What IS the real estate world coming to?

You bet. There are tons of predictions floating around, and everyone wants to know:

• will my house sell?
  
  • When will the market hit bottom?
    
    • Should I buy or sell now or wait?

Whether you believe in the power of St. Joseph to sell your home, wish your REALTOR had a crystal ball, or are one of many folks who consult psychics on a variety of subjects, predictions seem to be the mainstay of our housing market these days.

Read more about a growing trend.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by

phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

You have signed on with an agent (either for listing your home OR helping you find a home in your new location) and all of a sudden you find out your agent is leaving town.

Perhaps you are asking yourself "What do I do?"

Well, as you might expect I have a few thoughts on this. Given my own obsessiveness (and the fact that I am not particularly good about taking time for myself and avoiding the phone or email), maybe I am not the best one to give advice. But having been through the seller and buyer side as few times before becoming an agent, and also how I handle my own business, I wanted to share some thoughts.

While this may be a little late if you are already hooked up with someone, I recommend finding out how your agent will handle time off, vacations, etc. It is not reasonable to expect that your agent will be available 24/7 - are YOU? But there should be some allowances for how to handle those times when you need help and your agent is on a well-deserved vacation or needs to handle a family emergency, whether it is a colleague or their broker. They should have some sort of coverage or contingency plan, and you need to know who that will be, how to get in touch with them, etc.

I would strongly encourage you to bring up the subject if they do not. Believe it or not, I know folks who have been working with an agent who leaves town and they have no idea where the agent is, when they will return, or how to deal with things until their agent is back. I have had buyers call me for help because THEIR agent is out of town. Hmmm, whose client ARE you? Do they not respect you enough to make sure you have help finding a home while they are gone, particularly if timing is an issue such as a relocation, or handling your listing in their absence?

Setting expectations is important for both parties. You need to know what to expect in terms of their availability, but they do as well. If you decide to leave the area your agent needs to know so they can reach you if needed. What if you get an offer on your home? Or if the offer you submitted gets countered, or accepted?

Finding out what more of communication is best is a good idea. Will they be able to access email and will they? Is there a phone number that you can use if their cell does not work? And if their coverage will be taking over in their absence you need to have their contact information, and they need yours.

Pretty simple stuff, actually. But surprisingly many are taken aback when confronted with these situations and plans are not in place to deal with absences. Make sure YOU know what to expect and how to get the assistance you need.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by

phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

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I want to take this opportunity to wish all the mother's a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

My wife wrote the following piece and I wanted to share this as well. There are some nice thoughts about how we can each help someone less fortunate than ourselves.

Have a wonderful day!

Jeff

I am going to veer off the path just a bit and talk about feelings as they relate to house hunting. Why? Well, I think it's important to be in tune in to your feelings whether you are buying or selling, or both.

Your feelings play an important role in your decision making, for example. I do not recommend buying solely on the basis of your emotions, but let's face it, for most folks it IS an emotional process, and you have reactions to different houses based on your feelings (it feels good, it doesn't), as well as logic and intellect (the room sizes are smaller than we need, there is only 1 bath). And don't you sometimes experience certain feelings when you approach a particular house, or upon entering it? Maybe it just makes you feel good, or it reminds you of the home you grew up in. Some people are more in tune with their feelings with regard to buying a home, and others are more intellectual, or analytical. Whatever the case for you, I believe it is important to recognize the role that our emotions play in our purchasing. Be careful to not let them interfere with the rational side of the purchase and make the wrong decision because your emotions get in the way.

Emotions tend to become even more apparent once the decision is made and you enter the actual transaction phase. Problems arise, tempers flare, things go wrong, anxiety sets in about getting the loan approved, and so on. You need to expect this, unless you are one of the rare folks who really does not get flustered by anything at anytime. It's normal and to be expected. Just don't let your emotions get out of control.

If you are selling your home you can expect a range of feelings, as a result of leaving a place you have loved for many years, or being excited about a new home. Relocation tends to be particularly emotional. Or there may be family circumstances that are necessitating your move which are not pleasant - a death or divorce, for example. The emotions can erupt when you don't get any offers and frustration sets in, or when you get an offer that is low ball and you start feeling angry and insulted. I kindly suggest, again, that being aware of these feelings is important and that you should recognize they are normal. Being aware will help you keep from making decisions based only on the feelings you are experiencing at that moment. Taking some time to calm down or to think about the situation a bit more can also help prevent a rash decision or reaction. It is too important a process.

So you have decided to move. What are you afraid of? Nothing? Anything?

My bet is that although you have made a decision to move (or your company did), you have some fears about your pending move. That's perfectly normal. But it's important to consider them and determine what is real and what is not? Here are some things you may be fearful of:

• Not selling your home quickly enough or for top dollar (pricing, condition, marketing and exposure are key)
• Not finding a home you love in your new city (there is lots of inventory in most areas, so plenty to choose from)
• Not knowing where to shop, dine, where to go for medical/dental care (the Internet is probably the best soure of information you can find, and it's cheap and available 24/7)
• Not knowing anyone in my new city (you will get to know your agent right away, and pretty well, and new neighbors will welcome you...and they love sharing shopping and dining recommendations; friends, family and neighbors may already know folks there you can connect with)
• Leaving friends, neighbors and possibly family behind (yep, that's tough, but they will visit, you will visit, there is the phone, and email is cheap - trust me, this all helps)

There are probably other things that concern you, but these seem to be the biggies for most people who are moving.  Your best ammunition is information, and the Internet is one of the best sources. So start right away - the more you know the better you will feel. Look toward the move with the thrill and excitement of new discovery. And consider when you first moved to your current location - that was probably a new experience for you, too.

