Hula and The Real Estate Market Today

It's been time to buy for awhile now and guess what.....people are buying. Yes shopping for homes is really growing. Last Open House there were 10 + family's coming through. Compared to a year ago that's a 100% increase. These buyers are savvy too...they come prepared to check each and every crevice, door, cornice etc...it's kind of fun for a change. Mutable offers are taking place and transactions are moving along a little quicker. So all in all, I'm glad to see the market change for the better.

Dee

Another beautiful day to shop for Homes, prices have definitely drawn out the potential buyers. Here at the beach we have competition either bask in the Sun or look at Property. It is a tough decision, it's hard to work on such a gorgeous day.

The hard part is... not showing the amazing selection of beautiful homes in my area the hard part is working with buyers who aren't really committed to finding a home they are just shopping. I love to take buyers out, I want to find them the right Home, I enjoy their Company and I'm thinking of their needs constantly. So my advice to buyers, be good to your agent. They will invest much time and effort for you free of charge but when the day is over, don't just leave them standing in the dust. Be committed to them because they are committed to you.

Enjoy your Home Hunting Day, it is a gorgeous day to shop.

Dee

Good thing or Bad thing? Depends on which side of the transaction your on. Smart sellers are listing for a little below comps in the area, why? More buyers to choose from, more agents taking a look, all this adds up to a quicker sale. How do I know....because every offer I make for my buyers seems to be just one of the many that the sellers are receiving.. Often going above the asking price.. 

My best advice for sellers, stay a little below comps and see your property sell much faster than the one down the street trying to get every penny. You will probably still receive what you had wanted as your bottom line anyway.

Sell Smart.

Dee

Since I'm fairly new to this area 2+years, and all of my best friends and close family are all out of state, I have to do some of my Real Estate transactions out of state from my lap top and cell phone. It is frustrating because I'm not all that sure of the Real Estate forms used out of state and what I'd really like to do is just travel there help them out and then come home. Not a cheap venture but I don't want my family/friends to be taken advantaged of.

It's amazing that people (not naming names) want to do everything themselves thinking that a Realtor is just someone who sells homes. When in fact a Realtor is like a Lawyer in the sense they understand the laws that govern a Real Estate Transaction and all that can go wrong. They protect the buyer in a purchase and protect the seller in a sale, all of which they become responsible for and usually are liable for if anything goes wrong. Use a Realtor, and be safe because in the world we live in, anything that can go wrong.....you know the rest.

Having said that, choose wisely and take the time to read what your signing if all goes well your going to happy for a long time.

Looking out for my clients, in state and out of state. Dee

Saturdays and Sundays are your Open House shopping days, it's a great way to see the neighborhood you want to live in and see the property prices and decor. Many neighbors stop by to see what there neighbors house looks like, we call them looky-loos but the fact that they do come by is good. They may have friends and family that they would like to have as neighbors so it could be the best referral out there. They may also want to see what their property is worth in case they also want to sell. As a Realtor I always treat every person that stops by a potential client, because they took the time to come by. When your in the market to buy or sell, go out and visit the Open House's it's the perfect way to know the area, prices and neighborhoods. And.....best of all you may find the perfect Real Estate Agent to represent you.

Have a question? Call me.

Dee

They go hand in hand, since FHA has increased there loan limits to 729K with the same 3% down payment more and more loans will be done FHA. As long as the interest rates stay low and drop more we should see a ton of activity with refinancing of existing loans and new home loans. The qualification to be owner occupied still stands, so if your into investing you will still need to go the conventional way or cash. Investors don't have the same perks as homeowners when it comes to financing available for homes, but investors do have the ability to use there investments to continue to purchase. As everyone already knows, property still remains a sound investment and since the prices have dropped you can be sure that there are buyers shopping.

If you are wondering whether to buy or sell, take advantage of the REO's, and Short Sales and Property that is just priced right. This cyclical down won't last forever and when it begins to go up you will have wished you bought now and not then.

