Video Advertising can be very powerful in today's world of cross channel media.
Think of attracting clients within your real estate market with targeted advertising that talks to them. Commercials are immediately sniffed out by consumers. A low key, quick video between 45- 2 minutes 30 seconds, solving a problem they might have is dynamite!
I just produced a video for my real estate market, Grand Rapids Michigan. I have a series of videos coming out that address the service offered by my company. These videos coincide with the launch of a new website. Making the whole package new for the consumer.
Do you think targeted video advertising can help your business in your real estate market?
Click the Like Button if you enjoyed the video. Hopefully this showed you a way to connect with more clients in your real estate market.
Thanks for Stopping By and Leaving a comment.
Gary L. White, Associate Broker CRS, GRI, ABR, ePRO, AHS, SFR
Real Estate Agents and Brokers are in the business of real estate, selling homes. I maintain an office in Grand Rapids Michigan under the name Flexit Realty®. The name was created from “Flexible Real Estate Solutions” but that isn’t why I look like an ATM.
From time to time we all hear from potential clients the reasons why they can’t buy. We hear why they will have trouble paying the rent. We even hear why they are moving. Most of the time you have to feel for the economic situation that has caused them so much misfortune.
People become desperate and bargain without anything to offer for collateral. I receive calls nearly everyday from a buyer who knows they cannot buy, before they call me.
This may seem harsh to you, I run a business for profit. If I don’t make a profit my office closes, my agents find another real estate broker to work with and that is that. The problem is, I like being a real estate broker in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have lived in Grand Rapids for the better part of 35 years, since 1972, minus the 5 years in Florida and a couple years traveling.
I was asked if I could loan a buyer, I don’t know, the money for the down payment to purchase a home. They would pay me back right away. As soon as they saved the money, they had a good job at Wal-Mart Sam's Club, driving a forklift. I knew I looked like an ATM, my own grown children think so too! I may have a big soft spot for people in need, I like making an impact on peoples lives, without putting my business or personal life in jeopardy.
I don’t intend to minimize hard work or driving a forklift, I have done that and more. In my own company, as president, to get shipments out the door on time I drove a forklift, packed and taped boxes right along side my hourly workers. As I recall they laughed and had fun with me, fixed my mistakes, showing me why I designed and they did the manufacturing.
Let’s face the facts, I don’t know anything about my clients other than they are great people. Some of them have become life long friends. I remember them all, and they have each contributed to my success and my companies success. Do I want to become a home mortgage lender? Do I want to cross the line and become more than I am are real estate broker and agent? NO, I have a business to run and profit keeps that business running. Do I want to be an ATM no, that isn’t my function as a Grand Rapids real estate broker, a home selling agent or representing buyers as a buyer’s agent in Grand Rapids.
I want the best possible outcome for my clients, I work hard to make sure that happens, just like my agents and other professionals in the real estate industry. I invest in my business and in my clients homes for sale. I invest in my agents with tools and knowledge skill sets to help them represent their clients better.
I feel bad for people that have put themselves in a fix, but I cannot fix all their problems. I feel bad for those that have not learned you must sacrifice for what you want. You must save for what you want. We live in the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave". We step out and work for our goals. The great result of that work, most people are able to achieve their goals of home ownership. It may not be in their time frame but they can do it with 3.5% down for a conventional loan. My first house was 20% down and my parents didn’t know what an ATM was at the time!
Thanks for Stopping By and Leaving a comment.
Gary L. White, Associate Broker CRS, GRI, ABR, ePRO, AHS, SFR
Is one of the finale steps before you meet at the title company or lawyers office, depending on your state and method of completing your homes sale.
This steps requires some diplomacy and nerve to hold your ground on issues that will not kill the sale, yet will not cost your thousands of dollars.
Before inspections in most cases, before the value appraisal comes the purchase agreement to buy your home.
