Real Estate Information Archive

Article Written by Ben Rooney - CNN Money.com staff writer:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- An index of homes under contract for sale fell more than expected in February, reaching the lowest level since the index's 2001 debut, according to a report released Tuesday.

The National Association of Realtors' (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index fell to 84.6 in February, down 1.9% from a revised reading of 86.2 in January and down 21.4% versus the same period last year.

Economists were expecting the index to decline to 85.2 for the month, according to a consensus estimate compiled by Briefing.com.

"The slip in pending home sales implies we're not out of the woods yet," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, in a statement.

The Pending Home Sales Index is considered a more forward-looking indicator of home sales than the NAR's more closely watched existing home sales report, which tracks sales at the time of closing, typically a month or two after a sales contract is signed.

The Pending Home Sales index was launched in 2001, and a reading of 100 is equal to results that first year. Before the housing market began to deteriorate last summer, the steepest decline in the index's history came in September 2001, when the 9/11 terrorist attack sent the index down to 89.8.

The Realtors revised their forecast slightly for existing home sales, projecting first-quarter existing home sales to decline 23.1% versus the same period last year after saying in March they would decline 23.2%.

For the full year, the NAR predicted existing home sales to be 4.7% lower than in 2007, after saying in March they would be down 4.8%.

Existing home sales for March will be released April 22.

"February was another poor month for housing, with pending sales down in most of the country," said Mike Larson, a real estate analyst at Weiss Research.

Larson thinks tight lending standards and the absence of speculative buying are to blame for the weakness in the housing market.

The NAR also lowered its forecasts for first-quarter and full-year real GDP growth, the broadest measure of the nation's economic strength. It also cut its expectations for nonfarm job growth in the first-quarter and full-year periods.

Yun thinks that the economy will not grow in first half of the year, but he is optimistic about the second half.

"The combination of recent fiscal stimulus enactment and the lagged impact of monetary policy will help jump start the economy in the second half."  

The folllowing article was written by a real estate agent named Doug Quance and we thought it was worth reading!!!

This following "top ten" list from a local "for sale by owner" website landed in my feed reader this morning. I would provide a link - but it’s not my intention to draw further attention to this particular site.  To each "point" that the author makes, I will provide a "counter-point" for your consideration.

1. You Can “Sell” Your Home Better Than Anyone Else: You know your home best and what is special about the area, as well as other details about the property. A well maintained, fairly priced home virtually sells itself.

You might know all the particulars about your home and area - but you may not know what NOT to say. You could be held legally liable for what you say to buyers!

While a well-maintained, fairly priced home virtually sells itself - you need to make sure your home can be found by the most buyers… and the most important place to get the widest possible audience is the Multiple Listing Service.

 

2. More Money in your pocket: Calculate 6% or 7% of what you think your property is worth, then ask yourself: is it worth paying this much to have someone else show my property? Chances are the answer is NO.

If Realtors did nothing but add 6-7% to the cost of selling a property while bringing no value to the transaction - there wouldn’t be very many Realtors.. and justifiably so.

In addition to the many services that Realtors bring to the table - they also deliver worldwide marketing exposure which results in the best prices for sellers.

 

3. You’re in control: You can advertise where and how you want to, schedule showings when it’s convenient, talk directly with prospective buyers, and even take your house off the market when you choose. Remember, listing a home usually requires a minimum of 6 months with a Realtor.

Realtors know where to advertise your property - and if you are serious about selling, you need to allow showings when it is convenient for the buyer… not you.

The reason why most competent Realtors require a six month listing has to do with the current real estate market absorption rate -  because we don’t want to give it away for free.

 

4. Less Hassle and Frustration: When selling by owner, you don’t have to leave the house because an agent wants to show it, or clean every morning “just in case”. You know exactly when people are coming and can prepare accordingly. When a buyer makes an offer, there is not all the frustrating back and forth phone tag between agents.

In a buyer’s market - like the one we’re in - a seller should be delighted to leave so an agent can show their home. Buyers are not easy to come by, and you only get one chance to make that first impression - so if you’re serious about selling, get that house in ship-shape and smile when an agent wants to show it.

