The old saying in real estate is location, location, location. Certainly this is true on macro level. An average home in Manhattan is certainly worth more than an average home in Jackson, Mississippi. But as the Pleasanton/Dublin/San Ramon market slows, the location of a property takes on more significance in terms of how quickly the home will sell, and at what price. The reason is simple. As the market slows, there are more houses for sale, and less pressure on the buyer to compromise over homes. In today's market, buyers have become very deliberate, and are far more sensitive to "intrinsic value" factors such as location, condition, age, view, lot size, amenities, and floor plan. So what is a desirable location, and an undesirable location? I am not talking about comparing neighborhoo... 10/23/2007

I was reading something recently in which the author mentioned how many real estate agents hate farming. I then recalled many of the comments I hear from agents and others about the challenges they experience in approaching people they do not know.I find it interesting that so many people who are not comfortable in approaching others would get into a business where their success depends on it. Such a person is caught in a rapprochement conflict within themselves – they want to go both ways at once (toward and away from). We won’t get into all of the psychodynamic issues involved in this (thank goodness!).Look at the prospective client. They’re also conflicted - they want help and information, but don’t want to be hassled or intruded upon (push/pull – rapprochement conflict). Thank goodn... 12/03/2006