Real estate agents have very little contract negotiation training. Agents bring
Real Estate agents often do not have Negotiation Skills, they are learned on the job, representing home owners.
what negotiation skills they have, from other industries, or learn how as a result of client representation on the job as real estate agents. This is why real estate agent selection is so important. Real estate selling agents do have some formal negotiation training, learning the basics along with legal terms, during pre-licensed training. This can be only a few hours and for test purposes, not under real sales contracts or situations that can make or break a home sale. Real Estate brokers will provide new agents with direct supervision and/or offer in-house training classes.
Negotiation Guideline List:
Sell Price, what price is your bottom line after calculated expenses?
How much are you willing to spend on repairs? Many times a buyer agent will ask for repairs to be completed by a licensed contractor.
Possession date, when will you get the buyer access to your property after the sale? Will you give immediate possession or some date in the future? If it is some acceptable date in the future will your buyer give you those extra days, for living in their home, free? Negotiate your possession dates.
Appraisal, if the appraisal comes in lower than the agreed upon sell price what will the buyer do? Will the buyer ask you to lower the price? Will the buyer pay the difference in the agreed sell price, paying more? Can you split the difference? Know this information upfront, if you can. Have a alternative home selling plan ready, should this happen. “Make sure you ask for a copy of the appraisal.” now you know why. Put this in writing along with every clause, exception, addition and term changes make. In real estate like many other areas of life, if it isn’t written it is not legally bidding to either party. Consult an attorney
Closing costs, do you split costs based on actual costs of seller and buyer normal fees? Is the buyer asking you to contribute to their buying or loan costs? Can you maintain your selling price without any discount or lower price if you include these costs in the sale?
Before we get to the negotiations, it is likely the buyer will have a home inspection. We discussed repairs when you were preparing the outside and inside of your home for sale. Now is the time when those repairs pay off. If the home inspector finds repairs needed, and they will, you can negotiate to fix the problems or split costs of the repairs with the buyer. A word of caution here. If
Selling Your Home using Professional Real Estate Selling Skills can help you seal your home selling deal with a smile.
the repair is deemed to be required for the buyer to get their loan approved, you will probably have to do the repair out of your pocket. Deciding not to do the repair means that the buyer can not get the loan and will terminate the purchase agreement. In most cases the earnest deposit will be required to be refunded to the buyer.
Likely Required Repairs:
Railings, most common is stair railings, to upper and lower levels. Outdoor porch rails may be required, in some cases.
Electrical, circuit issues such as “double taps”, lose wires, plugs or missing face plates.
Ground Fault Circuit Breaker plugs by sinks, in kitchens and bathrooms within 6 feet of faucets, also called GFI’s (other names depending on area and state). Basically GFI’s stop people from being electrocuted if they drop something with an active (plug-in) electrical attachment into water. Hair dryer, frying pans, curling iron etc.
Rotted wood can cause structure issues, if you have or had a leak around toilet bowls and plumbing areas that have gone unnoticed.
Roof condition, not having enough acceptable service life left on the roof. Roof leaks or shingles or tiles are missing. Roof pitch has also been an issue at times, but less often.
Basement leak, if you have a basement. Many times this is poor drainage or not have downspouts installed.
Many more things can come up during inspections, you get the idea, your sale can be derailed if an inspector finds a problem. If you are unwilling to fix or pay for a requested repair and the buyer will not or can not negotiate with you because of the conditions of the loan, your sale can fall through.
Home Loan Appraisal, you have made it through inspections, now comes the appraisal value of your home. How much value does the buyers lender place on your home? Very important, try to negotiate to see a copy of your homes appraisal value by the appraiser. You mush have the buyers permission to see the appraisal. Agents can many times get permission to see limited areas of the appraisal. You can offer to split the cost if the appraisal comes in low. Most buyers want your home or they would not have made the offer to purchase. Offer them half is a win-win for both of you. When writing the purchase agreement make sure you ask to see this document. When negotiations are all smiles is the time to get yourself in the information sharing position.
