Disrael

I have been doing some word studies recently.   The word happiness for instance comes from the root word “hap.”   Hap means “chance.”   That seems appropriate to me.   I think of those who like to visit casinos.   Every time someone puts a coin in a slot machine, they are basically buying a “chance.”   And, in reality, it is a chance at “hap”piness – no matter how momentary.   The proof is that if you hit something that pays you are happy and if you don’t, at least momentarily you are unhappy.  

But here is an observation from life.   When sorrow or hard times come, happiness never stays around.   It leaves.  

Joy on the other hand stays – even in the midst of sorrow or hard times, one can have joy.   Because joy isn’t based on “chance.”   Happiness is caused by those external events around you that you cannot control.   Those things that “happen.”  

Every experience in life is an opportunity.   You can listen to the doomsayers and choose to be negative.   You can lose your happiness.   Or you can take seemingly negative circumstances and choose to accept it as simply an opportunity to express your joy.  

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

As a Realtor I decided some time ago, that when the market shifts and seems to be a tougher market in which to make a living, I will just work harder and keep learning to be able to work smarter.   I refuse to allow any market, good or bad, to steal my JOY!

How about you??

Jerry Davis

Just a few thoughts for you…Some of this I found, Some of this I am sending along and Some of this is from me directly to you.   As someone once said, “I get my milk from a lot of different sources, but I churn my own butter!”   So, here goes…Pathways to Joy…

Some reading this might be shocked, but yes, I believe this could be the very best time for many sellers in Southeast Michigan.   Consider the following scenarios…

• You have lost a job and can no longer afford your mortgage payments, or
  You have an opportunity for a new job elsewhere.   Maybe you have retired and want to make your planned move to a retirement location.  Question:   If you knew for certain that the value of your home would be less tomorrow, when would you sell it?  
  Answer:       Certainly not tomorrow.   And you simply cannot sell it yesterday.   That leaves today as the very best time for you to sell your home.   This may sound simplistic, but it is amazing how many people will wait for their situation to change to the positive, only to find out that yesterday was the day they should have taken action.   All projections I see on the immediate real estate horizon indicate a trend still downward in home values.   If those projections are true and I need to sell or absolutely want to sell in the near future, then, for me the best time to sell is right NOW!  
  My Advice:   Don’t let the negative information around you keep you from taking positive action today.
  Yet another reason that today may be the best time for you to sell is that the rates are still very low and even if you don’t sell for what you had hope to sell for, you will still be buying with great rates on your new home.

Don’t allow yourself to remain in a negative situation because the information concerning your housing situation is negative.   Look for the positives and take action based on those positives.   If the outlook for selling my home today is brighter than the projected outlook, I am going to take positive action.  

Jerry Davis
Real Estate Consultant and Productivity Coach

Enough already of the newscasters, real estate editors and doomsayers!   It seems to me that, since most of the people who have made great money in the real estate market have done so in markets similar to the one we are now in – there should be a positive to find somewhere.   If you haven’t yet been able to find it, here goes…

Since home prices have fallen over the past couple of years in Southeast Michigan, in some cases over 15%, that means that prices today are at investor prices of two years ago.   Some have said it is a “buyers market.”   I suggest that we are now in an investor’s market.   The proof to me is the amount of investors and the  percent of investors to overall buyers available right now.   If you are a buyer’s agent in Southeast Michigan, I don’t know how you can keep from being delighted for your buyers and really don’t understand anyone’s hesitancy about buying now.   Mortgage rates are unbelievably low.   Buyers need to understand that, in a market such as the one we are currently in (an investor’s market), that they need to be prepared to take action quickly to make certain they do not lose out to an investor on their purchase.   Is there a  larger than normal inventory of homes on the market?   Absolutely!   But, understand that, if something is really good value, no matter the market, it doesn’t last long!   And if you are competing with investors you need to be prepared to take action even  more quickly than normal, not be more hesitant.  

Maybe that is why the most money is made in markets similar to the one we are  in now.   It is because those  who have made the money are individuals or investors who take action and do not hesitate to take advantage of a very positive situation.  

So…home buyers and buyers agents…take action now.   You snooze, you lose, no matter the market.    I noticed that mortgage rates inched up overnight. Does that means, if you didn’t buy yesterday you might have lost a bit?   Hmmmm…could be.   See what I mean?  

Welcome to Jerry Davis’s Blog! This blog will provide you with valuable information, tips, and general insight into the real estate market in Plymouth.