Superman, I'd have been absolutely fine with your valid question had it not been personally directed. Rather than "calling someone out" on a public forum in the title, perhaps keeping your frustration about the overall nonsense inherent in the statement "it's a great time to buy" would have offered more value to respondents if it weren't uncomfortable for them (me) with a personal attack.- it took the "punch" out of what is an objection of yours that I happen to agree with. At least in my area, the "it's a great time to buy" is absolutely ridiculous, unless there is a need for a move that transcends a potential financial loss over the next year or so.

Mon Jul 14 2008, 09:09

because they cannot afford paying an advertisement of their business so they have to use these message boards to promote business;
~~~~~~~~~
At least we can afford to buy a house and don't live in our parent's basement.

Mon Jul 14 2008, 07:23

Against my better judgment, I'm going to waste another few minutes on Superman because I think when someone asks me a question I can answer, I should respond (probably the motivation that keeps most of us coming here to answer questions).

When did I start to think it was a great time to buy? Well, it was about December 1970, right after I got married that we bought our first home. Turned out we were right then and were right many more times since 1970 (even up to today when I'm in the process of looking for another investment property to buy--yes!! even in today's market) . Real estate will always be worth something and if you wait long enough you can realize a substantial gain over your original investment when you sell. My company has been in business for over 100 years and has thousands upon thousands of satisfied customers to show for it and I'm proud to say that I've added to their ever-expanding list.

Superman, frankly I sense that your comments are way too angry to be just about someone saying "it's a great time to buy". You've obviously had some misfortune occur to you and you're looking for someone to blame. My suggestion is for you to move on. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."

Peace be with you, Superman.

Louise Warring

Mon Jul 14 2008, 05:39

Wow, a lot of interesting postings; I didn't realize until now that my original question has also knocked on the ultimate interest of so many so-called pros. I also realized that they must hate to love (or love to hate) these sites such as trulia.com or zilliow.com. Why??? because they cannot afford paying an advertisement of their business so they have to use these message boards to promote business; however, when their essential interest or existence is questioned or challenged, they asked Trulia.com to remove these challenging postings. How pathetic!

This also serves my response to Ms. Options Realty. But I have one more question to you, Ms. Options Realty, which part of my very original posting "is a venomous attack"??? Maybe it's true in your life whenever you hear opinion that is in the opposite side of yours, you label it an attack?

========
To JR

It appears like JR is mad, doesn't it? I used to think that RE agents should behave better than car salesmen because I assume they should get a little more education; they at least need to take one or two classes to get that license (am I right?), but this isn't true, at least for those like JR.

Stealing from company time??? Aha, so what? We have so much freedom to do so; by the way, our companies pay us to do so, jealous??? Unlike a lot of people like you, who has to rely on posting on this kind of message board and teasing to make a living. We come here to have some fun... "bay area rental trolls"??? wow, that's a huge statement. Nevertheless, people in bay area are having a much enjoyable life than those in NY in every measure that you can think of, regardless of they are renting or owning. Maybe you grew up in your dad and mom's basement and still living there??? Not many houses here in bay area have a basement...

"Did they overpay? They paid the fair market value at the time." How ridiculous!!! Only a person that only graduated from junior high can make this kind of statement. Tell this to someone who bought Yahoo! stock for $100+ in 2000's or someone who was lucky enough to have had your "professional services" to buy a house 12 or 24 months ago.

Do yourself a favor, take some classes, or at least read some finance books and understand them, so that you won't make a statement as laughable as this again.

===
To Ms. Louise Warring

Wow, you are really excited. You "too think it's a great time to buy"?? Good for you, and keep going. I've asked this same question to a few of you but none can answer - when did you start to think so?

===
To Ute Ferdig:

My first suggestion to you is that you go back and read my original posting again. I have no suggestion that Ms. Cindi Hagley disappear from this message board. I don't think I need to wast one more minute of my time elaborating my posting.

You have a somewhat valid point about outsourcing, but your view that learning engineering and science equals to being an engineer shows that you are just too narrow-minded, let alone the fact that science and engineering have been the fundamental driver to what this country is today. Do you need me to list how many successful entrepreneurs are coming from engineering background? Or how many SP500 companies' CEO are coming from this same background?