If you missed any of the Home Selling Steps I have placed active links below.
MC Scow Racing at Grand Rapids Yacht Club Reeds Lake Michigan. Regatta Race Date May 19-20 2012.
This may seem like a odd time of the year to talk about sailboat racing if you live in Michigan. We are enjoying one of the mildest winters I can remember. Yesterday the MC Scow fleet had the pre-season race meeting. It's time to start thinking about the spring and summer race schedules. Racing sailboats has been one of my passions for over 25 years.
The MC Scow is a little "Hot Rod"on the water. It is only 16 feet long and 6 feet 8 inches wide, weighting in at 425 lbs. The mast reaching skyward at around 28 ft. with a boom extending past the transom. The MC Scow is a thrill seeker type sailboat yet tame enough to be enjoyed by all ages.
The host of the "Spring Shakedown Regatta" on May 19th and 20th, is the Grand Rapids Yacht Club, located in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Grand Rapids Yacht Club is home to Fleet #10 of the MC Scow racing association. The photo shows the starting line in one of 7 races held over the two day MC Scow racing event. My boat in the photo is #2336, racing scow will give you a new perspective of close racing!
Stop by and watch the MC Scows race on Reeds Lake, an East Grand Raids park overlooks the Scow sailing action. The Grand Rapids Yacht Club is a members only club, offering social and stock membership options, on a first come first served basis. Club memberships from other clubs and fleets are also honored. The MC Scow fleet welcomes anyone thinking of joining the fleet. We have boats available to try and Scow members always willing to offer a hand. When you have a member owned club you get more bang for your buck because you also build relationships.
Thinking about sailing the MC Scow in February! Write about your passion, I'll bet you will have others that share your passion.
Don't Forget the "Spring Shakedown Regatta" May 19th and 20th at the Grand Rapids Yacht Club, it is worth your time, to watch or bring your MC Scow and joy the race fun!
Have a great Super Bowl Weekend! Tom Brady graduated from "Michigan" so you know who I am pulling for in this game!
Thanks for Stopping By and Leaving a comment.
Gary L. White, Associate Broker CRS, GRI, ABR, ePRO, AHS, SFR
A few days before your “Open House” go over the home selling steps already covered in this series. Create the right home selling environment for buyers. We will cover how to advertise your home for sale to maximize buyer attendance to your open house.
Step #4 Marketing Methodsto attract the widest range of buyers that may be
Marketing Your Home correctly will help buyer's find Your Home First!
interested in your home.
Step #5 Property Descriptions, you will not be handing your property descriptions to every buyer that comes through the door, but those interested in your home. Survey of the property, included, if you have one.
Step #6 Preparing the Outside of your home for sale. It is always good to take another look before hosting your open house. Sometimes newspapers and other debris blows into bushes. The forgotten yard tool left out is found. This is also a good time to decide on parking, if you have more cars than fit in your garage.
Step #7 Preparing the Inside of your home for sale. Make sure you home is ready, one more time. Look at child proofing your home. Children reach and grab small items. Having one of your a prized possessions broken in not a way to create a home sale with an embarrassing situation.
Brochures Were not discussed in detail, it is time to make sure you have a handout of your property with photos and property description. This helps buyers remember your property. I know many real estate agents do not use brochures. Better for me, as are real estate agent, that helps me sell my clients homes. Buyers have a reminder of your property and feature in front of them, when reviewing the homes they seen for sale. They also have something to hand someone else, if they are not looking to buy a home themselves. Remember friends and family many times go to open houses looking for relatives and friends moving into the area. Parents will preview homes for sale, helping their children buy a home.
Step#10 Financing, we reviewed home financing, many buyer’s look for a
Hosting an "Open House" can help you generate more buyer exposure and Sell Your Home.
house before taking the time to discuss getting a home mortgage with a lender. If you have several home loan options ready to hand them, this can speed up the home selling process. It takes a decision out of the hands of the buyer. They don’t have to decide where to go and have a good idea of the mortgage payment, if they buy your home.