 

5. Less Uncertainty:  Because you meet the prospective buyers, you have a much better idea how interested people are, what they like about the home, how serious they are about buying and what their time frame and situation is. The direct feedback is easier to live with than wondering how things are going, or worse why no one has made an offer yet.

You don’t get less uncertainty simply because you are dealing directly with the buyers! Do you think that a seasoned Realtor doesn’t know how to interpret a Buyer’s signals and ask the proper questions to determine how motivated the buyers are? Do you really believe the buyers are going to tell you why they don’t like your home - directly to your face?

 

6. You Can Sell Faster: If you list your home with a real estate agent, everyone knows you’ll probably inflate the asking price to cover the commission fee amount. Three to six months down the road you’ll come to the painful realization that no one is going to buy it at that price, and you will end up reducing your price ( or accepting an offer) equal to the original amount you would have asked if selling by owner. Do it right the first time, and avoid taking the loss. Pass the savings along to yourself and the buyer and sell your home quicker.

If you believe that you can inflate your asking price to cover the brokerage fee - you are mistaken. You would be equally mistaken if you believe you can inflate your asking price because you have kids in college or because you need a big down payment for your next home.

The reason why the vast majority of "for sale by owners" end up listing with a Realtor is because selling your own home is not easy… and most FSBO’s are a failure at doing it, themselves.

 

7. Show Only To Interested Buyers: You can be sure that buyers are truly interested in your property when they visit because they have personally made the effort to be there. They haven’t been dragged there by an agent using your property for comparison purposes only.

Spoken like someone who knows nothing about showing property. Agents will show your property in the interest of helping you sell it. But if they find that your home is overpriced, then yes - it will help sell another property. It’s called comparison shopping. Every educated consumer does it.

 

8. You have greater access to out–of-area buyers: Our internet site allows buyers anywhere in the world, easy access to your ad and phone number. Currently it is estimated that 1.3 Billion people have internet access.

My neighbor’s daughter has a MySpace page that anyone in the world can access… but few people can find it. If you want worldwide reach, a Realtor will have your listing on Realtor.com - as well as hundreds of other websites that pull their listings from the listing services.

 

9. It’s Easy: If you can sell your own car, you can sell your own home…it’s that simple. Once our marketing efforts locate a buyer—lenders, lawyers and title companies take over. Use our marketing resources as your best advertising resource.

Sorry - it’s not that simple. And if you believe that once a buyer is found, then the lenders; lawyers; and title companies will take over - you are sadly mistaken. Don’t get me wrong… I am not saying that you can’t sell your own home - many people do each year. If you decide to take this route, be sure you get educated in the process of selling your home. Just because someone says it’s easy - doesn’t make it so.

 

10. What is your alternative?  Listing with an agent? The “gravy train” days for agents asking 6% for listings should be dead. Understand that 9.5 out of every 10 listing agents don’t sell their own listings. So why would you even think about listing for a 6% commission. No Listing Commissions-EVER!

The reason why the so-called "gravy train" days of asking 6% aren’t over is because they never were "gravy train" days! Successfully listing and selling a property - especially in a buyer’s market - is not an easy affair.

And the reason why most agents don’t sell their own listings is the same reason why you should list with an agent. Agents are able to attract other agents who are assisting their buyer-clients in their quest for a new home - and this is done through the cooperation of the listing services.

Also, keep in mind that without an experienced agent to help guide you through the transaction - all sorts of bad things could happen. Sometimes, it’s just better to let the professionals handle your affairs!

This article was written by Sam Miller, Agent in Mt. Vernon, OH and one of Mike's friends.....try this out...it is WAY COOL!!!!!

Have you ever needed a quick phone number and didn't want to take the time to boot up your computer and search Google and you wanted to avoid the high charge for directory assistance or 411 connect?   Have you ever wanted the phone numbers for the local movie theatres or pizza places near you and you don't have anything to write the numbers down on?  There is a quick and easy way to get the information you want within 60 seconds and most of you can get the information quick and cheap with your cell phone and your text message feature. 