You suggest your son be a plumber rather than an engineer? Good for you, and good for him. Maybe he cannot qualify as a good engineer at the first place? Please do let me know when he is a plumber so that when my house's toilet is broken, I can call him to have it fixed.

Mon Jul 14 2008, 01:20

Wow Superman. You are suggesting that someone just completely disappear from this board and you are wondering why someone might get the impression that you posted out of anger. If you are annoyed by Cindi's posts, why do you keep reading them?

You said: "[W]hy don't these people learn some real skill like engineering and science to make our state and country less dependable than others?" I can't help but wonder whether you have ever heard of outsourcing. The truth is that many highly qualified engineers and scientists are replaced these days by low-paid workers in India and I personally know of quite a few real state professionals with engineering and other professional backgrounds. By the way, even legal services are outsourced these days. The outsourcing is not happening because we do not have enough qualified professionals in the U.S., it's happening because they can get three or more engineers for the price of what they'd have to pay one engineer in the U.S. It's all about money, not qualification or unavailability and eventually this practice will indeed lead to the younger generation not investing in an education to become an engineer or any other professional field in which they won't be able to find job upon graduation. So when you ask why "these people" (assuming you are referring to real estate professionals) don't learn some real skill you are assuming that they don't have professional backgrounds and what you should really ask is why they chose to become real estate professionals instead of staying in their old jobs. I personally hope that my son will choose a field that can't be outsourced. I would rather see him be a plumber than an unemployed engineer who can't pay back his student loans.

Sun Jul 13 2008, 12:12

To Cindi -- Congratulations! Your cheerful, upbeat, knowledgeable attitude has struck a nerve with a pessimistic, angry, petty, internet surfer. I wish he'd spend at least half his time getting educated about the market rather than posting some of the nonsense he posits as truths. I too think it's a great time to buy. I've enjoyed the the Cindi Hagley posts I've read and hope you continue to answer questions.

Sun Jul 13 2008, 11:29

John: the people whose income depends on NOT understanding what is going on the housing market are never going to confess that those who bought in the last 5 years have lost money and over-paid.

JR: I'm not sure who "those people" are, but I do know that people who do not work in the market every day, buyers and sellers both, seem to lack an understanding of the market. Those who do acknowledge that those who bought in the past few years are losing equity. Did they overpay? They paid the fair market value at the time.

John: Moreover, the fundamental disconnects, and failing credit market will prove that housing a large, depreciating, ill-liquid asset for the next 5-10 or 15 yrs.

JR: My turban and crystal ball are in the cleaners at the moment. I don't know how long housing will depreciate, but if it is for the next 15 years then I guess people will be handing out houses for free by then. They have depreciated quite a bit already.Will it last 5-10 years? I have no idea and niether does anyone else. I do believe the market will not be very good for at least another two, but that is my opinion. After that, my opinion is that it will be flat.

John: Serious structural changes will have to be made in the banking industry, i.e. appraise using value of land plus construction cost, 40% down on homes and real income to prove that you can pay for all your expenses; not just your house. This will cause the buyer pool to shrink.

JR: I think serious changes have already been made and I seriously hope the government (read: taxpayers) don't bail anyone out. The banks should pay the consequences of the mess they made.

John: Demographics are also pointing to major drop in home values. Baby boomers will be "cashing" in selling large homes that they have owned for years due to illness, downgrading, death, etc. Supply will be huge.

JR: Supply is already huge. As long as supply is fueled by people who do not "have to sell" for whatever reason, as long as people ask too much, as long as people "test the water" supply will be huge.

Sun Jul 13 2008, 10:27

the people whose income depends on NOT understanding what is going on the housing market are never going to confess that those who bought in the last 5 years have lost money and over-paid. Moreover, the fundamental disconnects, and failing credit market will prove that housing a large, depreciating, ill-liquid asset for the next 5-10 or 15 yrs. Serious structural changes will have to be made in the banking industry, i.e. appraise using value of land plus construction cost, 40% down on homes and real income to prove that you can pay for all your expenses; not just your house. This will cause the buyer pool to shrink. Demographics are also pointing to major drop in home values. Baby boomers will be "cashing" in selling large homes that they have owned for years due to illness, downgrading, death, etc. Supply will be huge.

Sun Jul 13 2008, 08:56

You have a solid business? Wow, your business is about keeping posting on this message board?
~~~~~~~~~
All of us are INDEPENDANT CONTRACTORS, that means we don't punch in. Unlike people who are stealing form their bosses by posting on company time.

