Sellers need a Realtor that will do more than just market their home. The Realtor needs to listen and listen well. The Seller needs to be free to ‘talk’ as emotionally as they need. Moving out of a home is not the same as moving out of an investment property. Kids could have been raised, money could have been invested in personal features/remodel and many memories could be left behind. Sometimes an equity loan was used years before which could deplete the cash return once sold. Important for Realtor and Seller to discuss are “why selling”, the market will not pay a price simply b/c the seller has a need, but knowing the reasons can help with private discussions. When negotiations are under way with a prospective buyer on a home, the seller needs to discuss what is on their minds with their Agent (Realtor). In return, the Realtor cannot take anything personally nor share any of the private discussions they are having with their seller principal (of course not sharing with the other side, but also with friends/family). A goal every Realtor should have is creating an environment for the seller where they will not feel uncomfortable asking any question or stating their level of concern. Market data supplied to the seller is a key factor, but being able to explain the data and listen is even more important. The Realtor needs to make sure and focus on the concerns of the seller. How to respond to an offer? What can the seller know to respond but not risk losing the sale over their counter? What is the market doing? Would this offer demonstrate a new low in terms of a sale or average or high mark? What percentage return is expected on average for the remodel work done to the home? What would be the appreciation of the home if sold at a certain price (i.e. selling after buying 5 years before)?
Everyone handles themselves different and that is one ingredient that a person must appreciate if they want to succeed at representing others as an Agent/Realtor. Discussing a decision several times might be very helpful. It might take either the principal seller or the Realtor several times to realize the help being asked. Sellers “…don’t want to be the worst client for their Realtor” and the Realtor should always hope the seller appreciates the work done to market-sell-close the property. I hope a seller understands it is all a process and never easy. Just as an attorney or doctor has ‘client confidentiality’ so should Realtors.

Lots of buyers are entering the market driving the volume of sales. The number of sales in July for metro Austin, Texas, reached the same of July 2008. Jan.-Feb.-March-April-May-June all showed sales to be 20-25% lower than 2008, until July. I want to focus on buyers who are entering the market for the first time AND buying with a partner-husband-wife.
Of course buying is easier if there are two incomes for the qualifications. But when buying with your spouse or partner, you have to work as a team and teams have plans. For example, with a married couple the wife needs to create her list seperate from her husband (and vice versa). This list needs to have the first 5 most important items if a person was to agree in buying a home. Each person needs their own list starting with #1 - #5 in order of preference - the preference of the creator (and seperate from what a parent, kid, friend, and especially the person your buying with). Once each person has their list of 5 (#2 is more important than #4), and then extends the list to items #6 - #10 in order of importance. The key is realistically having the first 5 goals for the property be "must haves that won't be negotiated" and #6-#10 be "hope fors but dont' have to have". Finally, and maybe with an adult beverage of choice, the couple needs to sit down and agree on 1 list highlighting their desired house. Don't trash the individual list, this is helpful later.
This process will help improve communication when properties are being toured. Buyers should give themselves room to change. Over time an item can become more or less important and shift on a personal list. When this happens, explain to the partner "...my #8 is now more important and sits at #3, can we agree?" Buyers must be able to change their direction and be communicating it to one another. I want to stay away from listing any criteria, but will add price is often overlooked on the first 5.

Nice to be back, my son is 10 months old now and for some reason I have not posted an entry in about a year.
One aspect which is often overlooked in residential real estate is time. Some of the changes that have taken place since last fall '08 (first noticed in fall of '07) are noticeable - price and an increase in the number of homes available. When the inventory of homes for sale increases, the entire sales process becomes longer. It is longer for the buyer to understand the market - more homes to see to formulate an opinion. It is longer for the right home to be found since the buyer has more to chose from and naturally adds more to their expectations (the buyer does not have to settle for less, they will just keep looking until they find everything they want). All of this is applicable to anytime a real estate market shifts to a ''Buyers'' market. One addition of late is the lending process.
Now, loans need about 45 days to close. From the time a property is found to the date it officially changes hands, one can expect 45 days. Prior to the last 6-12 months, I would quote 20 to 30 days but not now. I am also assuming the buyers have done their necessary pre qualification well before finding their home. In summary of ''time''; the buyer takes more time to find the right home, the seller needs more patience waiting for the buyer, the lender needs more time to process all loan requirements.