It was 18 years ago today that I started writing this blog.
It was a Saturday morning. I set up a free account at squarespace to get it started, and it was solely because I expected every other realtor to do a blog too. Funny how that turned out!
Donna said, “Yeah well fine, just don’t spend too much time on it.”
I’ve been a part-time blogger ever since!
It was in August, 2005 when our escrow officer called me to say the buyer of one of our listings was objecting to signing the loan documents. Their realtor/lender beat me over there, and I heard her telling the buyer, “No worries, we will refinance”. It was one of many things that were happening then that led me to start the blog (the home got foreclosed 22 months later).
This is my first blog post, and it still resonates somewhat today:
Housing blogs were becoming popular and I commented regularly elsewhere. It caused more people to discover what I was doing – and to slam me just because I was a realtor, even though I was being pretty gloomy. By 2009, I had picked up quite an audience, and enough attention that the LATimes picked up on the blog, which led to this piece by ABC News Nightline:
The ABC TV spot ran in April, 2009, which coincidentally was the trough of the San Diego Case-Shiller Index. The audience here exploded, and at the same time the bank-owned listings being sent to us increased substantially. We sold 72 homes in 2009, our all-time high!
All kinds of crazy things have happened.
For example, we monitored the Jenae scandal in Bressi Ranch and La Costa Valley where she and co-conspirators were doing seminars and selling homes to unsuspecting suckers who financed their purchases 100%. Jenae promised to rent them out but they were adding $100,000 to each purchase price that was kicked back to her partner John as a tenant-acquisition slush fund. He finally went to jail but Jenae claimed she was duped too and she is still selling homes around the county today.
My life was threatened a couple of times, I’ve evicted dozens of people, I’ve been in a movie, and on CNBC TV (twice), plus I’ve been on ReasonTV, and in Grant’s Interest Rate Observer (on October 3, 2008 for those who have access). I’ve been on industry panels, I’ve been an expert witness in court, I made a citizen’s arrest of squatters, and I’ve met with the FBI to turn in scamming realtors…..among other things!
I’ve had 12,101 blog posts here with 68,179 comments and 3,000+ Youtubes with 2,341,000+ views, plus 14,200+ tweets. It has been one heck of a ride – let’s keep it going!
Thanks to readers everywhere, and a special acknowledgement of those who have utilized our real estate services over the years. It is why I do this blog, and I appreciate your support!
Keep fighting for ethics and responsibility in an industry that feels like it has none.
I wish you all the best + keep going with the blog. One of my favorite sources of free entertainment. 😉
Ps, I know there’s more money in buying and selling homes. But you might have missed your calling as a writer. 😉
You mus’ b freakin’ olde dude. Proof that doing the right thing can still pay off. Here’s to another 18.. no 6-10 more years at most. Okay, there’s establishing a legacy blog for your progeny. Still, We aren’t going to visit the British Isles in 18 years but we are going in 10 days. Priorities.
Congrats Jim on 18 years. This blog is the reason we found and chose you as a buyer’s agent 7 years ago. You tell it as you see it and you have a real feel for this marketplace on both the seller’s side and buyer’s side. Your content is entertaining and informative. Keep it going!
One of my favorite sources of free entertainment.
I take pride in that. No logins, no cookies, no fees, and no ads (besides my self-promos).
I accepted from the beginning that I was going to follow my heart and publish my honest thoughts without knowing who is reading…if anyone.
I can also say your guest host/moderator has been the very best.
I can also say your guest host/moderator has been the very best.
Indeed – ready for a repeat?
Keep fighting for ethics and responsibility in an industry that feels like it has none.
It’s more than a feeling. There is none.
Congrats Jim on 18 years. This blog is the reason we found and chose you as a buyer’s agent 7 years ago.
Thank you Joe. While I appreciate the business, even more gratifying is that seven years later you still find the content worthy of your time. The long-term community spirit here is a benefit I want to continue.
Happy “other” anniversary Jim! Has been a fun 10 years knowing you and the fam fam and X!
Congrats on the success and longevity. Nobody cuts through the BS like JtR. Here is to many more years!
Congrats! Reading your blog on and off for the last 12 years. The way the economy is going hopefully will use your service as a buyers agent in the near future.
Reading this post I realize I have been reading your blog since before 09. No idea how I found you but for all those years I thought if I ever sell my house I am going to call Jim. Fast forward to March and here we are 14 years later and you were the first (and only) call I made. I’m still reading the blog and though I probably won’t ever sell a house again, if I do I will be calling you…
Thank you SurfRider!
Honestly saying what you’re really thinking. Brilliant and unique marketing strategy!
Thanks GeneK – you’re up next!
I stumbled upon your Blog in 2006. I have read your blogs at least once a week for the past 17 years. You are smart, insightful, funny, honest and professional. I have lived in my Encinitas home since 1998 and if I ever bought a new home or decide to sell mine, I would certainly use your services. Stay positive and it was a please meeting you a few months ago when I was walking my dog in front of your Bridgewater listing. We also have talked about a few dishonest local realtors over the years. Wishing you many more successful years in the industry and keep providing “good help.” Although I “Old School” I am not a grumpy pessimist. People want to live in North County San Diego and some people have lots of money. They don’t care about interest rates, job market, etc.. They are immune. They are not many new developments in our area and it’s all about supply and demand. We have no supply and lots of demand to live in our enclave.
Thanks Old School and I agree with you. It is the main lesson of all these years doing the blog:
We live in an affluent, desirable area that could be the best all-around place in the world. It has become so desirable that people will pay whatever it takes to buy a home here!
Two things that has happened since I’ve been here:
1. The regular people are completely priced out, and the traditional home-price vs wages formulas don’t apply any more.
2. The buyers’ demand to make a smart, educated buy has been greatly diminished. They just want a house, dammit.
Our the four people involved in our last sale, only one had seen the home they bought. The sellers bought their golf-front home in North Carolina sight-unseen, and of our buyers, only the husband saw it in person before closing. The whiz-bang internet tools help make that possible, but it also a sign of the frustration.