As I begin this year of service as the 2008 CRS president, I recognize that the Council and its members face a host of opportunities and challenges in the coming year.

 

You have probably heard this phrase many times before: People buy on emotion and justify with facts.

 

Actually, emotion drives about 75 percent to 85 percent part of the buying decision. So when you think about it, as real estate professionals we are in the “feel good” business. When people feel good they tend to have a positive attitude and communicate in a positive way. That outlook helps them turn thoughts into actions.

 

If you believe this, then we real estate professionals must strive to be a positive influence on our clients. This can be an uphill battle, as negative media coverage of the real estate and mortgage markets has a big influence on the outlook of many homebuyers and sellers.

 

So what is the good news that we can share with our clients? Simple: it’s a great time to buy. As REALTORS® it is up to us to spread the word and help improve people’s outlook and attitude about the real estate market.

 

As highly trained, successful CRS Designees, we can serve our clients well by offering an emotional connection in addition to our professional expertise. And by providing a positive outlook in the face of negative news surrounding the real estate market, we can go a long way toward helping our clients reach their goals.