Chuck Marunde, J.D.

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Great discussion here. Rich Johnson said it well when he wrote about exchanging cookie recipes. My real estate sites are for business, not socially reacting. As Realtors we need to be careful we don't jump on every Internet fad that comes along. There are many that can waste our time. My sites generate all the business I need. Well, I could use more, but that will come as the market improves. Want to see what a very successful real estate blog looks like? (50,000 unique hits per month) Look at mine below. I also have an online newspaper. Teresa, what I'm doing is working. In a market where nothing is happening for other Realtors, I closed on houses in Jan and March and wrote a deal this morning on a half a million dollar house. Chuck Marunde, J.D. Real Estate Attorney (Ret.) Broker/Owner/Realtor http://www.SequimRealEstateNews.com http://www.Sequim-News.com

Stefan, you're right on. I think 2009 will be the most interesting year in real estate since I started 30 years ago, and I mean interesting in the context of seeing what will happen to real estate agents. Having been a real estate lawyer for 20 years and a broker now, I've seen so much nonsense and unprofessionalism, I really do think consumers will be far safer and better off with half the agents we have now, and that still doesn't resolve all the issues for consumers. I hope consumers begin to do more due diligence on their own before they hire agents. I'll tell you the truth--whenever I write posts on my blog about the truth in the lack of competence and professionalism in the real estate profession, other agents get testy. Hmmm. Wonder why? Chuck Marunde, J.D. Real Estate Attorney (Ret.) Broker/Owner/Realtor www.SequimRealEstateNews.com www.SequimPortAngeles.com

I appreciate what Katerina wrote about the Internet not being a big player in her opinion in Florida, but I would have to disagree. Sure, Katerina may feel like she is doing fine, but the National Association of Realtors nationwide study indicated over 80% of ALL home buyers start their search on the Internet. Perhaps Katerina's business would be three times what it is now. Maybe. Maybe not. There are a lot of chaotic variables in the current scene. I also live in a large retirement area, Sequim, Washington. Retirees here who are in their 70's use the Internet for everything, and they are not from Seattle, but places like Arizona and California and Texas. Age is no longer a barrier to using the Internet as it was even 5 years ago. Chuck Marunde, J.D. Broker/Owner/Realtor www.SequimRealEstateNews.com SequimPortAngeles.com