It started over 3 years ago for us here in Brevard County Florida. We saw a boom beyond compare turn into total silence. We at Land O’ Lots Realty have worked hard to sell all of our listings, but it takes time for the market to full comprehend when it has changed so drastically. I believe that Brevard County Florida felt a clear “pop” of the bubble by January 1st 2006. Three years of recession is time enough for people to get tired of waiting and to come out looking for deals. 

Financing is still hard to come by, so only those who have cash or in some cases sellers who are willing to finance are making the deals work. Even “contract for deed” can work in this market.The nice news is that since January 1st 2009 we have had about 4 closings a week, and literally hundreds of leads to follow up on. We also have 200 vacant land listings right now. Just as clearly as we felt as if someone had flipped a switch in January 2006, so we have noticed someone flipping another switch in January 2009. Not a boom by any means, but still a silent message to people that it’s ok to buy vacant land. We sell only vacant land. I don’t need to read the newspaper to understand this change any more than the media needed to tell me that something was up in 2006. When you are in the trenches, and walking in the woods with buyers, you feel these things at least 6 months before the media even changes their tune. They try to hype up the news to sell a story. We feel the reality almost immediately. I’m hoping that the concept in the book Shift by Gary Keller is going to come true in my case. That this 3 years has starved out many of the realtors who would have otherwise been eating a piece of my pie, and once this market begins to turn, those of us who have survived will be in a strong position to really make some money. Those of you reading this are probably among the survivors. I am hoping that some time in 2009 that Shift takes place. Based on the past 8 weeks, that could be the case. I’m not looking to the media to tell me whether or not the time has come. They will again be 6 months late. Instead I’m checking my voicemail and my inbox. I’m streamlining my systems and automating everything to be ready to cash in when the next little upswing takes place. I’m tired of the recession and I’ve decided that I don’t want to be in it any more……. I’m sure some of you are feeling the same way.