My Interview With The Associated Press

By virtue of having what is quickly becoming the most visited real estate blog in South Florida, I get media inquiries all the time. Reporters want to talk about today’s buzz word. You know, short sales, foreclosures, loan modifications, property taxes and all of the usual real estate questions.

So when my office let me know that I received a call from the Associated Press I figured it was just another media inquiry like all of the others. Much to my surprise, I was wrong.

Normally I refer press inquiries to my PR people but it was on a Friday afternoon and I decided to take care of it myself. So I called the reporter back and had my latest market report data ready and I started laughing when the reporter started talking.

She wasn’t calling about anything to do with real estate. She had read a post I had written last summer and she wanted to talk about how we stage a Hurricane Party! Over 500 articles on the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Blog and I get a call from the national media about hurricane parties.

photo courtesy of Pat Carter | Associated Press

How cool is that? Anyone can talk about what is a short sale and Fort Lauderdale foreclosures but how many people do you know who can talk about how they plan a hurricane party?

If you’re not familiar with the local customs in the South Florida are, but we work hard and we play hard. Hurricane parties are really fun, and we play it safe. I think the reporter thought we were a bunch of thrill seeking nutbags.

When she first began researching for her story I was wondering if this was going to turn into an article about this crazy real estate agent in Fort Lauderdale that tempts fate, but after we talked and after the photo shoot took place, I think she realized that we were well grounded. That, and the fact that we party like professionals. Don’t try this at home!

Check out this article on our hurricane parties and I’ll keep you apprised as to when the AP article gets printed. It was a lot of fun and I thank the Associated Press for taking the time to think of me for a story.

UPDATE: The article was released worldwide. Pretty cool! I got emails and calls from people I haven’t heard from in a long time.

Well, only 6 months or so till hurricane season here in South Florida!

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