How Bad Is The Market?

I know that I have said on more than one occasion that the real estate market isn't as bad as people think as long as they have the proper perspective.  The more have to I keep saying it, the more I begin to question even my own conviction...until now.  

I have a client who just got a contract on a house that was on the market for a mere twelve days.  How'd they do it, you ask?  Simple.  They had the right out-look on the market, they were prepared to deal with a lengthy listing, but they priced their property smack dab in the heart of the comparable market.  Even though they KNEW that the property was worth more in the heyday of the real estate bubble, they also KNEW that those days were long over.  They asked for advice about where the proper price was for their neighborhood and the listened to that advice and even though their home was in better shape than some of those higher priced comps, they put themselves right in the middle knowing that they would show better than their higher priced competition.  

This isn't a success story for me...this is a success story about a seller who had all of their bases covered and has now been rewarded with a quick sale.  They invested in property and made smart upgrades and additions that would make add value when it was time to sell.  They staged the home beautifully so that it would show better than their competition.  They knew the realities of the market and had cash on hand to cover their costs for a lengthy time on the market.  And most importantly, they priced their property according to the CURRENT marketplace and not some dream of what once was.  

This should be used as an example of how to deal with a tough market in all of the actions that they took and also as an example that even in a difficult environment, you have still have successes.