Hosting your “Open House”. The first issue is advertising. Making sure you do your advertising far enough in advance to allow for buyers to plan their schedule to see your home.
Most real estate agents host open houses, if you are hosting your own open house, you have decided on a limited service home selling plan or are selling your own home.
Greeting Buyers, Do’s and Do Not
“Do”
Greet Buyers at the front door, if possible.
Have a brochure of your home ready to hand them.
Create small talk, weather, live close? Your goal find out something and create rapport. Put buyers and yourself at ease.
Show buyers through your home in a guided tour format.
“Do Not”
Do Not Hover, let buyer’s talk between themselves or have a bit of space if it is a buyer alone.
“Do NOT” point out flaws your home has, that only you know about. If these flaws are structural or significant you have already listed them on your disclosures.
Do Not be defensive, buyers do not have the right to be rude. If they are, you do not have to be rude back. Remember the home may not be right for them but they might have a buyer friend, who thinks your home is perfect!
Do Not let buyers split up and go off by themselves. This could be a ploy to steal. You should have a second person in your home. They do not have to do the presentation or tour but it is always wise if you are new to hosting an Open House.
Security, make sure you have secured your medications and jewelry. A non-see-through plastic container works great. Safes should be covered so people that are looking for an easy target, do not see anything to break-in and steal later. (this is just a precaution)
Make sure you advertise your home, use direction arrows (if allowed) place an open house sign in your yard, displaying time and date. You should have this out 3-4 days in advance. Buyers do drive-by’s to preview homes before seeing the inside. If they did not see your advertising they will see you are hosting an open house. Make sure your Open House is also displayed on the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) to attract real estate buyer agents and clients too!
In case you missed the previous home selling steps links to each step to sell your home are below. Step 12 will be active tomorrow.
Ask for a "FREE Seller's Checklist" if you are in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market and considering selling your home. Expose your home to a wider range of buyers using todays most up to date real estate technology and selling methods.
Thanks for Stopping By and Leaving a comment.
Gary L. White, Associate Broker CRS, GRI, ABR, ePRO, AHS, SFR
Thinking of selling your home in Grand Rapids Michigan?
You have a couple of choices when considering selling your home. You can sell your own home or you can hire a real estate sellers agent to sell your home. Selling your home on your own meaning you take on the role of a real estate agent with all the marketing, phone calls, buyer interviews, showing your home along with the paperwork.
I am not discouraging you, just pointing out the facts. You can reduce your selling costs if you are willing to put in the hours and money required upfront. Most seller don't think it takes any money upfront to sell a home. They could not be further from the reality of home selling. Real estate seller agents create all the paperwork and the information that goes into marketing homes. Now not all agents are created equal because they pay the same state license fee. So a lower cost agent may offer less or more marketing activity than the higher commissioned agent.
The rub isn't discount agents or real estate companies that discount their fees. The real issue a home seller faces, is will the agent do the steps to market your home, maximized buyer exposure and interest? It costs time to place all the marketing required on the Internet. Marketing homes for sale while maximizing buyer exposure is a on-going task. Not just a one time list your home on the MLS (Grand Rapids Multiple Listing Service) and done.
The number one location buyer look to buy a home is theInternet First. Over 80% of home buyers look for homes using the Internet before ever calling a real estate agent or a buyer. This means if you have an effective Internet marketing campaign you are more likely to find a buyer. If the agent you select does not have the Internet marketing skills or the software to help you get proper buyer exposure you are less likely to sell.
This also tells you, if you do not have a marketing strategy to get your home exposed to the maximum number of buyers, when selling your own home, it is just as likely you won't sell either. Selling your home is stressful enough. Add into the home selling process, real estate selling has changed to Internet marketing and buyer exposure to sell homes. Very few real estate agents have advanced certifications that cover Website Design, Internet Marketing or the software and tools to maximize your homes exposure to buyers.
