Thursday, November 13, 2008

What I know - without a doubt!

If you watch the Oprah show, or read her magazine, you will be familiar with her line..."What I know for sure". She follows this up with timely bits of advice for social/relational issues and also basic matters relating to the human experience. Without totally taking Oprah's idea, I have to say that there are things I know....Without a doubt!!!

My mom had her work cut out for her when I was young. If I did not know the answer to something, I would ask, ask, ask...if I didn't like the answer, or think it was sufficient, I would push for a better answer. If I didn't like the better answer, and it was the truth, I would figure out a way to change it -- to make it right. My husband says to me these days, "Why do you feel the need to right every wrong?" This is usually in reference to a social issue. In this same vein, as a REALTOR (R) I feel compelled to let people know what I know ....without a doubt. This is how I can make right the wrong perceptions people have regarding the real estate industry.

I have spent the last several weeks looking at property in Fontana. And I mean a lot of property. I have worked with bank owned property locally as well (Glendora, La Verne) and I am seeing a real trend....Prices are still getting matched with multiple offers, and bank owned homes are especially selling for above the listed price. Why is this? I thought the financial world was a mess!? Well, irregardless of this, the world still has valuable assets for investment. Besides philanthropic ventures, there is always cold, hard cash investment in real estate.

Do you remember A Charlie Brown Christmas? When Lucy is asked what she wants for Christmas she answers, very matter-of-factly, "real estate". Now, we know what a smart alec she was, but she was also right a lot of the time.

So, as the year ends, and the stock market continues to surprise us each day....one thing remains....investing in real estate is a very smart long-term decision. Prices are down now, but sales are up...and prices will make a rebound, this I know ...without a doubt!