This video really sums up the prevailing sentiments amongst real estate pros in markets that have seen high appreciation. We are different…… we have not seen the highs, so the lows will not be as great!

Seems like everyone has picked Boston to win it all………

While Josh Beckett is the best pitcher in baseball, the Rocks have the best defense (perhaps in MLB history) and each has a wicked offense. Either way, I think this will be a great series. Who doesn't love an underdog? Go ROCKS!

Here is a trailer for a new movie called Closing Escrow (coming soon). This will hopefully remind us all that sometimes we take ourselves just a little to seriously. Lighten up agents! Sometimes our industry can be comical.

As I was having a conversation with a fellow agent this morning, I was thinking about my girls (wife, daughter, daughter and daughter on the way). This fellow agent and I were discussing the local market and when we think things will turn around. Overall, we both thought about how the national media affects local real estate, specifically Northern Colorado. The media is all about the bad news and throws all markets into 'the market'. I can assure you that 'our market' is a good buy, right now! Why? The cliche's can run amuck here but here goes…….

• Interest rates- still very low
• Housing prices have been stable but buyer favorable
• Plenty to choose from and many motivated sellers
• Lending guidelines will be tightening- a good thing
• Commercial real estate is leading the way- more jobs?

As I was saying, during this conversation with the other agent, I was feeling sentimental about my female crew. The fact is, we bought our house for many reasons but only one was geared towards investment. The investment component was proximity to I-25 and Northern Colorado's Hub. We thought our home would be a good long-term buy because of location. While we have not seen any appreciation, I can honestly say that I can care less (for now). My home has been a place to not only sleep, eat, provide shelter and warmth but many things that are just as important. My oldest daughter just had her 5th birthday party at home. My youngest had her first birthday party at home. We brought my youngest home from the hospital after she was born to our home. We have had numerous family activities and special holiday celebrations at home. We have friends over all time for BBQ's, gathering, etc at home. My third daughter will be waking up at 11PM, 1AM, 3AM, 5AM for a feeding and/or diaper change at home.

The memories that are being made at home are precious moments that will never be forgotten. The largest common denominator of my family so far, is home. Buy a house first because it will be home, buy it secondly because it may turn out to be a good investment.

As the header states, this is my first attempt at this form of communication. Bear with me, this is just a test.

Today, I was asked a question by a homeowner that clearly left a lingering thought in my mind throughout the day. The question, "why did you list a house for $xxx,000 price?  I paid $12,000 more for my house and I have the same exact floor plan"! Now, I am a highly trained professional and knew exactly what to say- "I cannot determine a sellers motivation for selling, they set the price".

This exchange got me to thinking about how many must feel when they see a recently listed property that has been listed for less than what people think they should get for it. I feel your pain!  In fact, one of the foreclosures that just closed (same floor plan as me), sold for  $50,000 less than what I think my house should be worth. We are all in this together but the fact is, I do not set the price for any of my listings. Full disclosure, I have not taken listings when I feel that they are over-priced or have other saleability issues. As much as I would like to, I cannot take listings, spend roughly 10-20% of a commission that I will probably never see. In other words, intentionally taking listings that I know will not sell is foolish. I know this may sound crass but I am in the for-profit business. The othe side of taking a listing above what I feel is a market price is disappointment, to you, the customer, that I am working for. When a home that I have listed does not sell, I have been a failure (granted this has only happened to me 3 times in my whole career) and my seller will not be happy with me.

Know that I am not in this just for myself. Selling a property is a partnership (between seller and Realtor) and both sides need to make it work or we are just wasting out time. The fact is, I control the marketing of a property, not the market. As a homeowner, I will gve you the facts to make an informed decision but you pick the price, you control the condition of the property, together we make it successful.

While I do not condone the language in this clip, it was just too tempting to not share.