Here are a series of articles, recently published that may help you in your home selling decision. The last two links will be added over the next few days.
Selling Your Home in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market requires a Home Selling Strategy. Review the home selling links below before you list your home for sale in Grand Rapids Real Estate Market.
Many times buyers start looking for a home before they have secured financing. This means buyers are looking, dreaming about a new home, without the proven ability to purchase. Unless they have cash, which is rare, buyers will need to discuss lending option with a bank or mortgage broker.
Real estate agents representing sellers, know to ask, if the buyers have seen a lender to establish mortgage guidelines. Meaning the buyer knows the maximum lending limit the bank or mortgage company is willing to lend them. The buyer also knows how much money they must put down to secure the loan. The only way a real estate agent gets paid, selling to a buyer that can buy your home.
Without a pre-qualification letter, buyer's are not confirmed buyer's. Many times with a letter they cannot buy. The reason is a pre-approval letter is an estimate of the buyer's ability to buy based on verbal discussions and "without" documentation of credit by a lender. A pre-qualification letter means, or should mean, the buyer has proven to the lender (at the time of credit review) with documentation of wages, credit report, bank statements and employment.
Remember things change. This means a buyer's credit can change before the loan is granted. If the buyer loses a job, buyers furniture or a new car for their new home they may not have the right credit ratio to get the loan! Nothing is a sure thing until you have the check in your hand. So protect yourself and get backup offers, if you can.
One of the ways real estate agents and home sellers can remove this uncertainty is to have a lending program available for buyers. This will help sell the property and confirmed the buyer's ability to secure financing. NO, you do not
12 Easy Steps to Selling Your Home Step #10, Selling Your Home is more than making it look pretty!
have to provide financing for buyers. You talk to your current bank where you do business or a mortgage broker you know and have them work up three (3) proposals for loans on your home. Each proposal has a different amounts down, alternative terms, 20, 30 years to pay back.
Buyer's can not expect seller's to take a home off the market without written proof of their ability to buy. Buyer's could also lose the home they stayed awake nights dreaming of living in, because someone else prepared to buy, gets the seller to accept their offer.
Preparing to sell your home is more than making it look pretty. Selling your home requires more than taking great photos and writing buyer attracting property descriptions. Selling your home is being able to have a qualified buyer present you with an acceptable offer. An offer must be backed up with proof the buyer can actually buy!
Ask for a FREE Seller Checklist if you live in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market and considering selling your home. Expose your home to a wider range of buyers using today’s most up to date real estate technology and selling methods.
Sell Your Home in 12 easy steps. Step #9 Showing Your Home To Potential Buyers (originally posted on the Flexit Realty Blog)
Home Showing is where the difference between a professional real estate agent and a home owner’s become evident. Home owner’s rare have to show their home, unless a quick family or friend tour, as a quest.
Showing your home to potential buyers is quite another story. Real Estate Agents are making assessments of the buyer during the meet and greet. They watch their eyes body language and “listen” for comments. In short, agents tune into buyers and their actions.
Agent know how to handle the normal negotiation objections. When buyers first come to a home we home we have three types.
The quiet buyer, that nods, hums and looks intently. They say very little even when engaged. This is a reader buyer. They will read everything you hand them. This is why it is important to have a great brochure with features and benefits to handout.
The chatterbox buyer, you hear everything, they don’t read the hardly take a
Hosting Open Houses, Showing Homes to Buyers, Flexit Realty has Professional Seller Agents www.FlexitRealty.com
breath. This is someone you let talk. When they stop talking an start asking serious questions they are interested in your property! That’s the time to hand them your disclosures and brochure.
