Survey Says!

First Things First,

Here are the September Real Estate Numbers…..Single Family homes were off -15.4% in closed sales this September in Palm Beach County compared to last September.  -24.8% for townhomes and condos. You can see more market statistics and in other counties here.

Interest rates were lower this summer than they were last summer when those homes went under contract so it’s not so much rates. Inflation cooled down.  So, why were September numbers so much off? My unscientific survey from talking with lawyers, mental health therapists, accountants, other Realtors across the county is “Election Jitters”.  People have been jittery about making commitments on big ticket items when they feel uncertain. In order to calm everyone’s nerves I thought we could play a game.

Longtime reader, Paul C wrote to me last week.  He texted me, “I love the Sunday Journal Jeff and look forward to it every Sunday morning….but I think you struck out this week with Irving driving around the roundabout.  I wrote back, “Oh no. I had a Grandpa Irving who always got lost. I had to ride with him to pick up Sunday night Chinese food so that is where the bad driver came from in the article.”

Me and Paul C then went on then to discuss the topic of insurance costs further. Paul C, who is a very smart guy, did not remember that one of the reasons for higher insurance was because of insurance assignability and fraud despite me writing about it last week.

This got me concerned that maybe I’m doing a poor job in writing my Jeff’s Journals if the information is not sticking. Is it me or you?!?

At the same time my wife gave me an idea. In the morning, sometimes we “doomscroll” through mindless social media. Me on the imbecilic Impractical Jokers which is 100% non-educational. Veronica on the other hand loves Family Feud hosted by Steve Harvey. For those of you who don’t watch TV or doomscroll, Family Feud shows how well families know each other and how the public at large speaks. An example of a question is, “Name something a doctor might pull out of someone?”  And then it gives the best answers that the public at large thinks. (If you’re interested, you can watch those answers here.)

So, that gave me the idea of testing you with a quick quiz to see how good your retention is. Time to play Real Estate Feud

Here are the rules! If the Survey Says 10 out of 13 correct answers, you’ll get a nice prize through the mail. Thing is, I won’t know if you played a second time or third time to get the answers correct. Since I trust you never would do such a thing, no questions asked as long as the results come back with 10 correct answers.  To help, I’ve even give you a Cliff Notes section with a link to the relevant article.   Ok, Let’s Play the Real Estate Feud….

Now, if you want your reward, I’m going to ask you for your name, email and street address, so I know where to send it to. Don’t worry about giving me your information though. I already have it or you wouldn’t have received this email. Good luck and do anything to get your mind off of the election. Like buy a house!

Cliff Notes

1. https://www.echofineproperties.com/emails-texts-calls-complaints-and-profound-thoughts-from-the-readers-2/
2.  n/a
3. https://www.echofineproperties.com/emails-texts-calls-complaints-and-profound-thoughts-from-the-readers-2/
4. https://www.echofineproperties.com/bba/
5. n/a
6. https://www.echofineproperties.com/tell-me-about-you/
7. https://www.echofineproperties.com/buyers-walk-through/
8. https://www.echofineproperties.com/the-25-50-100-rule-of-searching/
9. n/a
10. https://www.echofineproperties.com/the-15-minute-lie/
11. https://www.echofineproperties.com/curb-appeal/
12. n/a

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About the author

Jeff Lichtenstein, originally from Chicago, got his start in the home furnishings textile business where he traveled over 35 weeks a year selling fabrics. After the family business was sold, Jeff moved to Florida and became a real estate agent. Today he is the owner and broker of Echo Fine Properties, a luxury residential brokerage voted best brokerage of the year. Jeff manages a non-traditional model of real estate that mimics a traditional business model. Echo has 100 agents, an average of one million dollars per transaction and over 500 million in annual sales. Between traveling for work and annual family trips to national parks with his wife and 2 now adult children, Jeff has visited 49 states. He is also one of the few Chicago White Sox fans you’ll ever meet. Some publications he has been quoted in.

Author of business & leadership book How Making a Sandwich Can Change Your World – The Amazing Success of the PB&J Strategy – Available to Buy Now!

Feel free to ask him a question directly at [email protected] including a complementary valuation of your home.

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