Send a text message to this number:  466453 (I know this is a partial number but trust me it will work).  Now type in what you are searching for and for your example use the following as a test:  Plumber 43050 (of you can type in Plumber XXXX (enter your zip code where my x's are)  Now simply press send and sit tight and within 60 seconds you will get a text message with the information.  This works for client names, addresses and phone numbers and it works for just about anything you are searching.  If you want another good test why not search your name or your spouses name and your zip code?  If you have a spare moment send a text to 466453 and enter Realtor, Florence, Kentucky 41042 and see what comes up.

There are so many potential uses for this service and once you play with it a bit you will quickly see the many possibilities.  Your family will love it, your past clients will love it, your team will love it, I have a feeling that pretty much anyone with a cell phone will find a use for it at some point.  The key to remember is that if you do not have a text messaging account you will get charged a non contract text message rate.  For those of us with text messages contracts and especially those of us who have unlimited text messaging this is a feature that we will be using on a very regular basis.  Google has done it again and the speed of this service is amazing

February’s Existing Home Sales Best In Two Years

This article was written by Denny Grimes, a friend of Mike's who is a real estate agent in Fort Myers, FL.   Denny Grimes is a real estate broker with Denny Grimes & Company

Robust sales leave market in dangerous territory

 

 

I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first? Let’s start with the good news.

 

Last month, over 900 existing homes went under contract, thus making February the best sales month in Lee County since March of 2006. In fact, February’s pending sales were up more than 60 percent from the same month in ’07.

 

We are on a 60-day winning streak. The first two months of ’08 show that single-family home sales are 36 percent ahead of ’07, and condominium sales are up 16 percent for the same time frame. Notice, I am talking about “pending” sales, which are contracts written and accepted, but not yet closed. Even though there will be sales that fail to close, we will still post a significant sales increase. So, for those that thought our market was flat-lining, put the body bag away, because it appears it has a pulse.

 

Before you roll the market out of ICU, let me give you the bad news. The bad news is that many people will misinterpret, dismiss or ignore this positive news. 

 

Sellers and agents may misinterpret this surge in sales and believe it signals the return of the glory days. If they do, they will react in a way that would be contrary to further recovery. This is my biggest fear.

 

Skeptics and nay-sayers may dismiss this information and file it in the folder titled “Propaganda to Trick Fence-sitting Buyers.” Many will even wonder how this tidbit of positive news made it past the good news censors, who seem to be working at every media outlet.

 

The die-hard wait-for-the-bottom buyers will chalk up this two-month trend as a seasonal blip. They believe sales will tank about the time the last snowbird’s taillights cross Lee County’s northern border.

 

The continuation of the market’s recovery beyond the winter season is directly related to the correct interpretation of this long-awaited surge in sales. Does it mean the market is fully recovered or that the market has bottomed? No. Does it mean that prices have stabilized? No. Does it mean agents can finally eat something other than peanut butter? That depends, do you like Spam?

 

The surge in sales was not caused by an influx of European or Canadian buyers. It wasn’t caused by sunburned snowbirds from Sheboygan, Baby Boomers or ball players looking for a spring training home. In fact, buyers did not cause it at all.  

 

Sales are picking up because sellers are getting closer to where the buyers are. After 30 months behind the wheel, sellers are finally driving their prices into the outskirts of buyer’s territory. This is dangerous territory for our market because some sellers will be tempted to slow down, stop or put the car in reverse and drive their prices back up, thinking that the buyers will follow them. All of these reactions will stall our recovery, and heaven knows we don’t need any stalling going on.

 

Our market began its recovery 2.5 years ago, when prices started falling back toward real values. It’s been a long journey, but we are finally beginning to see evidence that we are getting closer to our destination. We are now faced with the most important and difficult question since the recovery started, and that is “Will we have the fortitude to finish the trip?” We must press on to the final destination, the tipping point, which is the epicenter of the buyer’s territory.

