June 27, 2007

As I write these words, we're midway through 2007 and the general perception is that the market isn't quite as strong as it used to be. That's true. Coming off record years in terms of sales volume and rising prices, the market was due for a downturn of some sort. Here, in west Michigan, it's not nearly as bad as much of the Media and even some of our own WMLAR members would like us to think. The truth is in the numbers and the numbers are not that far off those previous record years. Some would like our Association to 'validate' the woe-is-me attitude and agree that things are indeed sluggish. We simply cannot do that, it would be an untruth. Reality is, priced correctly and presented well in terms of appearance and functionality, a property will sell in today's market to the many buyers that are taking advantage of the many opportunities our local inventory offers them. In my own Condo community, in recent weeks there were 7 properties for sale, 5 of them were Pending Sales (waiting to close) and 2 of the five sold within 30 days without taking a bath on sales price.
The media of late seems to be running short of good ideas for stories or maybe they're just plain lazy when they continue presenting doom and gloom reports laced with an 'anti-REALTOR' twist. One can only assume that somebody of authority had a bad experience or a transaction that went awry so they launch an attack on the real estate industry. I, as CEO of the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS have been in and around the real estate business for over 30 years. It provides a fine historical perspective on things even if that perspective is not a rosy picture. Sure I earn a living in the business that has been good to me and my family over the years but if I didn't fully believe in our great industry I'd have long ago found something else to do in a unrelated industry.
My spin is this - the media, the DOJ, the FTC, they're all misguided when attacking the real estate industry and painting a tainted picture. The industry is fiercely competitive and REALTOR members of WMLAR work very hard to make an honest living by serving the public and helping them with their real estate needs. Is there room for improvement? Sure. Have there been some bad actors or sloppy performers? Of course. However, in the big picture scheme of things, they are exceptions and not the rule. WMLAR, as an Association serves its members in many ways. WMLAR is also the sounding board and the place that John Q. Public comes to ask questions, to complain, to seek advice and non-legal counsel. Our phones ring often and the e-mails are many. One common thread amongst the public is that they want and EXPECT professional, responsive and courteous service from people that know what they're doing. SERVICE is what REALTORS provide and it's a valuable service at that. People remember poor service and lack of responsiveness….and they tell others about their ill experience. On the other hand, the best thing WMLAR members can do is provide exceptional service to buyers and sellers in west Michigan - for a REALTOR it's a great feeling to become known to a family as 'the family REALTOR.' For the public it's nice to have a 'family REALTOR' just like they have a family doctor or lawyer.

For questions, comments, concerns, relative to the market, organized real estate, REALTORS in general, please do not hesitate to contact WMLAR or your REALTOR.
Service - it's what we're all about.