For several weeks I've been stewing about the frustrating mixture of forecasts, outlooks and prognosticating which seems to be everywhere I turn lately.  One economist says interest rates are going to soar, another states they will trend down. The local Economy is booming, the local Economy is on the brink of a recession. 

Then I stumbled upon an Inman news article which spotlights the conflict between media and industry interests.  I had to ask myself honestly, is my negative reaction to all the forecasts and prognostications (I use that word deliberately) due more to the fact that I'm afraid it's negatively impacting my business..... or is the  frustration because I think no one really knows and it's all beginning to sound like a broken record (borrowing from Shakespeare) full of sound and fury but signifying nothing?

A few weeks ago, Active Rain's  Matt Heaton wrote a post asking if being a good agent necessitated believing in the strength of our market.  I don't think this is the case at all. I think being a good agent is about being honest and if it means we don't know, then we have to say, we don't know. Is that risky? Maybe so.  But I have to respect the person who can give me an honest answer, even it's "I don't know" far more than the one who is wanting to paint a picture towards doom or boom because it suits their personal interests.

Which brings me back to John Talton, a reporter for the Seattle Times.  Mr. Talton wrote an interesting piece Titled "Recession poses biggest risk for Seattle". My inital thought was "well DUH!", but I read on and just as I was beginning the eyeroll over more forecasts, I glanced down and saw the last line of his article:

 "That was the lesson of the past week. Nobody really knows"

Kudos to you Mr. Talton!