Archive for the 'The State of the Market' Category
Following on from the recent annual Allens Awards we the directors would like to make special mention of how encouraged and extremely grateful we are for the efforts and energy the Allens team continues to display on a consistent basis, especially considering the continuing challenges the present marketplace is providing.
While the Allens Awards represent the achievements of individuals, we are even more convinced that the culture of support and sharing that is so much a part of what makes Allens unique within the real estate industry, allows opportunities and an environment that are advantageous to all the members of this exceptional team.
Everyone is aware of the difficulties of the economy and the effect that has had on consumer confidence in the last few years. The challenges that has caused the real estate industry have been well documented and all of us at Allens have been affected, but the champion spirit still remains in all our team, and we applaud them.
Whether we like it or not, adversity is part of life. Overcoming adversity is one of the biggest hurdles we face. Problems, large and small present themselves to us throughout our whole existence. Regardless of how clever, or happy-go-lucky we are, we will encounter struggle, challenges, difficulties, and at times heart wrenching moments.
Is this meant to be a negative, cynical assessment of what we have to look forward to? Not at all!
In fact, thank goodness for adversity! Learning to deal with, and overcoming adversity, is what makes us who we are. Every challenge, every difficulty we successfully confront in our life serves to strengthen our will, confidence and ability to conquer future obstacles. When you respond positively and constructively to your biggest challenges, the qualities of strength, courage, character and perseverance emerge from deep inside of you.
We all need to remember that the difficult times in life help us appreciate when things are going smoothly and be grateful for and enjoy what we have. We need to decide whether we will allow our experience to make or break us. Depending upon how we choose to perceive it, it could go either way.
We intend to continue facing the adversities of the marketplace with strength, courage, resilience and humour, and to take every opportunity we can to provide the vision, direction, platform, environment, systems and structures to enable and assist all our team to be the very best they can be. We believe the attitude, professionalism, determination, knowledge and skills of our sales team, so ably supported by our superb admin, marketing, reception and Property Management teams will ensure any challenge thrown our way will be overcome with the spirit and determination so bravely shown in recent turbulent and unsettling times.
August 04 2011 | Being a Business Owner and The State of the Market and Why Would You... or Why Wouldn't You... Buy a House Right Now? | No Comments »
I find it so interesting in our times of “information overload” via blogging, newsletters, online print and other media – the ability we all have to find a credible source to back up our own line of thinking. Whether we think the economy is growing, stagnant or declining - there is someone out there who believes it also - hence adding weight, and perhaps validity, to our own thoughts.
So with that thought in mind, I want to share my outlook for 2011 – and encourage all you “positive thinkers” to jump on board.
A commentary I follow closely (and if you don’t already, you should really add to your weekly followers:) is Tony Alexander – Chief Economist at BNZ. An excerpt from his latest commentary says:
- The Reserve Banks next move based on economic data, is likely to be upwards about June.
- The Government, if they are successful in privatising some assets will get the share market moving again
- Our ratio of household debt to income is improving
I feel all these factors will positively flow through to the housing market giving it a much needed injection of activity. As a country looking to spend, we are all a bit gun shy, and tend to follow the crowd – I predict activity will grow gradually throughout the year as people see that others are jumping to pick up the bargains and that age old feeling of not wanting to miss the boat kicks in.
John Key is encouraging us to invest in shares – whilst I would encourage you all to invest in houses! - I think the key message that will flow to the country is that it is okay to invest again, stimulating that spend.
How do you see the next 12 months – Growth, stagnant or decline?
Subscribe to Tony Alexander’s Weekly Overview by clicking here
February 02 2011 | Buying Property and The State of the Market and Why Would You... or Why Wouldn't You... Buy a House Right Now? | 1 Comment »
It’s TRUE … adversity makes you stronger!
The last three years in real estate have been the most challenging I have experienced in my 27 years in the profession, as they have been for most of us I am sure. There have been many times over this period where I have asked myself: “what’s the point?”; “how are we going to get through?”; and “when is this going to end?”
What I have sometimes discovered in myself and others around me faced with similar challenges is a mental strength and perseverance that has rarely surfaced in our lives before.
Being of the ‘baby boomer’ generation things have been relatively easy for many of us in business over the last couple of decades or so, especially when we have listened to good advice, implemented proven business disciplines and strategies, taken some calculated risks, and had more of a ‘work to live attitude’ than the generations before us. Those of us who experienced and benefited from the property boom of a few years past had never had it so good and although we knew it wouldn’t last forever, probably didn’t plan and prepare for the inevitable as well as we should have and were not as mean and lean as we need to be now.
The resilient attitude and determination that many of us are now showing is something that we have seen often in individuals from the sports arena and our pioneering and war time past, and although we may not be in as much physical danger, many feel under as much emotional pressure as arose in those circumstances. Those of us who are battling through should be proud to pat ourselves on the back and take a bow, not in a vainglorious way but to remind ourselves that we have survived (so far!) and by doing so have been able to help others along the way, including family, team members, and clients by staying positive and keeping on track (most of the time!)
As always we should be thankful for that which we do have. Think of those worse off than ourselves and with what has happened to some Kiwi families and communities in recent times, especially Greymouth and Christchurch, it does add some reality to our own situations no matter how dire we think circumstances are.
I would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year
and in the words of Winston Churchill … “If you are going through hell, just keep on going!”
December 08 2010 | Being a Business Owner and Case Studies and Experiences and The State of the Market | 1 Comment »
There has been commentary in our area as to the validity of the monthly sales statistics provided by the REINZ – and most recently I have read the following article in Northland’s Northern Advocate: House sales figures “wrong”.
I must say that one would have to wonder why any company would not provide sales information to the institute whether they are a member or not.
We live in an age where the consumer is increasingly aware and seeking more and more information on any subject or product so they can make an informed decision.
Most successful real estate companies have discovered over the last few years that by sharing information whether it be about their listings, their marketing strategies or their sales information that they have had more opportunities to be of service, not less.
By supplying the REINZ with timely and accurate sales statistics the information collated can be used by other organizations including economic analysts and the media to give an accurate overview of the real estate market place. This information can then be useful to the consumer enabling them to be more informed in their decision making process, whether it be selling or purchasing property.
According to REINZ acting CEO Wendy Alexander, industry-wide “as high as 89 per cent” of real estate members belonged to the institute, and she goes on to state: “I am confident the statistical data is of sufficient depth and strength that it’s reflecting the marketplace”.
It appears to me that there is absolutely no down-side in providing the REINZ with monthly sales data as it can only be useful to not only the wider community but also to the industry so that any information they are giving to clients and customers is as accurate and up to date as it can be.
Maybe the Government, thought the REAA and its focus on transparency, should make the supply and release of sales information compulsory as the case in other industries… What do you think?
October 21 2010 | Buying and Selling and Buying Property and Selling Property and The State of the Market | 4 Comments »
