Happy Holidays... All of them. 2007 is now covered.

I hope everyone has had a merry Christmas (whether you celebrate it or not, it is still a day of the month and hopefully it was a good one) and happy holidays. 2006 has gone by so quickly, I was just starting to get used to the year, and now it's just about gone.

Just so you know, my office moved... About 10 feet away. my new office is across the hall. It's a little bigger and much more private.

Our trip to Mazatlan Mexico was great! I'll post some pictures on here. I just have to get them from home. I couldn't use my cell phone, which gave me a kind of freedom that made it a real vacation. It's hard not to keep checking in, then making phone calls, then look for a fax machine, etc. Pretty soon it's a working-vacation. That term should be an oxymoron, but the fact that it exists is a testament to our overworked society.



Ha! So I'm digging myself out from the stuff that's piled up, and picked up a few new listings too. Take a look. I can't emphasize enough the view from the property in Salcha on Chickweed. You can see both Harding Lake and the Tanana River. If you know this area, you know that's pretty impressive.

I just got back from the Re/Max Alaska awards ceremony. It was a fun event. Great food, and Jennifer took the time I was learning about Real Estate to go Skiing at Alyeska resort. It's nice to see all those different Realtors from different towns, and hear how they do things differently or the same. Very fun, although I'm not really a drinker.

Lately I've been kicking around the idea of hiring an assistant. It would certainly help me out. It's still just a thought, but maybe someday.

Ups and Downs

As a Realtor in Fairbanks my livelihood ebbs and flows with the change of the seasons. That's why so many of these posts herald a new season, and so is it with this one. Once again, fall is upon us, and quickly moving to winter. This is a good time to buy. Sellers in the upper range are beginning to lower their prices, and showings on the whole have slowed down a little.

Now having some time to Breathe after the incredibly busy summer, I've added am imbedded movie that previews the current listings I have available, and of course I now have time to post on here. It has been a while.

One final thought: If you are in the home-buying or home-selling process, we all really appreciate it when you let us know if you are already working with a Realtor, or whether or not you want to be represented. Remember, we Realtors only make money if we are working with one or two sides of a transaction if it actually closes. We are not employees of our respective brokerages. We don’t mind helping, but t can’t cut into our business.

Stay Warm!

He who hesitates is lost!

Either Mother Nature is giving us a false start, or Spring is here. In any case, the Real Estate market is really picking up, and there don't seem to be as many houses out there as there are buyers for them. More and more military are coming back as well.

Something I learned from Pam at Alaska Commercial Properties is a simple lesson, but a very important one. It's bad luck to count your commission before the sale. This makes sense in a very practical way, because a good Realtor focuses on his or her money only after the sale is over, or at least the day before the closing. Up until then we focus on helping our buyers and sellers the best we can, and gathering information for them. Still, we have to fight the perception that we see our clients as dollar signs. In this respect, I sometimes find myself resisting the urge to tell people, "Hey, if you want this house, we need to make an offer now, because it's going fast!" simply because it can make me look greedy, when in actuality it is a seller's market, and It's best to get an offer in there when there are no competing offers to contend with.

So please remember, we work for you. A large percentage of people we work for end up buying nothing, changing their minds, or some variation of those things, and so we end up working for free, but until we reach some sort of conclusion, we are working hard for you. I woulld say if I am guilty of anything, it is of trusting people to always do the right thing.

I've got a few new listings coming up, including another dry cabin, and 4 duplexes, so keep watching my web site, or ask me for more information.

Take care,

-Ryan