The last two offers for one of my buyers had been on the market 3 days with multiple offers over asking price, even though our offer was 7,000 over asking price it was too low and we were out bid. Not only was it a race to get in before offers were no longer accepted, it had been on the market for only 3 days. This is an indication of buyer movement, don't wait they are out there ready to ponce when a bargain comes up.

Start working with an agent that can keep you informed of the market fluctuations and can set up an MLS Listingbook account for you. This way you can see the changes daily yourself at home.

It is my pleasure to make sure my clients have the tools available to make this market work for them. As always, give me a call.

Dee

Yes, I finally opened the box and created a radio broadcast on my transmitter. It's just my first time using this gadget and I have to admit it's pretty cool. I have an Open House this weekend so I decided to advertise it on my Talking House transmitter. Well, wish me luck and a lot of listeners and I'll let you know how it goes.

Talking House has a lot of great ideas, and I will probably try all of them....like a kid with a new toy.

If your interested in using a Talking House to sell your home, give me a call.

 Dee

I think some live by this blogging thing, but I'm always a step behind. Somedays I think "do I have too?" and of course my answer is yes, you do. When did blogging become the thing to do? and who started it anyway? More questions makes me just question. Obviously this is my whining blog, everyone has to have one. So now that I'm here what words of advice do I want to send out? ........

Take the break you need and blog, it's fun, it's entertaining and what the heck everyone else has one, so must I. Someday I will be happy that I did blog (I can enjoy the read later) even on those days I really didn't want too.

As for the real reason for Blogging...Business that is, if your in the market to purchase or  sell your home (things I really enjoy doing)call me.

Dee

Yes, buyers are getting so frustrated with the Short Sale process. The price is what draws you in but the timeliness just steals all the excitement especially for first time home buyers.

My young first time home buyers were especially good about shopping for property before calling me, and I enjoyed working with the two of them (remembering my first home buying experience). The first property we put an offer in fell out because the seller decided at the last minute not to sell after-all. We were all disappointed since it was a very nice townhome. The 2nd property we placed an offer on was still in the banks hands to decide what they would accept. We offered the asking price and the bank decided they wanted more, so it was another disappointment for them. The last and final property we offered the asking price as well but since the short sale lender had all the time in the world, days turned into weeks into months and that was the final straw for my young couple. I couldn't blame them we had been trying for several months but the short sale process had too many stops and road blocks. Unfortunately it makes me the agent look like I'm not doing my job (not so, the behind the scenes work that the client never see's) so they decided to go with another agent, a friend of the family. Even though it's been a few months I still feel badly, if I didn't get attached and put my whole heart into the process I guess it wouldn't bother me so much.

I noticed in my Realtor newsletter that many are pushing and pursuing a Short Sale Process that we can all live with, I'm very much hoping for that to happen. I do not want to loose another client to a Short Sale.

Dee

With all the foreclosures entering the marketplace, it leaves a lot of family's without a place to call home. So guess where they go? To Lease/Rentals, this market is booming. It's an area that I grew up in, my family never owned their own home so our rented homes were what we called home.

It is hard to save up 5,10 or 20% for a downpayment on a house these days, so there are many who rent with the hope of owning someday. Most first time homebuyers save some and receive gifts from their families in order to have a decent downpayment. Prices are dropping a bit and REO's and Short Sales are helping them to get there foot in the door. If you want to own be patient and stay the course of looking, searching and saving and it will happen.

If your in need of a Lease/Rental or to purchase a home, let me be your eyes. I preview property for you and make sure your getting the best that's available at the best prices.

I'm only a phone call away, don't hesitate to call.

Dee 

It's everything or nothing with these two Real Estate transactions. REO's a little less complicated, the bank either accepts or declines your offers and you can move on. Short Sales...are usually Long Sales...they can drag on and on, so go for the REO's instead, unless the home is exactly what you want. Then bare with the long process without complaining, because I can assure you that it's not your agents fault that these transactions take much longer to complete. We are all hoping for the sake of buyers and sellers that banks will start working faster and smoother to get your transaction finalized. But it's not today.

Happy House Hunting....keep a smile on your face and persevere because in the end you get what you want.

Graciously,

Dee