 

Would you like to see our market fully recovered and prices stabilized? That will not happen until prices in each sub-market reach the point that makes that market tip back toward equilibrium.

 

So, it really isn’t a question if prices reach the tipping point, it’s a questions of when. For some market segments, like developer homes that can be bought below replacement cost, that’s just around the corner. Other markets should start counting cows or Burma-Shave signs, because there’s still a lot of road ahead.

 

Regardless, every market segment must meet buyers where they are. Therefore, the more downward pressure sellers keep on the gas pedal and prices, the sooner their journey will be over. Sorry, there aren’t any shortcuts.

 

Sellers, I know you are tired of driving, but don’t slow down now. There’s a lot of open road ahead because the traffic jam is behind you in seller’s territory. Over 900 sellers entered buyer’s territory last month and picked up a buyer. If you keep pressing forward, you will begin to see buyers thumbing for a ride. When that happens, stop and give them one.

 

Keep the Faith

 

Calling all agents.....Mike interviews friend and fellow agent, Rick Wright with REMAX out of Columbus, OH.  Mike and Rick discuss Rick's idea's on pre-listing appointments.  Check out the podcast at http://www.switchpod.com/users/mrmike/feed.xml.

  With the Rates just dropping, NOW is a GREAT time to buy a home!!!  One of our friends, Sam Miller, up in Ohio, posted this YouTube video and it explains why...  Check it out!!!

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This blog was posted by some friends of ours, The Jones Team, realtors out of Tennessee....we thought we had to share because it is so good!!! 

In a suprise move, the Federal Reserve announced this morning that it has cut the Federal Funds Rate three-quarters of a point, moving the key rate from 4.25 to 3.75 percent.

While it was no suprise that the Fed would slash rates, the shocker is that the US central bank would not only make the move before its scheduled meeting next week, but also implement the biggest federal funds rate cut on record going back to 1990.

In addition to dropping the funds rate, which governs overnight lending between banks, the Fed also slashed the discount rate it charges on direct loans to banks by three-quarters of a point to 4 percent.  Many economists believe rates could be cut again at the Federal Reserve’s scheduled meeting on January 29-30.

Check out the full story here.

Submitted by Jill Kuchle:

Here is another article by real estate expert Barbara Corcoran.  This was featured on the TODAY show.  Here is a link to her video as well.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22555782#22555782

Housing trends sail by faster than most of us have time to notice, but when it comes to selling your house, you might suddenly wish you’d sat up and paid attention before. Some styles can be put down to the vagaries of fashion and are easily fixed — gaudy wallpaper isn’t difficult to replace, but moving a laundry room above ground or fitting a proper staircase is another story entirely.

Here’s a list of the big no-no’s, the relics that make a house unsellable:

Small houses
Small is not the new big I’m afraid, at least not yet anyway. People like to have space to live in and a very small house can deal a serious blow to your possible asking price. If you can’t afford to physically increase the size of your house, you need to do everything possible to make it look bigger.

One bathroom
We don’t want to wait to use the bathroom. Not any more. With so many people used to the luxury of multiple bathrooms, it is a hard sell to get them to take a step backward in time.

No air conditioning
Installing central air to your house will cost you about $10,000-$12,000, but if there was ever a juicy bone to get a buyer interested, this is it.

Fuse boxes
Fuse boxes? People expect circuit breakers nowadays, and if you want to modernize your electrics, consider spending $2,000 to replace those outmoded old fuses.

Spiral staircases
Pretty for sure, but the novelty has long worn off. Ever tried carrying a sofa up a spiral staircase? If you have, you’ll know why they might put your average buyer off.

Basement laundry rooms
What a nice idea that was, why not stick those cumbersome noisemakers down in the basement out of sight? Because ever since we did, washing clothes has meant a trek into the dank recesses of our houses. Doing the laundry is so much more appealing when the washing machine is within spitting distance of the clothes to be washed. If you have the space upstairs, it’s time to accept those big old machines back into the fold.

Popcorn and stucco ceilings
Talking about the vagaries of fashion: No one wants to see these any more. Smash them off with a big stick if you have to.

