Steve and Kris Berg, two of the more respected realtor bloggers in the US has just published a piece specific to her area (Scripps Ranch), San Diego, and California in general. Look like some very positive news is coming from out of the gloomy mist that way. And looking at the numbers it’s pretty easy to see why.
According to the Calfornia Association of Realtors sales for the month of October 2008 were up 117% from October 2007! Contrast that with Vancouver being down about 70%. They’s doubled their sales volume while we whittled ours to barely a pulse. And why might that be? Well… median prices are down in the past year by 40%! I know a lot of people scoff at or just completely dismiss the possibility that we could see a 40% drop but California, a state with as many or more homes than all of Canada combined di just that in one year… and then sales started flying again.
The big question hanging over many is how the influx of the trillions of dollars worldwide being injected into the economies will affect things. No one really seems to know how it will work or when anyone will see the benefits (if any). We really are standing in the middle of a brand new world economic model (and here we are with our parliamentary doors locked).
If this is indeed where we are headed (and remember that the US housing recession has been going on for about three years already while we are only in our seventh month… though we are dropping faster than other cities did so maybe we are playing catch-up) then we are in for one wild rollercoaster ride over the next twelve months at least.
While I’ve not met Steve and Kris in person I have been following them for some time and can confidently say that that there is no better agent I think I would contact were I to move to the San Diego area.
Vancouver, BC 
Gonna’ need some rah-rah to sell homes in 2009, doncha’ think Will?
Tom
I never subscribed to rah-rah. Maybe that’s why I don’t have more 0′s in my bank account, but you and I both know that a long and prosperous career is based on having absolutely loyal clients who respect you and refer you to their associates. There will always be deals to be found… and they are getting easier and more fun to find. Don’t need rah-rah. Just need buyers prequalified, secure in their deposit, and willing to go through what will be, likely, a longer process to find a deal. Listings? Only if they are willing to do whatever it takes to move.