BDF Realty’s Blog

Example: OK, Mark just asked you out. Do you say “yes” and go out with him this week? He’s average looking and needs to trim his nose hair, but he seems sort of funny. If you say “yes”, you’ve got a date (and a free meal) on Friday night. If you say “no”, you might be sitting at home alone (again) this weekend watching TV and listening to your friend, Molly, complain about her awful life...

“I understand that qualified buyers are becoming scarcer by the day. More and more houses I list are sitting vacant on the market while the owner eats the mortgage every month. Do I just tell them to wait for the market to come back or is there something I can do?” (Charlotte Realtor) “In sociology, a tipping point or angle of repose is the event of a previously rare phenomenon becoming...

“I’m okay at sales. I send out 1,000 postcards and call all my internet leads every month. I’m just trying to figure out how to convert more of them this year.” (Pensive Charlotte Realtor) “That’s right! You’re not your dad. He could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.” (David Spade to Chris Farley in “Tommy Boy”) “Put. That coffee. Down. Coffee’s for...

“The MacArthur Foundation gave out its annual genius awards. This year’s awards went to a journalist, a mental health scientist, and a couple who sold their house three years ago.” (Conan O’Brien from The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien) “Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light.” (Ralph Blane) In last “Charlotte Property Management Weekly’s” episode, I discussed the...

“Oh… Deck the halls with boughs of holly (picked for free from the yard), fa la la la la, la la, la, la… ‘Tis the season to (fake) be(ing) jolly, fa la la la la, la la, la, la… (“Unthankful” Charlotte Business Owner) “…give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) “Left a good job in the city

“I’m not making any money. The economy is killing my firm. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t in anything but survival mode at this point. My New Year’s resolution this year is to be able to make a 2011 resolution with a roof still over my head.” (Charlotte business owner) “Creativity without implementation is irresponsibility.” (Ted Leavitt at the Harvard Business School)

“I’m not sure what we are going to do… Revenue is down and costs are the same. We are scraping by on a few first-time home buyer sales that come through. Worst of all, my employees are having a hard time making a living in this traditional brokerage business model.” (Frustrated Charlotte Real Estate Firm Owner) “Most small companies are uncomplicated, simple, informal. They grow on good...

“I’m sorry. My Broker-in-Charge does not permit us to do lease options. She said the percent of people that actually purchase is 8%.” (Charlotte Realtor) “Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination.” (Winston Churchill) Wow- 8%! I still can’t get over that figure.

“Sure your home will sell. Besides (wink, wink), do you really want some dirty tenant destroying your house and using the would-be rent money to up fit their new meth lab?” (“Aggressive” Charlotte Realtor pushing for a “sale only” listing agreement) “Everything became pretty clear at that moment. Being a rock star looked like a great job.” (Singer Tom Petty reminiscing about meeting Elvis...

“What do I look like to you? A moron? Don’t answer that… But seriously, my real estate investment properties are illiquid and have declined in value. You still say I should double down?” (Charlotte Real Estate Investor) “Buy straw hats in the winter…” (Russell Sage, Wall Street Financier) Buying (and selling) at the right time is the heart of many popular Wall Street mantras on how to...