And if you have kids and they are old enough, get them involved in gathering information on the Web...or work on this as a family project. Tonight you can look into schools, then tomorrow shopping, then restaurants, then things to do. The more you know ahead of time, the better. I've been through it 4 times now, and believe it all helps. You can also take some time if you go on a houe hunting trip to do your exploring.

Good luck! And have fun. It's a new adventure.

I'm working with several people who plan to relocate tot his area, and also have a couple of friends who just went through significant relocation. So it made me think - are YOU feeling good about the move? Perhaps not.

I wrote about the psychological and emotional impact before , and having been through it (and yes, experiencing some pretty dramatic emotional stuff while doing so) I wanted to talk more about this. Most of the time we hear about all stuff you have to do:

• sell your your current home
• find an agent in your new locale
• search for a new home
• arrange for movers
• pack and get rid of stuff you don't want or need
• move

and all the while keeping your house clean, managing the kids and your personal and work life, and so on. How can you possibly do all this and keep your sanity? Well, it's ain't easy. But often we don't talk about the emotional end of this process.

Know this - you are going to feel more anxious, maybe occasional depression, excitement, general tension, and more. You will feel overwhelmed, possibly. It can affect your sleep, your eating habits, how you feel physically. It's normal...after all you are making a MAJOR change in your life and that of your family, and it's stressful. And if the move is NOT something you are choosing (say, a job transfer) then those feelings may be more negative. Feeling angry? Resentful? It's to be expected.

Give yourself permission for these feelings. Recognize why you are feeling as you do, even if there isn't a specific incident that is causing you to feel this way (generalized anxiety they call it). Take the time to relax when you can - by yourself and/or with your partner, spouse and kids. Go to dinner. Have a fun day at the zoo. Visit the spa. Whatever you can do to find some special time to enjoy your life and forget about all you have to do. And keep your focus on what is really important in your life - friends, family and your own personal well-being.

If your relocation is for a job transfer, it is pretty straightforward. Probably not a whole lot of choice, or perhaps you decided to take the transfer. But in any case things are likely pretty well defined and timing may be decided for you. This can make some of your decisions easier.

So why else do people decide to relocate? And what about you? Here are some of my reasons and those of past  and current clients:

• family - wanting to be near other family members (grandkids, parents, children)
• downsizing - the kids are gone and it's time to move to a smaller home with less responsibility
• health - need to be in a drier or warmer climate
• weather - desire to get away from your particular weather (mine was to escape winter!)
• returning back to roots - back to where you grew up
• friends - you moved away and miss your friends and want to return
• cost of living - you want to move to a less expensive (or, rarely, more costly) locale
• living a dream - your have always wanted to live in a particular place (I wanted to be in Southern California)
• retirement - time to settle in a different area, perhaps one catering to retirees (e.g., Florida)
• sports interest - golfing, sailing, skiing, etc.
• schools
• new job - better pay, more challenge, better suited to interests, etc.

So why are YOU thinking about it?

A relocation, especially to a very different part of the country, represents a significant change - a move from the familiar to the unfamiliar, and loss of close contact with neighbors, close friends and maybe family.

But why not turn this into an adventure and make the most of your move, especially if you are driving to your destination?

•  
• Plan your trip so that you have time to visit friends or family along the way - they'll love seeing you and hearing about your trip and your new home (what a pleasant way to save on your hotel bills - maybe you can buy or fix dinner!)
• Make sure you take a digital camera to record whatever appeals to you along the way - we took photos of interesting sites in every state we drove through (I think it was 13) on the way from Boston to California, including the first glimpse of our new home when we walked in. You can then upload them to the Internet (Snapfish or Kodak, for example) and share all your photos with your friends, neighbors and family, plus enjoy them yourself. 
• You might also take a bunch of photos of the new house, inside and out, so that others can see your new home and "welcome" you. Take some pics right away, and then update the photo gallery on-line as you make improvements.
• If you have the time, I suggest also planning to visit some of the tourist sites along the way. It helps to break up the trip, and you might not find your way back to those areas again. We stopped at the Grand Canyon (worth every minute of the 3 hour round-trip extra drive north), Santa Fe (again, out of the way but spent the night and had great food and wonderful shopping - we will go back!!), and the wine country in Temecula, CA (took a wine tour).
• For food along the way, consider options that are not the typical - farmer's markets, neat little cafés along the road or unique restaurants - we ate at the Road Kill Café in Seligman, Arizona...the food was decent, not stellar, but what a great photo op that was, plus the old jail and similar buildings next door!

