You have to educate them! They listen to the media and if you don't tell them the truth they believe what they hear on the 6pm news!

I am having no problem finding buyers, they just have to know you are out there.

I agree, they are hearing doom and gloom and unless you make it a mission to educate they will continue to think it is not a good time to buy. People are still buying, sellers are still selling. Put something positive on your website and educate the public about what is really going on and you will see results, maybe slowly, but surely.

Rob:

I wish I know.

Remember the song by Pete Segar, song by Joan Beaz - "Where have all the Flowers gone"?  Well, I think we are experiencing a another verse - "Where have all the BUYERS gone, I hope is not a long time passing."

I know what you mean.  At Edisto Beach, SC it is a ghost town for buyers.  We are 60% percent off for the year.  I did finally get a buyer this week from my P2 site all the way from PA.  I have spent three days with them and they have finally made an offer on a property.  The offer was $120K less than list price.  I asked them why they would offer something that low.  They said that is how they do it in PA since the Real Estate Bust.  I will let you know how it turns out.

Yes we do need to educate our buyers.  I am thinking we do it thru our blogs on Active Rain and on our Websites.  We should give the reasons Why Buy now?

1. Low interest rates

2. Good Economy

3. Great  Selection of Inventory

4. Sellers are ready to come to the Bargaining Table(not give it away but give a fair deal)

If we all start shouting the message-maybe it will be heard!

www.calgriffin.com

Edisto Beach-Now That's Heaven!

Robert, look around. don't you mean the Joni Mitchell song?

"They paved paradise

And put up a parking lot

With a pink hotel, a boutique

and a swinging hot spot

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you've got

Till it's gone

They paved paradise

And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees

And put them in a tree museum

And they charged all the people

A dollar and a half to see 'em

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you've got

Till it's gone

They paved paradise

And they put up a parking lot"

Don't worry! The buyers will come.

Here the buyers are out, prequalified, but not making the leap as quickly and missing great opportunities.  Our traffic was good until the gas prices went up another 50 cents a gallon a couple of weeks ago. That with the war still happening - along with the media still being wishy washy about real estate. I think consumer confidence is still pretty shaken up about making big decisions. Like it always does though, it will change and bounce back.  Hang in there!

Gregory you sure like singing today.. LOL

Buyers are out here in GA. Some just don't have credit to do anything with. The ones that have credit are starting to buy and my business is quickly picking up. I had 3 closing within a week and half, and 2 more schedule for next week.Things are looking up.

<In an evil voice>

I HAVE THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!  I have them locked in a secret closet somewhere, and I'm not sharing!  I release them one at a time when needed!!!

I'll negotiate 2 buyers for....

Hmmm......let me think about that one!

Rhonda, this one is for you;

When you’re smilin’....keep on smilin’

The whole world smiles with you

And when you’re laughin’....keep on laughin’

The sun comes shinin’ through

But when you’re cryin’.... you bring on the rain

So stop your frownin’....be happy again

Cause when you’re smilin’....keep on smilin’

The whole world smiles with you

(instrumental break)

Oh when you’re smilin’....keep on smilin’

The whole world smiles with you

Ah when you’re laughin’....keep on laughin’

The sun comes shinin’ through

Now when you’re cryin’.... you bring on the rain

So stop that sighin’....be happy again

Cause when you’re smilin’....just keep on smilin’

And the whole world gonna smile with

The great big world will smile with

The whole wide world will smile with you

Thanks for listening! Now, I'm going to get MORE COFFEE. Where is that Phil?

Thanks Gregory..

There were so many buyers from 2002 through 2005 that there were few homes to choose from in many areas including here in Charleston, SC.

During the "buying frenzy" we had about 40% of the inventory that we now have today, and then we Realtors were crying 'there are no homes to choose from, everything is selling so fast". So now it is just the opposite - where are all the buyers? Many already bought, and many of those are now sellers trying to get out of those "adjusting" mortgage loans.

The media eats up the bad news and spits it out to all that want to listen. This puts more of a damper on the Buyer's Market we now have that necessary.

The fact is NARs Chief Economist, David Lareah says for the most part it will level out and be more normal in 2008.

In this area I think we have hit bottom and still beleive we are going to see our normal "Spring Rush", but that it will be in early Summer. That is when Buyers will simply get fed up with waiting and decide it is time to make their move.

It's coming, pass the word to your local newspapers and TV stations so they can tell the buyers that "now is the time to buy"!

I think the buyers are not qualifying as easily as they were previously, the sellers can't sell their houses and buy something new because there is too much inventory and everyone is nervous about the media coverage in general. Hang in there and keep working. Forget David Lereah, he is now considered a total joke as an economist and has changed jobs joining Alan Dalton at Move Inc. (owner of Realtor . com )

I can certainly see a problem with getting a lot of buyers qualified. Most of the lower price range buyers don't have money saved up and nowadays have to be quite lucky to get 100% financing. I have noticed in my market a recent change .... while in the second half of last year and even first two months of this year, most activity was among the most affordable homes on the market, it has now shifted to the mid and higher price range ... apparently, these are the buyers who have the funds and job security to be able to buy. Now I just have to figure out how to reach out to those.