Of like you and the other Bay area rental trolls, posting from Mom and Dad's basement.

Sun Jul 13 2008, 06:44

While it is, in many areas, a horrible time to buy OR sell, there are those consumers that have no choice. With that said, I'm a bit concerned that a forum such as Trulia permits a post that is a venomous attack- while Cindy might offer an opinion that, to some, is absurd, it's not OK promote your own notion of "absurd" in this manner. I hope that Trulia removes this question.

Sun Jul 13 2008, 06:23

Where the hell is Lacey by the way.

To Linda Carroll:

You're just singing the same song as all other so called RE pro's. How well positioned has little to do with whether it's good to buy or not. I have no idea about where the couple you mentioned are located; but if they are in Bay Area, and if they are "well positioned" to buy a home, I say they are way much better positioned for the alternate. You said it's great time to buy now if "well positioned"; did you say the same thing 6 months ago? 12 months? 2 years ago?

By the way, probably only you (for the sake of that 3%) would say the family would have so much "MORE" laugh and memories after moving into a 1970's (Oops, that's an almost 40 year home) than before the move. Your word makes me laugh, and possibly many others.

==============
To J. R.

Which part of my question do you consider "personal attack"? You probably do not have a logical thinking. My point is: try to put yourself in others' shoe before opening your month, and get a real job. Hopefully no more people will fall into these RE pro's pitfall.

===========
To Cindi Hagley:

You make me laugh, again. First, how were you able to say "I" am "Lenin" and "Lenin" is "me"?

You have a solid business? Wow, your business is about keeping posting on this message board? And you're not trying to tease??? You posted 1280 messages in total during the past 11 months, and look at what you said in all these messages? I can say most of messages contain the following (by the way, usually at the beginning of the message):
"ask a Realtor to represent you!"
"Call me"
If this is not teasing, I don't know what else is. Sure, you didn't say "I beg you.." Hopefully no more people fall for this type of trap. "t just so happens that I feel that now IS a great time to buy"??? Wow, when you did you START to have this feeling?
===========
To Ailynne PeBe:

Which part of my original question do you think is out of anger? In fact, this has nothing to do with my own buying or selling; I do my own home buying and selling myself except hiring an attorney for the final contract wording. Please excuse me for my harsh word: you all RE pro's really don't deserve that 3% at first place. What value have you brought to the table that you deserve that? One point to make further that may make a lot of more people "excited": at one point, CA has 500,000 RE "Pros", that is roughly 1 for every 50 ca citizens, including the new-born, http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2007/05/28/story3.html; how do these people really contribute to the intrinsic health of the state and the country? why don't these people learn some real skill like engineering and science to make our state and country less dependable than others?

Given the current crisis going on the RE, these pros like Cindi Hagley still sing that pretty song; have you spent just one minutes on thinking why the crisis occurred? Anyone of your pros ever read this kind of story?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/04/13/…

Yep, nothing good to say, keep it yourself; life is too short to make enemies..... so that you can say all nice words and earn that 3%.

Well, be prepared to pick some real books, take some real classes, because thing is getting ugly:

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080712/indymac.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080712/mortgage_giants_crisis.html

===
To Lenin,

Sorry. I guess you had really wanted to jump out of couch, saying "I'm not superman"

Lastly, there was no part of my original question out of anger or personal attack. I was trying to make a valid point, that is, put yourself in others' position before advising. Money is good, but it's not all life about. I found that Trulia's member discussion is good, but some of your RE pros keeping singing nice songs is simply annoying.

Sun Jul 13 2008, 00:56

A good rule to remember whether personal or work is the if you have nothing Good to say might as well keep it to ourselves... We are all entitled to our opinion but hopefully we could keep it in a respectful manner. Life is too short to make enemies :)
Don't do something out of anger...

Sat Jul 12 2008, 00:54

You stole my words :) I think this is in general rue for all RE agents nowadays. When business is slow they will try to hunt. I beleive they are partially responsible for this housing mess-they convinvced many to buy homes that they could not afford!

Sat Jul 12 2008, 00:26

One other note:: Lenin and Superman are one and the same!

Fri Jul 11 2008, 19:48

Thanks so much for your comments. There are indeed times when it's not a great time to buy.It just so happens that I feel that now IS a great time to buy. I don't need to tease someone to hire me....I have a solid successful business. I answer questions for consumers as a courtesy, like the majority of Realtors do who participate on Trulia.

I do wonder what the real issue is with a post like this on Trulia. If you would like to talk about whatever personal issues you have with me one-on-one, you are more than welcome to call me at anytime. I look forward to a call or e-mail from you. And if you choose not to contact me, I wish you well in your real estate endeavors. Peace.

Fri Jul 11 2008, 19:41

I really think a personal attack on a poster is not suitable as a topic.

Fri Jul 11 2008, 19:02

Who is Cindi Hagley?

There is a time not to buy--when you are not well-positioned to buy. When buying would mean that your lifestyle would be so affected that you resent the home you live in.

Everyone has a different goal and a different reason for buying a home. Not everyone is buying a home to wait a while and sell it at a huge profit.

My favorite Buyers are the ones who want to own a home, not just use it as a cash beef cow--that is; something you get, raise and slaughter once for profit.

I just gave the keys to a nice family who will raise their 4 young children on a lovely fenced wooded acre, with a 1970's home. They couldn't have touched a house like this with a 10-foot pole 2 or 3 years ago. Now that the prices have softened, they can purchase their dream.

5 years from now, when they stand outside and look at their home, they will be so proud and happy that they bought it! Because, in my opinion, prices will be back to where they couldn't touch anything like it, even with 5 years of pay raises, investments, & career advancement.

They will have so many memories of laughter & tears.

They will have great equity built up.

If you want to own a home, this is a great time to buy in my market--IF you are well positioned. Best is if you have 20% down payment, and if you are planning to stay there for 5-7 years or more.

Warm wishes, Linda

Fri Jul 11 2008, 17:47