The executive, the serious buyer that starts with a barrage of questions and keeps asking questions that have to do with facts about the home. How old is the roof? How long have you lived here? How old is the electric, plumbing, furnace, hot water heater. What are your heat bills, what are taxes. How soon can you move? Is the sell price firm? They try to set you back on your heels letting you know they know a lot about buying homes. Most of the time, they don’t, they just know the terms.
You can see selling your home requires preparation. At this point you must be ready for a variety of buyers. This is only the buyer’s side of showing your home.
You must also have your home ready for the security of showing your home. Most real estate agents and brokers have insurance to cover theft that could occur during
Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Kitchens are the most vulnerable areas for thieves to target.
a open house or home showing. Look at easy prey items, not all buyer’s are buyer’s! Some people pose as buyers looking for prescription drugs or small valuables than can be concealed and taken. One word of caution, if you are showing your own home, never, never show your home alone! Real estate agents are trained and even they turn into prey at times. Have someone else (adult) in the home, in a visible position. They do not have to say anything. They just need to be there.
Your home has to be child proofed unless you already have young children living in your home, then your child proofing is done. Favorite items that could be damaged should also be put away. Northern climates people wear large coats and turning a sleeve or back of a flowing coat can catch items and knock them over. The action will not be intentional but the result can leave you with a memorable peace broken.
Makes sure walkways, driveways and in summer months or southern climates the yard is cut edged toy or excess cars are removed. Some families have young adults with cars. They should be parked up the street leaving the driveway clear and open.
One last word on showing your home for sale. Agent are focused on selling your home. They don’t host a yard sale. Many homeowner’s during the showing process try to entice buyer’s by throwing in extras. The seller attempts to create more buyer interest because the buyer showed a little interest in the home. This tactic is designed to covert the buyer into signing a contract to buy right then. Real estate professionals know most buyers think about buyers and will want to discuss financing by locking down real numbers they will pay if they buy the home.
Showing your home and offering your dining room table, couch or play equipment, benches could get those items sold and you end up with an empty house, not sold. Always sell personal items after a sales contract has been signed. Do the sale of personal items outside of the contract to sell the home.
We didn’t discuss advertising or other issues to generate buyers. That will be in another series.
Ask for a FREE Seller Checklist if you are in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market and considering selling your home. Expose your home to a wider range of buyers using today's most up to date real estate technology and selling methods.
In case you missed earlier "12 Easy Steps Selling Your Home Steps" the active links are below.
12 Easy Steps to Selling Your Home “Step #8 “Photos, the visual details to attract buyers” (originally posted on FlexitRealtyblog.com)
If you consider the old cliche, “pictures are worth a thousand words”. The saying should be, pictures are worth thousands of dollars, when it comes to selling real estate!“Pictures Equals Buyers”, the real issue is getting your home sold. Photos taken with the right angles, light, clarity and descriptions help sell houses.
How many times have you looked for a home on a website or picked up a brochure in front of a home to have one photo? Buyers may or may not take the time to go to the website. If the buyer does go to the website in the middle of the summer and finds a snow picture or in the middle of the winter and finds a summer photo, buyers immediately know the property has been for sale a long time. They also may skip seeing it because they believe something may be wrong with the property! In northern climates if you show a winter photo make sure the drives and walks are clear and clean. If the walks and drives are clear, replace the photos on your website and other sites.
No photos should be take until the home has been staged for photos. You want your property and home to visually show the best features and benefits possible. I have had buyers I knew would like a property as soon as I viewed the property. I contacted them for a showing appointment, we sold the home without staging or doing a thing. Selling without any preparation is not normal for the majority of sellers. No home preparation before taking photos to maximize buyer response is doing a disservice, in my opinion.
Here are photo selections that should be taken.
Outside, including front, back and any decks or sheds. Angles of your photos
Showing inviting photos creates more buyers if the photo shows details.
are critical. If you have special features, landscaping, woods, patios, gardens and porches these should be emphasized in photos to separate your home from others.
