Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
As I entered Conference Hall B, the fresh smell of new carpet smacked me right in the face. It was like stepping into a new car…very nice. I have to admit, however, there’s also a new aroma and attitude in the air this year in comparison to last year’s Orlando conference. A refreshed energy of positive market seems to be the topic of every conversation I walk into. Just this week, the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS released that our sales are up a whopping 22.7 percent. The San Diego ABC affiliate is reporting that foreclosures in market are down 3 percent. At the CRS welcome reception last night, energy was high with nothing but happy talk.
As you enter this time, I encourage you to do the following: 
1. Search out the positive agents in our industry and spend time listening, recharging and learning.
2. Walk the other direction when that ONE gloom-and-doomer corners you on the Expo floor. You don’t need that energy.
3. Find one great idea on the Expo floor and try it for at least two years.
4. Connect with two or three agents, set a time at the end of the day, then meet for 30 minutes to discuss and energize what each of you learned that day and want to implement/take home (hat-tip Julie Beall, Dayton, OH and Jake Marsh, Denver, CO…my YPN peeps).
5. Go to The Good Neighbor Awards presentation and watch the videos. TAKE KLEENEX! It’s an Oprah reunion moment!! They are inspiring, moving and amazing! Saturday Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. General Session ( http://www.realtor.org/convention.nsf/pages/schedule )
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
Entering the Westin, you definitely get the Wizard of Oz Emerald City feel that its known for. As mentioned in my other blog, the interesting architecture abounds in San Diego.
I made my way to the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) pre-conference meetings. This morning’s topic, International Affairs, lead by Jed Smith, Managing Director for Quantitative Research for NAR.
Takeaways from Mr. Smith presentation:
1. Economy and housing is getting substantially better from this time last year domestically. Our market reacts with the international market.
2. Economics, Government and People Some Forecasting Issues:
a. Modeling The Economy. Did we get it right?, Government. What’s the government going to do? People. Are they scared to act? Are they rational?
b. Risks and Uncertainties: The world is recovering from recession
c. Domestic and International Interactions: commercial real estate is a huge factor or the “iceberg.” Residential mortgages and rolling over of those mortgages.
3. Some Federal incentives have been delayed but will be coming to fruition. (Home Affordable Refinance Program, Home Affordable Modification Program, Upside down mortgages, removing toxic assets from balance sheets.)
4. Guessing a 2.4 percent GDP growth in 2010 as opposed to 2009’s –2.7 percent decline.
5. Many foreign purchasers pay with cash. If you have international buyers, you can confidently tell them that in two to three year, they can look back and say that perhaps they purchased “at the bottom.”
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