ALISO VIEJO, CA, October 31, 2007 - Agents face increasing pressure from all sides during a buyers' market, says Ann Arbor, Michigan REALTOR® Kathy Toth; chief among them concerns from sellers - naturally.  Explains Toth, "Sellers ask agents to cut commissions, they want to see traffic so they demand more advertising, and they're looking for agents to do open houses, anything to get traffic on the property.  If these methods are not in your current marketing plan and you don't agree with them, then you're going to have to be able to provide other resources for the client to show them that their property is in fact being marketed and people are looking at it, even though they may not have 20 people running through the door."

While many agents feel the only way to appease their client is to give in on some of their demands in order to keep the listing alive, Toth feels that it's more important for the agent, and ultimately in the client's best interest, to stick to your own experience and knowledge in what it takes to sell a home in today's market.  "You really need to be confident in your ability to price a home properly and market it effectively, choosing who you want to work with, based on your business model."

Toth feels that in today's challenging market it's key to be able to distinguish yourself from other agents in a valuable way, and what better way than to be seen as the neighborhood expert?  "Continue to brand ourselves as area experts, the public will realize they need an expert more so than any other agent, and if you are perceived as the expert with value, bringing something to the transaction, you will continue to get the calls."

Toth offers her perspective from an impressive 18 years in the industry on how agents can prepare for and actually thrive during market downturns in this week's Business Training and Development call "From "Survival Mode" to a Thriving Business in a Meager Market", available for one week only at www.isucceed.com/rismedia.

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kathy Toth entered the real estate industry in 1989, and has been on the fast track ever since.  Kathy Toth and Team consistently close over 100 transactions per year, with an average volume of approximately $24 million, while Kathy ranks among the top 1% of all REALTORS® in the nation and is a leader at her new brokerage, Real Estate One.

Every Wednesday the RIS Media/iSucceed Business Development and Training Call presents profitable real estate strategies and introduces agents across the country to the full 30-minute iSucceed Weekly Counseling Call, available only at www.iSucceed.com - the most comprehensive online provider of real estate tips, tools, secrets and success strategies, directly from North America's 200 most successful real estate professionals.