I have been complaining about all the rumors and gossip I have read regarding the potential "demise" of the Big 3. I realize that I cannot blame people for the REALITY that thousands upon thousands of autoworkers are facing hard times, I can scold the media for exploiting it with no regard of what it does to the folks who will be affected by it.

Who will be affected by it? To begin with we'll keep it relevant. Realtors, Lenders, Home Buyers, Sellers, Surveyors, Inspectors, Appraisers, Builders, Contractors, and all the people and businesses with whom they do business.

The problem I have with the media is that there really is no confirmed information available on the negotiations revolving around the Cerebrus plan to sell Chrysler. On the employee website, Dashboard Anywhere, it is business as usual. They talk about "stamping out diabetes" and building playgrounds. There was a statement released that Chrysler does not discuss negotiations outside of the conference room until decisions have been made. They remind that if there is speculation, the news didn't come from them.

So where does all this talk come from that puts fear and worry into many households in our community? I don't know but the headlines everywhere use words like "cutthroat", "vaporizing jobs" and "devastation". I am sure it makes for good print and stirs up your audience which is always a good thing, right? But here is also what forms in the mind of myself and many others, sitting at the table at night wondering, "what if...?"

*If you work for Chrysler, more than 30,000 of you (of us)will likely be unemployed.

*If you have friends or family who work for Chrysler, expect them to be stressed out, sad, and unable to buy Christmas presents this year or a dish to pass.

*If you own a Chrysler vehicle your local dealership may close up overnight.

*All those closed up dealerships? If you know any of those employees they will also will be depressed, broke, and unable to bring a dish to pass.

*If you don't have direct relationships with any of these unemployed factory workers, car dealers, mechanics, receptionists, etc., you're probably still connected. As working, thriving, contributing members of the community they spend money at your business. If a hundred thousand people from Detroit to Flint are suddenly out of work, there is a good chance your business or place of employment is going to lose some patrons.

*These "overpaid" factory and white collar workers are the life blood of many businesses in your community. Your favorite restaurant in Auburn Hills thrives on business from the autoworkers. When they are gone, so will be your favorite restaurant.

*If you're in the real estate industry you're about to lose more buyers.

*If you're in the mortgage industry, get ready for more foreclosures.

Dodge truck drivers are like a Harley gang. They love their Rams and admire & acknowledge one another when they pass on the road. Drivers of the Chrysler 300 and the Charger know that while they are in their cars they are just a teency bit classier looking than everyone else. (GM knows this too) Foreign car drivers, you got nothing. You bought into some hype about a car that was copied from an American design and got dressed up with a gimmick and foreign "mystique". Now your community is facing complete collapse. All your fault? Nope. The economy is killing us. But with more support of one another we could have put up a stronger fight against it.

Should Reba's moniker be changed to Negative Nellie? Nope, she's simply REALISTIC Reba for the moment reminding everyone what's at stake.

I read a great post on Active Rain the other day about current pics and true representation of our listings. The author has such a good attitude and turned a big fat waste of time into something to laugh at. (Because we HAVE to laugh, don't we?) Anyway, I got sick of hearing myself complain and "suggest" little ways to create a more delightful and efficient industry and took a break. So I'll let Elizabeth Nieves here of Raleigh, NC fill in for me here. Her actual post had variety in font and nice pics to make the post pop so click over and see her at Active Rain if you want to see the original form and long list of comments from relating agents.

Some years ago, I was working with a buyer who wanted an older, brick home...something that was structurally sound but cosmetically challenged. I had no trouble finding 10 or 12 options in his designated area and price range.

Determined to see ALL of the homes in one day, we began our journey with a certain vigor. The first two homes were okay...but my buyer wanted a big backyard...which neither had. The third home was tenant-occupied and appeared to have severe water damage to the foundation sill. Moving on to the fourth home, my client was really excited.

From the MLS pictures and description, home #4 seemed to be the perfect home for my client. It was a 1960's brick Ranch, with three bedrooms and two baths. It had hardwood floors throughout and a large, eat-in kitchen. Best of all, the home was situated on an almost .75 acre wooded lot...just a few miles from downtown Raleigh. My buyer was convinced that...after seeing home #4...his search would be over. I was equally hopeful.

Pulling into home #4's long driveway, I immediately sensed that something was not quite right. I grabbed the MLS sheet...to verify that I was at the right house. YES...it was the correct address...but it was definitely NOT the same home...or was it?

The MLS sheet showed a well-maintained brick home with a nicely manicured lot. With overgrown bushes and tall weeds for a lawn...this home appeared to have been abandoned for years. There was something else missing...or added. In the MLS photo, you could clearly see the whole front of the home...with only one small tree in front of the bedroom window. That ‘small tree' had grown a little since the MLS photo had been taken...about 35 or 40 feet to be more specific. It was so large, in fact, that the whole side of the house was hidden.

Somewhat speechless, we made our way up the front steps and into the front door. Pausing in the doorway, I could hardly believe my eyes. The gorgeous hardwood floors (from the photos) were partially torn up...leaving exposed beams and holes to the basement below. There was garbage and debris scattered from one end of the home to the other...with at least 10 bags of garbage stacked in the kitchen area. Most of the windows in the home were cracked or completely missing, and the ceiling was falling down throughout the home. The dated appliances were nowhere to be found, and the bathrooms had NO TOILETS. There was nothing (ABSOLUTELY NOTHING) about the house that even remotely matched the pictures in the MLS. As you can imagine, home #4 was a huge disappointment and a complete waste of our time.

Driving to the next listing, I gave Mr. Listing Agent a call about home #4...but he must have been too busy falsifying information in the MLS to take my call. I did leave him a ‘sweet' message...asking for a return call at his earliest convenience. Two days later, he had still not found a convenient time to call me back...so I called him again...leaving another ‘sweet' message...

"Hi Mr. Listing Agent, this is Elizabeth Nieves AGAIN. I showed your listing on Liars Lane the other day, and I am calling to report that someone has broken in and vandalized your listing. You need to get over there right away, because the damage is extensive. They have torn up the beautiful, hardwood floors. The appliances are missing. There is garbage everywhere, and they EVEN stole the toilets! OH...they did leave one clue behind. I think the vandals are landscapers, because...after they totally trashed the house...they planted a 40 foot tree in the front yard. Have a wonderful day!"

The Moral of the story:

'FLUFF' is the 'STUFF' in the middle of an oreo cookie.

THIS IS MISREPRESENTATION!