I'm writing this at holiday time, a time for reflection and thankfulness. As you might have guessed, 2009 was not the best year for business, although I am still getting more than my fair share. Confirming my monthly Market Report*, the market is healthy, but the number of homes sold in our area is about 25% fewer than in 2004, our peak year. Is this the real world? With a little help from my friends, 2010 will be a year that supports my extravagant life-style.

HISTORY
It was 1985 when I decided to end a rewarding career in industry for “my own thing.” I had a secure management position, but wanted greater control over the future. How can one trade in a 22 year engineering and management career (photo) for the great unknown? I did have resources to insure that the family could eat, live in a home, and that the kids (now with 2 degrees each) would go to college. I also believed that I had whatever was needed to meet a new challenge.

With my decision made, off I charged to sell my sport fishing boat, the Undecided II (photo). Then I prepared a spreadsheet to plot my future course. Over a dozen diverse activities were carefully analyzed: franchises, marinas, a flirtation with inventing, and several real estate related activities, including home building. The diversity of the real estate activities seemed appealing, and a logical entry point seemed to be residential sales and marketing, from which it would be a short step into home building. So I took the required courses and exam, interviewed with several firms, and gave notice to Mobil Oil.

Within days, Mobil announced the transfer of its New York Headquarters to Fairfax. (Insider trading?) In my first 3 years I sold more real estate than the average agent does in 20. Although I had established viability and expertise in the sales and marketing arena, the real estate boom of the late 1980’s had come to an end. The new slow market of the early 1990's was not the time for my home building venture.

Meanwhile, I had developed my own ideas about real estate and about how an agent could provide real value. As new ideas emerged, new questions arose. A technical background was valuable in helping to develop my ideas and to find answers for my questions. My methods and message began diverging from “what everybody knows.” To make a long story a bit shorter, this led to the first home selling book*.

A book with local appeal is not the way to fame or fortune, but it helped me efficiently transfer my message to home sellers. The home selling book led to the home buying book*, my courses at Northern Virginia Community College, plus many TV appearances and speaking engagements (photo).

Some of the greatest understanding and appreciation of my ideas has come from fellow agents. My third book AGENT'S GUIDE to Real Estate* was featured on the National Association of Realtors web site. My articles on negotiating, market statistics, and more, have been published in the national REALTOR Magazine, in several state and local Realtor magazines, and on the web.

I often get email from agents across the country telling me how much they enjoy my Agent’s Guide. A few years ago I got an email from an agent in Australia named David Rathgeber! An agent from South Africa also emailed kind comments. Is the world-wide-web amazing?

THE RECENT PAST
In 2001 I moved to be close to my daughter and granddaughter, and also started my own real estate firm, Your Friend in Real Estate (YFiRE) (photo). My daughter, Susan (another ex-engineer) and my son Davey (the Rock’n’roller from Athens, Georgia) are my only agents, and are part time as they both have real jobs teaching. My Web Site, www.davidr.net includes the monthly Market Report, photos from Fun Events*, and lots of useful pages and links. Give it a click!

I enjoy many days on the Bay, cruising and fishing with friends on my boat Lady Katie (photo). In addition, I take Lady Katie to Cape May, NJ or to the outer banks to fish a few times a year. It has been a good fishing year, especially in the Gulf Stream off the NC coast (photo) and the annual moonlite cruise (photo) was a success.

In the fall of 2009 Dorothy was head-hunted and became the new head of the Pepco Tax Department. The commute from our Potomac Falls home to DC did not work, so we moved to a large condo in Crystal City (Arlington VA) with a great view of the Potomac River (photo) and DC (photo). Dorothy's commute is less than 20 minutes and my business runs from anywhere.

THE FUTURE
My focus remains on fun, and that includes the sale and marketing of homes for my friends and their friends. If I’ve learned anything in all these years, it is the importance of turning clients into friends. I would be lonely and (even more) hungry without friends who keep me in mind when the subject is either real estate or fun. It is a joy to have you remember me when it's time to buy and sell again and I am very fortunate that so many of you refer your friends. All of my new business comes from your personal referrals. So please, keep your friends calling, and keep in touch. Do you have my new email address and phone number? They both changed in 2009. Let's get together in 2010 to buy and sell homes, fish, cruise, watch the races, or have dinner. Give me a call or an email!

With many thanks,


"Your Friend in Real Estate"

* This web site includes the monthly Market Report, photos from Fun Events, the entire text of my books, and lots of new pages and useful links. Give a "click" on the buttons at the top left. Hope you enjoy!