Thorner Strikes Again
I hate being a media critic. I spent too many years in media to be comfortable posting comments on professional writers and editors. Problem is, our boy James Thorner has struck again in his (Un)Real Estate column in the St. Petersburg Times for January 16, 2009.
I just have to take exception to this none-to-thinly-veiled shot at the real estate industry.
Let me set the scene for you. In Thorner's latest column, you have Dr. Jackal who is the public face of real estate and tries to convince everybody that buying property now is smart. When Dr. Jackal goes home at night, he turns into Mr. Nothing-To-Hyde who, in effect, repudiates all the public comments made about buying real estate and instead dwells on the negative aspects of property purchase and ownership today. Thorner would have you believe that those after hours comments are more truthful and heartfelt.
Essentially, Thorner is saying that you can't trust those nasty old real estate people because they will tell you one thing in public but in their heart-of-hearts they believe something else.
What rubbish!
Real estate agents are saying that this is a great time to buy property. Hey, James, it really is! You can't argue with me that there is currently a great selection of property on the market. You can't argue that many sellers are desperate and will sell for lower than normal prices. You can't argue that mortgage interest rates are very, very attractive.
Let's see, that's great selection, low prices and super terms. Doesn't that sound like the makings for a good time to buy?
Of course, the real estate industry has to make some assumptions when we tell people that this is a good time to buy.
We assume that we are speaking to grown up adult people who know how to analyze a situation and make informed decisions about whether this is a good time for them to buy property. If a grown up adult has a bad credit history, nothing for a down payment, a job that doesn't pay well, an "iffy" income stream, and works in an industry where layoffs are becoming more and more common, well, they might not want to make the commitment to take on a thirty year mortgage and all the responsibilities that goes along with owning property.
On the other hand, if you have good credit, a steady job, some money to put down and things are looking stable in your industry, this is probably one heck of a good time for you to take advantage of the current market situation and buy a piece of real estate for all the reasons listed above. James, perhaps you should re-read the reasons to buy now and apply them to financially stable adults. Then, let adults make their own decisions about buying or not buying in today's marketplace.
By the way, James, I say the same things to myself in the wee small hours of the morning because it is the truth 24 hours a day. This is not a Jackal and Hyde turnabout of opinion.
James, I enjoy your column very much. But sometimes you just seem to write unsubstantiated things for the purpose of stirring up controversy. I think you just make this stuff up out of your fabulous imagination.
Here's what's real.
Many real estate agents are having a hard time trying to make a living right now. We aren't asking you to write stories that support us, but writing an article that undermines the basis of trust between agents and buyers and agents and sellers serves no useful purpose that I can determine. That's what this recent column accomplishes; it weakens the basis of trust between the parties.
The real estate industry did not create the current economic crisis the country now finds itself in. As an industry we are suffering along in it like everybody else, and hoping to stimulate a little business so we can keep our heads above water until things finally turn around.
A stronger real estate industry is important to the economic recovery of this country. Media comments which weaken the industry serve to prolong the economic recovery and are a grave disservice to the country as a whole.
Making people think less of the real estate industry, it's economists, agents and brokers may seem like great sport to you, but for those who consider themselves real estate professionals your recent comments were not well received because they cast us unfairly as the villains in this economic mess and make us out to be little more than two-faced opportunists.
Frankly, there is plenty of blame to go around in this country about the current economy, and the media has played it's share in it as well with negative comments and editorials which serve only to undermine public confidence and business strength.
Just checking the advertising lineage in the Times recently, I'd say all those negative comments from the media are doing a doggone good job of scaring the peewadlin out of advertisers. Kind of a case of biting the hand that feeds you, isn't it?
Well, that's my view.
I just have to take exception to this none-to-thinly-veiled shot at the real estate industry.
Let me set the scene for you. In Thorner's latest column, you have Dr. Jackal who is the public face of real estate and tries to convince everybody that buying property now is smart. When Dr. Jackal goes home at night, he turns into Mr. Nothing-To-Hyde who, in effect, repudiates all the public comments made about buying real estate and instead dwells on the negative aspects of property purchase and ownership today. Thorner would have you believe that those after hours comments are more truthful and heartfelt.
Essentially, Thorner is saying that you can't trust those nasty old real estate people because they will tell you one thing in public but in their heart-of-hearts they believe something else.
What rubbish!
Real estate agents are saying that this is a great time to buy property. Hey, James, it really is! You can't argue with me that there is currently a great selection of property on the market. You can't argue that many sellers are desperate and will sell for lower than normal prices. You can't argue that mortgage interest rates are very, very attractive.
Let's see, that's great selection, low prices and super terms. Doesn't that sound like the makings for a good time to buy?
Of course, the real estate industry has to make some assumptions when we tell people that this is a good time to buy.
We assume that we are speaking to grown up adult people who know how to analyze a situation and make informed decisions about whether this is a good time for them to buy property. If a grown up adult has a bad credit history, nothing for a down payment, a job that doesn't pay well, an "iffy" income stream, and works in an industry where layoffs are becoming more and more common, well, they might not want to make the commitment to take on a thirty year mortgage and all the responsibilities that goes along with owning property.
On the other hand, if you have good credit, a steady job, some money to put down and things are looking stable in your industry, this is probably one heck of a good time for you to take advantage of the current market situation and buy a piece of real estate for all the reasons listed above. James, perhaps you should re-read the reasons to buy now and apply them to financially stable adults. Then, let adults make their own decisions about buying or not buying in today's marketplace.
By the way, James, I say the same things to myself in the wee small hours of the morning because it is the truth 24 hours a day. This is not a Jackal and Hyde turnabout of opinion.
James, I enjoy your column very much. But sometimes you just seem to write unsubstantiated things for the purpose of stirring up controversy. I think you just make this stuff up out of your fabulous imagination.
Here's what's real.
Many real estate agents are having a hard time trying to make a living right now. We aren't asking you to write stories that support us, but writing an article that undermines the basis of trust between agents and buyers and agents and sellers serves no useful purpose that I can determine. That's what this recent column accomplishes; it weakens the basis of trust between the parties.
The real estate industry did not create the current economic crisis the country now finds itself in. As an industry we are suffering along in it like everybody else, and hoping to stimulate a little business so we can keep our heads above water until things finally turn around.
A stronger real estate industry is important to the economic recovery of this country. Media comments which weaken the industry serve to prolong the economic recovery and are a grave disservice to the country as a whole.
Making people think less of the real estate industry, it's economists, agents and brokers may seem like great sport to you, but for those who consider themselves real estate professionals your recent comments were not well received because they cast us unfairly as the villains in this economic mess and make us out to be little more than two-faced opportunists.
Frankly, there is plenty of blame to go around in this country about the current economy, and the media has played it's share in it as well with negative comments and editorials which serve only to undermine public confidence and business strength.
Just checking the advertising lineage in the Times recently, I'd say all those negative comments from the media are doing a doggone good job of scaring the peewadlin out of advertisers. Kind of a case of biting the hand that feeds you, isn't it?
Well, that's my view.
-30-
posted by Terry Ward at 4:56 AM
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