REALTY: Pitching plenty of positives

I am a Realtor with the CDAMLS here in North Idaho. I think Mr. Kim Cooper is doing the best he can with the information he has to work with. There is very little for him to use in his articles in today's real estate market that is positive.

I am an optimist; I look at it from a different perspective. If you are a homeowner underwater, or a seller trying to sell at a 2008 price, then it is pretty grim. Let's look at the positive side of today's real estate market.

If you are a home buyer you have it made. With a good solid credit score and some cash in savings you are in full control of today's "BUYERS' MARKET." The home prices are still very soft and will continue to be for another 5-7 years. We will not get back to the 2006-2008 prices any time soon. The BUYERS are now in control with so many homes on the market they can just about pick the street and color of carpet that they want in their new home. The ONLY thing that buyers have to watch out for is the INTEREST RATES. They will go up because of our large debt that this country holds.

I have been in the real estate business since 1976 and this is by far the TOUGHEST market I have seen. The last big problem was in the early 1980s when the interest rates were 22-25 percent to buy a home.

If you want to sell please wait 2-3 years. If you want to buy call a Realtor today.

Another positive note - check out my ad in the Classifieds under "Homes For Sale" in this fine paper.

DAVE CLARK

Post Falls