One:  Bubble Perspective Virtual Tours – Virtual Tours are still as valuable as ever, but only when presented as hi resolution images or video in an easy to navigate format.  Did anyone actually enjoy making themselves dizzy while trying to get perspective by dragging around their mouse in distorted bubble tours?

Two:  Well Qualified Homebuyers – Remember when getting financed for a home purchase actually meant you needed to be able to afford the property first?  Now days, everybody thinks that just because their after tax income is about equal to their monthly mortgage payment, they are actually qualified for the purchase.

Three:  Imitation Wood Floors – Bamboo is as hot as ever, with is trendiness and sustainability.  Hard wood is still a favorite option.  Carpet is making a comeback.  Heck, even linoleum is again a top choice for high end kitchen floors.  But no actually wants fake wood floors anymore, do they?

Four:  Creative Financing – Oh, the good old days when the lender would work with practically anybody to make a loan happen.  Zero down, interest only, 80/20, you name it.  Don’t think we’ll be seeing so much of this anymore.

Five:  The Refi Boom – Once upon a time, homeowners would try to refinance their mortgage to either skim off some equity or lock in a lower interest rate.  Actually, it was all the rage, remember?  Don’t see many refis any more though.

Six:  Building an Addition – Remember when building an addition was the ultimate status symbol?  Nowadays, it seems like everyone either just builds a new house when they run out of space.

Seven:  PDAs and Handhelds – All you agents out there, do you still use a handheld computer or PDA for your day to day business?  Since Blackberries and iPhones have hit the scene, I didn’t think so.

Eight:  Storage Space – Once upon a time, homes had attics, basements, and closest – for storage.  I know it’s hard to believe, but people really did used to store things where the home theaters, extra bathrooms, and exercise rooms are now.

Nine:  Energy Inefficiency – Since green is easy to achieve these days, not to mention much more affordable and readily available, gone are the days of woeful energy inefficiency.  No more low SEER air condition units and high output shower heads – okay, I do miss that last one.

Ten:  The Seller’s Market – Way back when, I know it’s almost hard to even imagine, the seller dominated the real estate market.  Buyers would even bid several thousand more than the asking price just to be considered.  Unfathomable!

Eleven:  Irresponsible Flipping – I think I’ll buy any house on the market, add $20,000 worth of totally unnecessary improvements and sell for a 100% return on my investment.  And I’ll do it over an over, because the buyers just keep buying.  Oh wait, I forgot – that was so 2003.

Twelve:  Stainless Appliances – So sleek.  So commercial.  So the wave of the past.  Yes, stainless steel kitchens were so industrially cool in the late 90’s, but these days, who wants that dingy looking kitchen?  I’m not predicting avocado will return to our desires, but what’s the matter of a little bit of color?

Thirteen:  California Real Estate – 600 square foot shacks were never intended to sell for a half-million dollars.  And they won’t be anytime soon.  Enough said.

Fourteen:  Homebuyers Looking to Buy within Their Means – It’s a crazy concept indeed.  I mean who actually wants a home they can afford?

Fifteen:  MLS Based Websites – Hard to believe Web 1.0 was leading edge.  I remember when it used to be fascinating to scroll through the online MLS listings for my locality – each property having its own blurry picture and all!

Sixteen:  Ignoring the Power of the Web – There once was a time when it was cool to ignore the power of the web or just act like it was a quickly passing trend.  If this is you, guess what?  The trend didn’t go away.

Tags:real estate cold list