Not Take Advice From

PEOPLE TO NOT TAKE REAL ESTATE ADVICE FROM

Two weeks ago we talked about people you should take advice from in the RE market. Let’s have a look at the other side of the coin. I tell people that want to get into this business that if you embrace it and have a good time you will never be disappointed. You will also be the most popular person at any family function or social gathering. EVERYONE wants to weigh in on the topic of Real Estate. Especially over the last 6 years or so when things got really kooky. Kinda goes like this. Dinner guest: How’s the market? Me: Let me explain. You get the drift. Never a shortage of stuff to talk about. If I had a dollar for every time I was asked how the market was, I would be on a beach somewhere with a funny looking drink in my hand. Nuff about that. This week we will chat about people you should NOT listen to.

1. Your Parents. I know last time they were in the piece about people you should listen to, but let me qualify. Up to date and current thinking parents will get the weirdness of today’s market. The other parents won’t. They had a 25 year fixed term/fixed rate mortgage on a house they paid 16-25 thousand dollars for. So, let’s just say today’s reality might not touch home. Especially with home prices hitting astronomical highs over the last few years. It’s one thing to be paying 5 1/2% on a 25 year mortgage on a house you bought for under 20K. Another thing altogether when it’s a million dollar house on a 5 year term at 6.5% I rest my case.

2. Bad Realtors. Take your pick here. I have always been wary of anyone that says they know “Everything that’s going on in the market” Really? When home prices are like a yo-yo and people don’t know what to think? Prices up. Sales down. Vice versa. It has been a wonky ride the last few years. So if someone says they know “Exactly” what is going on, that gets my back up. Don’t get me wrong. There are many in this business that really get it and make the client experience a good or even great one. But like any other business there are some that aren’t and they ruin it for the rest.

3. Social Media. Oooh boy. Where do I start here? What started out as a pretty cool way to connect world-wide has in some ways turned into a cesspool of misinformation and lies. I can’t count the number of times someone has said to me “I read this on the internet” Eye roll. Be smart do your own homework. Like anything else if this tool is used in the proper way it can be a blessing. If not, it’s a curse. Use it for what it should be. A source of information from reliable places. I will say the invention of GPS has made many a realtor smile. They know what I’m saying.

We will come back to this in future. I missed many that could be included but only have so much space.