Brett Tousley

Working "virtual" certainly isn't for everyone but for me it's been a very positive experience. Technology has allowed me to be more responsive to my clients and provide them better service. Brick and mortar storefronts will always have their place in the real estate industry. But for those of us who meet most of our clients via the web it's an expense that doesn't pencil out anymore. Brett Tousley Keller Williams Realty www.brettsellshouses.com

Physically visiting an area in which you wish to serve the public is somehow inflicting significant and disproportionate costs? I'm surprised that anyone with access to an mls would find required, in person training out of line. Routinely, I see agents and brokers lamenting the low financial and educational requirements in our industry. Yet, when an mls steps up and attempts to raise the bar in an effort to keep the data in the database accurate, they've somehow gone too far? Whether Mr. Gehris is or is not familiar with the new system makes no difference. He has not been singled out, but seeks special treatment due to his out of state status. If the board were to bow to his wishes, they would have to bow to every member with a part time job, kids in school or other personal issues.

Virtually every home I've helped my clients buy here in Pierce County WA over the past few months has been an REO. Even with the onerous bank addendum and sometimes slow response, the buyers are flocking to the bank owned market. My advice to the banks and investors that are currently saddled with a large inventory of REO's and potential short sales is hire more staff. Get aggressive in providing loan mods, staff your loss mitigation dept adequately and hire a cleaning crew/trash out for every reo you put on the market. Loan mods will save a bank money over foreclosure in some cases, hire the staff to actively contact troubled homeowners and work with them if it makes financial sense. Staff the loss mitigation dept. Short sales are the bane of most buyer agents and buyers currently for one reason. If they close at all it often takes 2 to 6 months. Speed up that process and you'll move more inventory and net more on each transaction. Many buyers are just waiting for the properties to be foreclosed in hopes of buying reo. You are losing 10's of thousands of dollars on your reo's for no reason. Clean them up, make minor repairs and leave the power on! "Presto" you've got the best home on the block priced below the competition. Your reo's will sell quicker and for far more money by following this tried and true advice. Of course these actions won't be taken. We'll see the continued erosion of housing prices due to the downward pressure in our neighborhoods from poorly marketed, filthy reo's and short sale listings that close 48% of the time. Brett Tousley The Tousley Group Keller Williams Realty Puyallup, WA www.BrettSellsHouses.com