Ah the foresight

Three weeks ago I spoke here about the credit crunch and The New York Post got around to interviewing me about it this past week. They - like the Wall Street Journal - failed to quote me. Gee, I wonder why?


Maybe it's just my chirpy optimisim that always gets in the way? Perhaps and most likely so. At least that's my story (and I'm sticking with it.) Fault me but I just don't see the death knell ringing...yet.


We're a small firm - yep, that's obvious - our average sale is between 1M and 2M and reflective of the average in Manhattan overall. Maybe because I stress with my agents the importance of pre-qualifying buyers that we don't have many surprises. We aren't experiencing any radical changes in buying behavior either based on tightening lender scrutiny. We're just continuing to do business as we always have. Unqualified buyers (hopefully I state this because there may be things happening I'm just not told about) just wander elsewhere.



There always seems to be a plethora of real estate agents who fail to qualify buyers and prefer being "show-ers" of properties. I don't get it. I've been surprised by how many agents in Manhattan really don't need to work for living. Unfortunately (or fortunately)I never found myself among those ranks.



Meanwhile we're spinning down towards the end of the summer. This Saturday with the pristine air and cloudless sky brings a lack of humidity sniffing of fall more than Manhattan's usual summer fare. I'm honestly considering taking a break from Manhattan for a few days before the onslaught of the fall season beginning in September.



I look forward to learning what offers come forth from this weekend's open houses. I would imagine there will be low ball offers coming in on properties from buyers hoping to capitalize on all the press about the jumbo rates escalating. I can equally picture sellers saying "no" and holding their ground waiting for the customary school semester beginning and the next round of interested buyers returning from the sandy or wooded acres of their summer haunts.


There's still so much money floating around looking for a place to park in real estate. It's just so interesting.