Perspective is Key

In today's market it can be confusing, especially for people who are not in the real estate business everyday. Everywhere you turn there are conflicting messages telling you one thing, then seemingly another. Everything for example think of each of these and their current situation: North Korea, the UN, Iran, Goldman Sachs, Jodie Meeks, TARP, GM, Chrysler, Exxon, the price of gas, the economy, the housing market...I could go all day. It seems we never get the real story, only the story or the agenda whomever is reporting or telling the story wants you to have or hear. Since this is a real estate based site, then lets focus on that.
Here is the general overall take that most people get these days from all media sources.
"Everyone is in foreclosure, you can't get a loan, the market is falling even more, bank owned properties are a deal, don't buy, do buy, the time is now to buy, take advantage of the tax credit, market is bottoming out, by the end of the year the market will be rising again....again this could go all day. But take the pulse of the real market, get perspective. Call any Realtor or mortgage professional you know that will give you a straight answer, and ask them 4 questions.
1. Are you busy with real estate right now?
2. How many buyers have you seen NOT be able to get a owner occupied loan this year?
3. What type and price range are people wanting the most right now?
4. How confident are you that the market will get better in the next year, HERE*, and why?
* Here can be almost anywhere but the important thing is it is the town you are in.
I will answer my own questions tomorrow as well as pose it to a few friends of mine in the business and post their answers. I would be interested to hear what you find from these answers. Then next week I am going to get the question to people outside the real estate profession, common people and hopefully a reporter or two....I bet they are totally different.....