It does not take very long for Seth Godin to come along with a book nowadays.

I just obtained my copy of his new book Tribes and I’ll be reading it over the next few days. Regardless of his frequency, his books are always on point, always readable and entertaining, and always on my bookshelf.

I just know that after reading the highlights of Tribes, and after watching this video, I believe very truly that no one cares about me.

In the video, Seth answers the question: “Is social networking good for business? If so, what types of businesses?”

The video is hosted at American Express’ Open Forum site, which is loaded with good stuff for small businesses and marketers.

Good marketing matters to me because my daughter expects the utmost professionalism in my real estate practice.

Obviously, the shameless display of cuteness below is just one of my “good marketing” tactics.

Thanks to all of my clients and friends who exchange ideas with me, who refer business to The Rootdown Group and who truly make my world go ’round.

Thanks for going out of your way for me.

A potential Buyer named Penelope (named after Penelope Pitstop?) asked this question on Trulia Voices this week and she got this response from me, in addition to 11 other answers…here’s an edited version…

Yes, Atlanta is a declining market. Steve in Rohnert Park is right and better data sources than Case Schiller back up that roughly 10% decline.

My latest advisory letter from Steve Palm states - for a broad “metro Atlanta” market - the word “decline” 14 times. If he put the bottom line up front then you would read this:

“Oil prices have been falling and the government is doing their best to stabilize our financial markets. In order for a housing uptick to occur in 2009 oil has to fall and stay down and the financial markets must have the ability to finance home mortgages.”

That being said, here is Steve Palm’s September 21 letter in it’s entirety… Read the rest of this entry »

Frontdoor is the web franchise of the phenomenally successful Home and Garden Television network.

The website has been live for about 5 months or so, and it is still in Beta. Nevertheless, it’s media rich and loaded with bright insights on residential real estate. Great domain name too!

This article on real estate trends is timely and indisputable. It is a must read and it is loaded with links to many other pertinent articles that take each trend to a deeper level of understanding.

My third favorite trend is trend #10: Flipping is out, buying and holding is in.

Falling prices and a large inventory of unsold homes mean there are more potential bargains out there. Real estate investors are taking advantage of current conditions, knowing that a down market is the best time to get a good deal.

My second favorite trend is trend #6: Urban areas are making a comeback.

The U.S. experienced a mass exodus to the ‘burbs after World War II, but homebuyers are now regaining interest in downtown areas. Urban core homes are often more expensive per square foot than their suburban counterparts, but many buyers are willing to pay a premium to avoid long commutes and urban sprawl.

My favorite trend is trend #4: Bad real estate agents will get weeded out.

In the past, homes practically sold themselves, and enterprising people became part-time real estate agents. Nowadays, home sellers are looking for premium service and expertise from Realtors in exchange for the 6 percent commission. And savvy buyers want an agent who offers insight and knowledge not available on the Internet. So be selective — only the best Realtors will succeed in this market.

I told my business partner Greg the other day that I believe that we will lose at least 30% more of the “Licensed Real Estate Salesperson” headcount in metropolitan Atlanta, and that we will keep it that way for a long time.

Earlier today, I bet my friend Eric Benjamin, “The King of Decatur and Tucker too” that we would lose 30% of the headcount at the Atlanta Board of Realtors - he says that we will lose only 20%. We will complete the bet next October!

It would be a really good thing to cull the herd of boring, part-time real estate agents who purvey their mediocre talent with misspelled contracts, disorganized business practices and of course, my favorite - the poorly assembled, non-erect sign. I think that going forward, we should make the tests harder and that the bar should be raised for continuing education of licensees. Many agents have been part of the problem for a long, long time.

Otherwise, in the market of the moment many agents are doing a very poor job selling houses - if you want a serious marketing plan, a serious team of fiduciaries and multitudinous exposure on the worldwide web at over 30 unique websites, plus lots more than what is becoming very average in our business, then The Rootdown Group is one phone call away.

We are very good Listing agents and we call it like we see it.

We are very good Buyer’s agents and we are veterans at the closing table.

We have a twenty year business plan and Dana, Greg and I are the core group who will grow our practice and who will keep helping people buy and sell real estate for years to come.

Think Intown, Think Rootdown.

Y’all like our new logo?

I turn to Chartmaster Chuck. Right here, at IntownInsider.com, we turn to him a lot for:

* studies of the price reduction effect
* further studies of the price reduction effect
* cool charts like this one about how only 23% of all Intown Atlanta houses were priced right in H12008

I turn to Chris Martenson. Take “The Crash Course.” Seriously, go to this man’s site and take the “The Crash Course.” It will change your life.

