Everywhere I go people that know I am in real estate or figure out that I am working in real estate act as if they have to console me or they ask if I'm doing okay because the market is so bad. The truth of the matter is that business is booming and things are going quite well. Then, they typically proceed to ask me my opinion of the market. So, to answer everyone that is wondering, her is my opinion....

We are in a RICH GET RICHER real estate market. What I mean by this is that if you have the finances or if you have good credit in the current market, it is a great time to capitalize. Opportunities to build wealth are everywhere, you just have to know how to make it happen.

Here is my synopsis of what is currently going on in the Pearland and Greater Houston real estate market in the consumer's world:

Thousands of people are headed toward foreclosure and for thousands more it is becoming harder to find financing to make a purchase, by the day. So, we have thousands and thousands of people that are unable to purchase, being cycled over and over again through the rental market. With the number of renters raising at a record level, it is safe to say that supply and demand would allow landlords to raise rental rates and still be able to lease properties quickly without very much downtime between tenants.Cha-ching!!!

People continue to complain about a recession, but notice that in Pearland and the Greater Houston area, apartment complexes and commercial properties are steady popping up. If you do not see what I am talking about, simply drive to the intersection of HWY 288 and FM 518 and drive north towards the beltway or visit Fuqua near the beltway/45 South(right behind AMC 30) and you will see plenty of new apartment units going up. This is the perfect example of the rich getting richer.

For those of us that cannot afford to build whole apartment complexes or commercial buildings, here are a few ways still get your piece of the pie.

1) "Buy Low, Rent Smart, then Sell High when the time is right". Now is the perfect time to find a great deal on a foreclosure, put enough money in it to make it desirable, and rent it out for great profit.

2) Maybe it is a great time to re-finance into a lower interest rate. As long as you plan on staying in your current home long enough to recover whatever closing cost you might incur to re-finance, this could save you thousands over the life of your loan.

3) It may also be a good time to argue your taxes down and save a few bucks on your Homeowner's taxes. It should be easy to lower your tax appraisal with the falling real estate prices.

The way I see it is, if you own a home and are not in danger of losing it, you are rich. Hopefully the tips above can help you to get richer.

Here is my synopsis of what is currently going on in the Pearland and Greater Houston real estate market in the REALTORS® world:

There have been thousands of licensed real estate agents over the past few years that only work in real estate part-time. There are also thousands of real estate agents that have not spent the time necessary to gain the education needed to succeed as a full-time real estate agent. Not to mention, there are thousands of real estate agents that have not been servicing their clients as well as they should and possibly committing unsavory acts that damage their clients in order to close the deal. All of the forementioned agents will realize that their business does not support them and they will need to devote all of their efforts to a better paying full-time endeavor. With this being said, there are other agents that have been working full-time in this industry to become educated in order to better serve their clients and focus on building wonderful lasting relationships with their clients. These are the agents that are resilient and innovative, these agents will flourish in this market, the market that some consider a recession will become a springboard into growing, prosperous business.

Along with running a good business and maintaining a healthy referral base, it is a good time to be innovative. Explore new niche markets, provide new services, connect with credit repair companies, and find a way to get involved with REO properties and serious investors. It is an exciting time to be in real estate. Not only is the economy changing, but so is the consumer and the needs and wants of the consumer.... TAKE ADVANTAGE.

That is my opinion on the current real estate market in both the worlds of the consumer and the real estate professional. My opinion may not be the best opinion, but it is mine and so far it has helped me to head in the right direction, hopefully it can help you too.

Thanks for spending the time to read. Feel free to comment on this BLOG, or you can e-mail or call me direct.