Long Beach Real Estate Forecast....Fact or Opinion?

In my mind 2008 is officially here. A few minutes ago I was laying in bed going over all the things I had to do and wondering how in the world I was going to get them all done in time. Then I asked myself...In time for what? Will our industry survive the doom and gloom that everyone is preaching out there? After eleven years of working in this wonderful industry and area, will I be one of the ones still standing in 2009? Of course!

It's so easy to get caught up in all the negative clatter around us. We enjoy a wonderful and beautiful area here in Long Beach and for that reason (as well as location) we should bounce quickly from the short pause we experienced in the last quarter of 2007. When will the bottom arrive you ask? I ask you in return...why do you care? You can take a look at any ten year span here in the Long Beach and see that every single time property values increase. That's any ten year span. So, for example, if you looked at 1990 to 2000 or 1956 to 1966, your property value would have increased.

The days of turning and burning are going to be gone for a bit, however for future homeowners, move up buyers and the like it's a great time to buy or sell. Why? Interest rates are still at historical lows and we've shifted into a buyers market. I believe Long Beach will enjoy a great real estate market this year. Not only for the reasons listed above, but also because of location. People are always moving west and unless you have gills, we live as far west as you can go. That's a huge factor in this type of market when you're looking at it from a 10,000 foot perspective nationally.

So, whether you're a real estate professional like myself or a consumer looking to buy or sell. Get ready for 2008 and brush off all the negative chatter around you. As my father always told me growing up..."Don't worry about what others are saying or doing, just pull your little red wagon down the road and do your own thing!" Cheers to you and yours and whatever side of the fence you're on...Happy Hunting out there!