Weekly, I turn to John Mauldin. I received his Thoughts From The Frontline newsletter this morning on my Blackberry when I woke up at 3:30 a.m.

This week - The Title – “Betting on Financial Armageddon.” His clear and cogent restatement of stories that he has been telling about “Commercial Paper” is worthwhile reading. Read it if you want a serious, compelling summary of recent financial events.

If you are a real estate agent, or if you are helping others or helping yourself navigate the curiosities of real estate holdings today, then you should read John Mauldin and whomever else he recommends that you read.

I had a similar epiphany with John Mauldin last Saturday morning around 3:30am – The Title of that article – “Housing: Are We At Bottom?” 

John is a human vacuum of financial insight and his connections will help you make better life decisions.

I read through that article on “The Bottom” on my Blackberry while thinking deep thoughts about the days ahead as I lie awake, and as my lovely wife Laura and beautiful daughter Kaylie sleep beside me.

No matter what politicians and bankers and TV’s talking heads tell you, just know this - my daughter has already got all of this figured out! When she starts talking, she will let us know. She’s got your bottom right here…

Now, what am I doing up at 3:30 a.m.? I’m being the Intown Insider and I encourage you to get your real estate on.

I turn to John Adams. He is the most trusted voice in Atlanta real estate. This article about appreciation really crystallizes the paradox of pricing and pricing right - for the market of the moment. This article is loaded with “post-foreclosure” property purchasing insight. His website, his classes and his radio show are the proof - if you are nervous or uncertain about Intown Atlanta and Decatur real estate values and holdings right now, keeping abreast of John’s thoughts is worth your time. You’ll feel better about things.

I turn to Steve Palm. Steve’s insights about FMLS data every month keep me and my clients informed with raw, real data. His latest letter about metropolitan Atlanta real estate is based on cogent, detailed analysis of the real numbers.

Any real estate agent that you meet who spews BS about “up and coming areas” and who gives you advice on flipping properties needs to memorize this statement after you kick their ass:

Atlanta’s “…downturn started 3rd quarter 2006 and it has yet to turn positive since then. Not only has the market not turned positive, but we have yet to hit a bottom. We are in a recession and it will not turn positive till our economy starts
improving…When our housing market turns around, closing prices will rebound quickly. I believe that prices have neared a bottom, so this is a great time to buy. There is over a 14 month supply of homes out there, so your buyer will have much to choose from.Our months-supply of homes is at an all-time high, but there were actually 4,500 less homes for all single family on the market at the end of July versus the same time last year. The reason, our demand has been just so much lower.
There were 7,112 expired listings in July for all single family. This was 1,100 more than July 2007 and 6,300 more than 2000. There were 5,993 expired listings for single family detached and 1,119 expired listings for condos & townhomes.Days-on-market was 88.9 in July for all single family and the lowest reported DOM since August 2007, but still 3.7 days higher than July 2007. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Anyone involved in residential real estate that makes it through this downturn will be positioned extremely well when the turnaround happens…”

I turn to Seth Godin. He says that in order to be trusted in a low trust world, you must tell authentic stories. Read Seth’s blog - here he is telling us about “What Advertising Can’t Fix.” 

Over the next few weeks, just remember that advertising will not fix what is wrong, especially if that advertising comes from a certain political party, a certain political candidate or a certain salesperson of any stripe who asks you to trust them.

They are on Main Street and on Wall Street.

Ross Perot and T. Boone Pickens are a couple of self-made billionaires who know what’s good for you.

Ross Perot from Texarkana, Texas - love him or hate him, he is succinct and he is a realist. This chart alone should tell anyone interested in the real estate markets that US citizens - in general - are on a path that will only lead to weakness in our real estate markets! Go to Perot Charts and dig in!

T. Boone Pickens, from Holdenville, Oklahoma - not too far from Texarkana - is a hard working geologist. He became a billionaire in the oil and natural gas business. He is on a personal attack to get the American people in dialogue with their government and our corporations about energy. His website is provocative and timely - go to the Pickens Plan and check it out.

I trust this guy who has been an oilman all his life.                       

And I totally trust this fine Texas gentleman, stepping out here in 1992, away from these two career politicians who’ve managed to make their own personal messes out of careers in “public service.”

Y’all check out the charts!