Now that we are approaching the fall season many sellers are dissappointed with the activity we have gotten throughout the summer which is supposedly our "prime selling season". My sellers are asking me "what do I do now?"

According to the National Association of Realtors pending home sales are up for the fifth consecutive month, the first time in six years for such a streak. The Pending Home sales Index rose 3.6% to 94.6 from an upwardly revised reading of 91.3 in May, and is 6.7% above June 2008 when it was at 88.7. The last time there were five consecutive monthly gains was in July 2003. (National Association of Realtors).

So with home sales beginning to rise do you as a seller leave your home on the market throughout the winter? My answer is yes. And here's why. We saw pending home sales begin to rise late into the season meaning that the consumer confidence is taking some time to come around. If you leave your home on the market throughout the winter what's the wrost that could happen? It could sell? There are usually fewer homes on the market throughout the winter months meaning that there is less competition. Also, there are fewer buyers during the winter months but the buyers we see during the winter are generally more serious. They aren't your vacationers who have come up for vacation and decided to take a look at some real estate. They are generally your vacationers who were here in the summer and now after getting back to home they are thinking about making the move. If you have a vacation type of property it may be a good idea to think of putting a renter in there for 6 months to 8 months. Then someone who is looking at it for a vacation home can have some incentive to buy now...rental income through the winter and a guaranteed price now.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a marketing plan for selling your property, feel free to call anytime. Thanks and have a great day!