I mentioned this before but it's worth bring up again. We used AAA to plan our trip across the country. Not only did they provide the maps showing us the complete route, but also gave us guide books for every state. This was great for planning side trips, looking for restaurants, and determining where to stay since we had 2 cats and pet-friendly hotels are noted.

I want to take a moment and talk a bit about the emotional and psychological impact of relocation (having been through it so many times, and with my psychology background). While a significant move will have an impact no matter who you are, it does affect people differently, both emotionally and physically. It is a major change in your life and a major adjustment, for you, your spouse or partner, and for any children. You may not always be aware of how it is affecting you, but the important thing is to realize that these feelings are very normal.

You will likely experience a variety of feelings after the decision has been made (or perhaps made for you) -   sorrow (leaving friends, perhaps family, and familiar surroundings) and maybe depression, fear,  anxiety, and excitement, to name a few. Any move causes a range of emotions and lots of tension and stress - a relocation is likely to cause more. It is typical that people feel overwhelmed with all they must deal with - selling their home, finding a new one far away, traveling for house hunting, dealing with financial matters, people to see and say good-by to, packing, talking with movers, keeping the house in order to show to buyers, real estate and relocation paperwork to review and sign, on top of the normal everyday stuff like kids, chores at home and full time jobs. Yep, you are going to feel tired, and may have problems sleeping, with all you are thinking about. Other common physical issues can be loss of appetite, or the opposite, increased smoking and/or drinking, headaches, stomach aches, a feeling of burning in the chest, and more. You might feel edgy, or that you are having a harder time controlling your temper even when minor things occur.

The excitement about a move can be help deal with many of these feelings, but that in itself can cause tension. But keeping a positive attitude about what is happening and the future will help keep it all in perspective. Feelings of being overwhelmed may be subdued a bit by keeping lists of the things that need to be done, along with due dates - such organization will keep you focused on what needs to be done.

If you have kids, you will likely find they are feeling the impact too - their will have their own concerns and fears about leaving, perhaps less so at the very young ages, but will likely all feel the emotions you are experiencing. You may also see some changes in behavior , as well as in their sleeping and eating patterns. Talking about what is happening, the excitement about moving to a new home and anything your child wants to discuss can help, as can enlisting their assistance in getting prepared for the move and letting them know in advance when things will be happening.

If, in the relocation, the family is going to be split up for some time (one of you, for example, goes on to the new location for work and the other remains at home with the kids) you can expect this will have an even greater impact (having been through it twice myself). If you can arrange it, make sure there are opportunities to visit each other as a family during the separation, several times if the separation is more than a few weeks - you may be able to negotiate this arrangement as part of a relocation package.

Trying to maintain as much normality as possible in schedules and daily life, despite all the changes, keeping a positive attitude, and being organized around all that has to be done will go a long way toward minimizing the tensions of your relocation. But recognizing that this is all normal and will pass with time is important too! Good luck and have fun!

As I head back to California following another visit back to our old stomping grounds in Boston, I found myself reflecting on some of the things I have enjoyed about relocating over the years, despite the challenges of moving to a new location.

We just finished our 3rd visit back to Boston since we moved 17 months ago, trips that have involved birthdays, a wedding, and many visits with old friends on Cape Cod, in Maine and all around greater Boston. The Internet has helped us to easily stay in touch with everyone we left, and vice versa, and in some ways you feel as if you are still there (in the "old" days we had to rely on snail mail and occasional phone calls, but with email and the ability to share photos the feelings of closeness seem to hang on, and distances don't seem so great). I always enjoy catching up with good friends from back East over a good meal, and it seems our trips are always filled with lots of eating, drinking, talking, laughing and plenty of driving around in our attempts to see as many people as possible during the few days we are in town. And of course there is NEVER enough time to do it all. Thus, while relocation means a move away from friends and family, the visits back are always something we look forward to. The other nice thing about going back, as opposed to traveling to a new city on a vacation, is that you know your way around and generally don't get lost. And it feels good to see the old neighborhood, and former haunts, as you drive around to visit with friends and family. And, in some ways, it is exciting to see what has changed (new buildings, homes being fixed up and painted) as well as what has not.

I have also found that while a big move can be difficult and stressful, I have enjoyed living in new areas around the country, and learning as much as possible about the new surroundings - things to do, trying out new restaurants, getting used to the new climate and weather patterns, meeting new people, etc. While it takes some time to get acclimated and to stop feeling like a stranger, and learning your way around without getting lost always takes time (thank goodness for my GPS), the excitement of all this change and realizing how adaptable we really are as humans is a terrific feeling. But it DOES take time, sometimes many months, and you have to expect this of yourself, and of your spouse/partner and children. And everyone seems to adapt in different ways and at different rates. Do I miss Boston? Absolutely...well, not the winter weather.

The other pleasure is having old friends and family come to visit - after all, you get to show off your new home and share what you have learned about where you now live. And you realize that despite the new distance, and perhaps being in a different timezone (it's been kinda weird getting used to that now, being on the west coast with everyone we know living life 3 hours later than us - we still have to consciously think about the time when we call or tell others to call us), that friends and family are the most important thing, and despite the changes some things just don't change.