Do Ya Think?

Buy now! Interest rates may never be this low again!

Yesterday’s mail brought an “exclusive” offer to receive a book on the MIKEL family history. The slick marketing company obviously spent a lot of his client’s money trying to get me to buy, not just a book, but also the “World Book of Mikel.” WOW! Was I impressed? In fact, I was so impressed I asked several of my contemporaries here at the office if they wanted a copy, too (hoping for a quantify discount). No takers. Perhaps they don’t realize that there are only 868 households worldwide with the MIKEL name. In fact, one of these agents offered me a book on his family name. And I thought this was an exclusive offer! At the end of this not-so-exclusive offer I was reminded that since extra copies cannot be printed after the publishing date, I was to remember to “place my order today.”

That was last Friday and I didn’t order so I may never know about those other 867 households. (I already know about my brother and daughter.) …Oh well.

For the rest of the morning I decided to watch for all of the things that would happen to me if I didn’t do something. In all forms of media, the marketing technique of creating urgency exists, from cars to mattresses, and, I’m sorry to say, real estate. (I’ll bet you are surprised.) My point is this (You were hoping there was one.): when you decide to buy real estate, whether it is a personal residence or an investment property, beware. Establish a relationship with a Realtor you trust before you buy. Then listen to his/her advice. The urgency may or may not exist and, unless you are in the real estate market everyday you may not know.

The final thing I noticed on this subject was in the Columbian. Do you know that mortgage interest rates are at the lowest in six months! Then I had a thought … Naaaah, I would never stoop that low.

“Sam” and Scott Mikel are Brokers and owners of Scott Mikel & Associates Realtors. For honest advice and a new kind of customer service, contact them at scott@agentmikel.com