You hear it everyday from people in the industry, “Boy, I haven’t closed anything in months,” “Yes, I think I’m leaving real estate.” And a few other comments out there from consumers as well, like “I really want to wait,” “I don’t think it’s a good time to buy right now.”

I’m sure you have all heard this from someone you know. Well, is it really that bad in San Antonio?

My personal opinion is, NOT! If you take a look at the overall picture, it’s not as bad as the media wants you to believe it is. I don’t really blame the media for everyone being so gloom, but can we once in a while hear how great we have it in San Antonio? My personal belief is that if you keep saying it over and over to yourself, you are going to get so depressed that it really is going to be bad….for YOU!

 Maybe I’m just too optimistic or naive, but my attitidue is: it’s only as bad as you want it to be for you.

Sure, some business is down for some people, and I’m not just speaking about real estate, but is it as bad as it was 10 years ago? 20 years ago?  No, not even close! Sure we are living in the now, but I always ask myself, how on earth did our parents do it? My parents gave me and my brother and sister a private education all through our grade school and high school years, and we never applied for a student loan or grant for college, although we should have! Plus on top of this, my mother was a stay at home mom. We owned our own home, my parents had new cars every few years, and we would even take family vacations! Now tell me, how on earth is it that they could do it, but we can’t? And they were not even in debt! No credit cards!

By now you’re saying, “yeah, but things were not as expensive as they are now Liza.”

Sure, I understand that, but they were not getting paid either what we can get paid today! 

I guess it’s all relative, but we really have become a society of shoppers and wanting everything the advertisers tell us we so desperately NEED, not want, NEED! Who really needs a $80,000 car? Sure, it would be nice, but for what? I’m not saying that if you can afford it and not be strapped and complaining about the economy to not buy it! I’m talking to those of us who just have to have it or we’ll die without it, but boy, do we sure complain every time we have to pay for it, or we can’t go on vacation because we “cant’ afford it.  I say we because I too am guilty of it, sometimes! Although, I have to confess, I don’t own any credit cards!

I have come to learn that if you can’t pay cash for it, you probably shouldn’t buy it. Sure, a home is a little different, it’s the largest investment you will ever make, beside paying for the wedding, of course! (SMILE) But everyday items, if we really think about it, do you really need to get into debt for that sofa that you will probably get rid of in a few years but you haven’t finished paying for it? Or how about that coffe table that you just will die if you don’t get it before the holidays, just to find out days after the holidays that you could have purchased it at a bargain and paid cash for it?

All I’m saying is we really need to analyze each situation a little closer. BAD? Maybe not as bad as we think! Real estate will still sell, homes will still be built, people will still get married and need somewhere to live!!! And I am here to help you because after all, I’m not going anywhere! I have to pay for that coffee table!                      (just kidding)

As always, call if you need to talk!

Liza