Basements with outside access only
You’re in your pajamas, it’s a cold winter night, rain hammering against the windows and suddenly you remember. You left your groceries in the basement. Curse this house and curse all who live in it! People don’t want to go outside to get into their basement.

In addition to the absolute stinkers when it comes to selling a house, there are several trends on their way out that you may want to avoid:

McMansions
They may be big, but they aren’t clever. Think before investing in one of these: Do you really need all that space? An increasing number of people are deciding they don’t. Quality trumps quantity every time.

Separate living and dining rooms
When was the last time you sat down and had a meal in your dining room? If it was recently, you belong to a dying breed. People want to properly utilize all the space in their house, and in this pursuit, the dining room is casualty No. 1.

Submitted by Jill Kuchle:

I am an avid TODAY show viewer and on the show today was real estate expert Barbara Corcoran.  She gave some great tips for those of you who are trying to get your home to sell.  Here are 8 of her Tips on Getting your Home to Sell.  Click on  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/20741973#20741973  to watch her interview with Ann Curry - it is very informative as well!!!!

1. Make the right first impression
Buyers decide in the first eight seconds whether or not they want to buy your home.

Paint the front door and trim.

Hang a wreath on the door.

Add potted flowers (flowers in front say this is a happy house).

Fertilize the grass to make it bright green.

Put fresh mulch around the bushes.

Fix the doorbell if it’s broken.

2. Let the sun shine in!
After location, light is the second most quoted reason why a buyer chooses the house.

• Clean all the windows.
• Replace drapery with sheer curtains or white shades.
• Replace lamp shades with sheer white shades.
• Replace light bulbs with higher wattage.
• Trim back shrubs that block window light.
• Paint the inside walls white.
• Put white slipcovers on all dark furniture.
• Put up lights in each corner of the major rooms.

3. Remove clutter
People can’t visualize themselves living there when they can’t see past your clutter.

• Store half your “stuff,” including knick-knacks and furniture.
• Remove personal objects like family photos and children’s artwork.
• Remove all objects from closet floors.
• Put half your clothes into storage.
• Make your linen closet meticulous; people judge hidden wiring and plumbing by how neat your linen closet is.
• Hide all electric cords and wiring.
• Eliminate unhealthy plants.
• Put fresh sheets on beds with four extra pillows.

4. Send kitty to Grandma’s House
People buy with their eyes and their noses.

• Remove kitty litter, dog beds and other smelly pet items.
• Warm a few drops of vanilla inside the oven door.
• Smoke outside; remove ashtrays.
• Open all windows an hour before the buyer arrives.
• Keep the trash can clean.

5. Freshen the kitchen
The kitchen is everyone’s favorite room in the house.

• Clear all countertops.
• Replace cracked, scratched or broken appliances.
• Re-grout the tile.
• Wax the floors.
• Update kitchen knobs.
• Paint or replace cabinet fronts.
• Put in a window; it can increase the value of your home by 10 percent.

6. Clean the bathroom
No one wants to move into your bathroom.

• Scrub the walls and floors.
• Clear off all shelves and put away personal items.
• Re-grout tiles and replace caulking.
• Hang a new shower curtain.
• Buy fresh hand towels and rug.
• Replace old soap.

7. Add color
Touches of yellow and other warm colors say ‘welcome home.’

• Buy new throw pillows for the sofa and bed.
• Add a fresh ficus tree.
• Define areas with colorful rugs.

8. Don't empty out the house
An empty house makes the seller look desperate. Buyers generally don't pay full price for an empty house. In addition empty rooms look smaller.

• Rent or borrow furniture if you need to in order to make the home look lived in and give the buyer a sense of space. 

Submitted by Jill Kuchle:

Check out the following link http://www.wkrq.com/schoolclosings.php.  It's sponsored by Q102 and Cincinnati Bell.  You can sign up and have your school closing texted to your cell phone so when that snow storm blows, you can stay cozy in bed and you won't have to get up and stare at the TV til your schools scrolls across the bottom of the screen!!!  TOO COOL!!!!