Fall Colors are Poised to Explode

Maplewood Cemetery 2007

My own neighborhood 2007

With the unusually heavy rainfall we've been receiving around Harrison and the rest of Northern Arkansas it will be an amazingly beautiful year for the fall foliage. From what I've read and heard we can expect the leaves to start changing sometime at the end of September to early October. The prime-time will occur two to three weeks after the color change begins.

The state website www.arkansas.com/calendar/fall_foliage_pg1.aspx has up-to-date information on the changing colors starting September 25th.

The fall is one of my favorite times of year. Where I was born and raised the leaves on the trees pretty much just shriveled up and died with little to no fanfare. Around here it's absolutely amazing to just take a drive or hike and see the abundance of colors. Some of the more popular places are Maplewood Cemetery, The Buffalo River (any of the trails, campgrounds, etc.), and our own downtown square.

I hope you can join us this year in taking in what I'm sure will be the best colors ever! Of course I say that every year (at least to myself).

I just wanted to post an update (September 5, 2008). I was out showing property last Friday and started looking harder at my own surroundings. There are already some signs of fall. Some of the underbrush has turned bright red and some of the leaves on the trees are starting to yellow (be it ever so slightly). I think it's going to be an early Fall!

Sailing the Seize of Change

A little play on words to help me grasp the gravity of the market we're in. I've just posted the numbers for July. I think that the next few months we will start to see a few of the real estate agents in town fall overboard - or off the board. Just last month there was a total net expansion in agents of zero. We had two join and two walk the plank.

From the looks of things we have several who are hanging their heads over the railings and are looking mighty green and pale.

Even Sarah and I are not immune. We've had to give up our best asset and employee - Diane. She was an important and very able part of the plan we were putting together to serve the Harrison, AR area with verve and aplomb, with honesty and integrity, and with hard work and diligence. Thank you Diane and hopefully in the near future we can set sail again with you on the dream we worked so hard for.

Looking at the numbers it looks as though 2008's numbers are close to the numbers from 2003 in total sales (dollars). Total sales (sheer numbers) we're still down 21 this year compared to 2003. Over the next few months it will be interesting to see what the median price of homes does. Will the ride rise or fall? It will mainly depend on the resolve of sellers and what they would like to get for their homes.

Until then we'll have all hands on deck manning the... I have absolutely no experience sailing and this post is going to devolve quickly into babbling if I don't just end it. As you can see July's numbers are posted and ready for your review. Until next time...