Thank you for defending my honor. The “clerk” crack was going to be my next post subject. If Eric had even an inkling of what I have been up to today, he might be defending my honor as well.

Eric,

I am tired, and I am cranky, so forgive me as I say this: If I or anyone was to suggest that a single profession (pick one, maybe even yours) was generally tawdry, lazy, over-compensated, under-educated, etc. as many like to speak of real estate agents, I would be flogged at dawn and justifiably accused of stereotyping and unfairly crucifying a large number of passionate individuals trying to make a living and contribute in your/my world.

While I did not need Chris to defend me, he is correct in stating that not all people in all professions are of the same ilk, be it good, bad, noble, evil or indifferent. I would have hoped that through our opinions and personalities expressed here you might have been able to make the distinction.

End of rant – And, this is why I prefer to keep things light. Life is too short.

My point remains the same. Real estate is local. The NAR shouldn’t be running around buying advertising and news copy space saying things to the contrary.

And the real estate clerks name is, I guess, somewhat funny. Because there are some in this profession. But do you seriously think someone as knowledgable as Kris, who writes so well and cares enough to question her own professional leadership is one of them? Get real.

By the way, what do you do for a living? Any slackers in that profession?

I do feel the need to remind you that I have not for a moment here or anywhere else suggested that the market is appreciating. It is not. Most everyone anticipated this retrenching as early as a couple of years ago (NAR’s public protestations to the contrary). Southern California, in particular, was vulnerable. Anyone who thought otherwise was being unrealistic, to put it mildly.

As a quick history lesson, the home we purchased in San Diego in 1989 sold in 2000 for only slightly (by a hair) more than our original purchase price. The larger, more expensive home we bought in 2000 had doubled in value by 2004. Forget the spin; no sane person should expect to enjoy this kind of appreciation in straight-line fashion. Markets cycle, and ours was due for a cycle.

Remember, we are actually all in agreement on this point and I believe on the points raised in my post. Am I wrong? And, if not, how did this warrant the “weasel” remark? (Not you, Athol. I know you were kidding, speaking as one weasel to another).

You see, when both coasts are going crazy appreciating 20% a quarter and 3 days on the markets sales environments my clients out here can’t understand why we aren’t doing the same thing. The NAR and CNN and FOX News all say the market it red hot.

On the other hand, now that the market has gone soft on the coasts, and in fact seems to be deflating to some degree, I am dealing with buyers/sellers here in my market who keep saying that the “market is bad” according to CNN, the NAR and FOX News.

Our market is not the greatest it has been. But we are not seeing negative appreciation. We have high inventories by recent standards. But it is just that it is a balanced market…the first seen here in a while, as well.

I guarantee all my clients that no one from CNN, Fox or anyone else has a major player here in Kansas City. So relax. Let happen what will happen on the coast. Concern yourself with your local market. The NAR would do well with that advice.