Comments on: Real Estate Renaissance: Focus on Opportunities

By: Barbara Weissenberger

Barbara Weissenberger — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:31:09 +0000

Great insights…thanks for sharing your stimulating thoughts!

By: Julie Emery

Julie Emery — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:59:50 +0000

Well said! I’m seeing the beginnings of this move in places, but it’s primarily in small, independent brokerages. I’m excited about what the future holds if we can all take our heads out of the sand and get creative!

By: Paul Gaddes

Paul Gaddes — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:46:36 +0000

Terrific blog…Do you have a sense of which regions of the country will lead in this revolutionary rebirth of an industry…As I live and work in the Mid-South, I often notice trends in other regions of the US that take a while to get here then when they do, are often ignored by firms until the bitter end. I wondered if this is true across the board…

By: Matthew Ferrara

Matthew Ferrara — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:02:09 +0000

Thanks Bob – I appreciate your returning to the blog. Please be sure to share it with your friends and fellow professionals.

Stave: when crises hit, sometimes our initial reaction is to freeze and bury our heads; but it’s been almost two years now, so it’s time for the industry to stand up and start walking forward again. Thanks for taking the time to read our blog!

By: Steve Favill

Steve Favill — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:18:42 +0000

Excellent piece! You have hit the nail on the head.

Too many seem to prefer to bury their heads in the sand and wait for things to improve on their own without realising that it will not happen. To that end, they will not consider new ideas and mindsets that will help them to lead the way out of this.

Some will hear the message purely by osmosis but my concern is, how many will actually listen to what is being said?

By: Bob Watson

Bob Watson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:36:28 +0000

Brilliant….this is why I keep coming back to your blog, Matthew.

By: Noel

Noel — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:55:09 +0000

Thank you for saying it the way it is. Our market (Midwest) has just nose dived and is about 18 months behind CA and Fl and MI. Brokers haven’t figured it out here because they are still dizzy from the shock.j The part timer and body count has been the sucess of the past and per person production is the key to turning things around.
Thank you for your leadership in this new future
Noel

By: Jenny Kotulak

Jenny Kotulak — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:53:35 +0000

Matthew,
Great food for thought. You are right about staying in touch with our past clients. Referrals and repeat business should be every REALTORS goal.
It is sad that the “boomers” have lost so much of their savings/equity.
I think we need to combine both the “old” face to face social networking with the “new” media social networking.
That is my goal for this year and I am using Guerilla marketing methods. Do what others aren’t, for little or no cost.

I always look forward to your articles.
Jenny Kotulak Broker, RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp. Brokerage
Oakville, Ontario Canada
Past President Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board

By: Virginia O'Connor

Virginia O'Connor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:06:53 +0000

Spot on as usual, Matthew. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and insights with us!

Virginia O’Connor
Coldwell Banker Kivett-Teeters

By: Matthew Ferrara

Matthew Ferrara — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:13:13 +0000

Valasie:
Thanks for your comments – I appreciate them. I hope you can share that blog entry with other leaders at your organization. Having worked with them frequently, I know there are others, like yourself, who are working hard to look toward the future at Long and Foster!

By: Valasie August

Valasie August — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:47:17 +0000

WOW! Absolutely, right on with every single point. Said well and direct leaving NO room for misinterpretation. Thanks so much for writing this piece…Valasie August, Managing Broker, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

By: Matthew Ferrara

Matthew Ferrara — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:50:15 +0000

Thanks, Bob. Some of our clients in the UK have been keeping us up to date on the European market and the transformations are definitely parallel. In some countries, the markets have been nascent or disorganized – and now are thrown into turmoil – but again, we hope the leaders will focus on the next opportunities, not trying to recreate a traditional past.

Wishing you well,
Matthew

By: Bob Thompson

Bob Thompson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:52:53 +0000

Matthew
Splendid article. Similar problems in the UK and probably even more historical baggage!
Bob