Inside, photos should be broken down room by room and created into a guided tour, as though you were walking from the front door through the home.
Foyer, Entrance: show a photo looking back at the inside entryway if it is something that accents the home. If not, place the entrance in an overall photo with a wide angle view.
Living Room, this room, most times, requires two photos, offering viewing angles to buyers. Make sure you capture the focal point of the room. Whatever feature accents the room, capture in you photo.
Kitchen, is a very important room, the counter space should be maximized for
Photo Angles offer a large view and help give buyers a reason to see your home.
photos. Every buyer wants counter space. Make sure no finger prints or distracting refrigerator magnets, artwork, calendars or photos are displayed on the refrigerator.
Dining Room, Eating Area: This is another area that should have several photos on showing the relationship to the kitchen as well as the area itself. This helps buyers get an orientation of the rooms location to each other.
Bath Rooms and Suites: Make sure shampoo bottles are removed, sink areas are clean and cleared. Just like The kitchen counter and sink space will be visual issues. Tubs and sinks must sparkle. Toilet seat down please! Towels and wash cloths folded and presented in a staged manor. If you have multiple bathrooms label them, include locations (first floor, lower level, master).
Bedrooms, again make all the beds, remove and animal beds, if present, take angles that include closet door. If a walk-in closet take a photo after the closet is staged for the photo. Multiple bedrooms need to have labels and locations.
Family Rooms, if you have a family room take angled photo showing the best features. If your rooms have vaulted ceiling or high ceiling make sure that feature is captured in your photos.
Storage and Garages, this is not optional, make sure buyers know they will have storage. This means these areas have to be ready to show and staged for photos.
This may sound like a lot of work but selling faster and for a maximum sell price means you have to have a home multiple buyers will bid to buy. This also means you will get a higher sell price faster. The reason, maximizing buyer exposure with the right photos, creating more buyer interest in your property.
“FREE SELER’S CHECKLIST” Receive a “FREE Seller Checklist”, if live in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market and considering selling your home. Expose your home to a wider range of buyers using today’s most up to date real estate technology and selling methods.
In case you missed any of the steps to selling your home already published active links are listed below.
Is it any wonder people are worried about the economy. The only thing happening is bonus money being handed out instead of securing the housing market. Home values are still dropping in many parts of the country. Michigan is included in the dropping home values.
Bloomberg along with other reported today the housing index fell again in the top 20 markets. Nobody had to tell homeowners their homes are not worth what they were 3 years ago. The slide in home values started in 2008 we are just entering 2012 and many homeowners are wondering when this will end.
Economist and investors don't have a crystal ball, yet they can look at history to give themselves some trends. Brokers and real estate agents that have been in the industry for awhile know one month does not make a trend!
Last month many reported the housing market was making a turn around. The real facts about home sales is, every December sales surge. The reason banks are trying to get sales completed for the end of the year. Agents are trying to get their sales completed for year end. Buyers and seller are trying to close their sales before year end as well. They want the tax write-offs.
It isn't a big mystery why sales surge in December. What is a mystery is why congress and the leaders of our country can not figure out that more jobs would be created if they could get the housing industry back on solid ground. Right now it is like walking on quick sand, you don't know if you are going to sink or swim!
The truth is the housing market is not going to stabilize until the economy gets better. This also has a silver lining for those that can buy a home. It really is the best time to buy a home. Interest rates are at record lows. Home prices versus value and unbelievable. So as a buyer if you don't buy now you will wished you did!
Sellers looking to move-up this is your best time. I know I just said home values are at record lows. Yes that is true, BUT you sell lower and you buy lower. You also finance lower, so selling and moving up costs less now than it will if you wait for prices to go up. Then you will sell for more and pay more for your next home along with higher financing costs.
We can look at the glass half empty or half full. Regardless this is a Great Time to Buy and Sell Grand Radis Real Estate. If you are going to take advantage of the real estate market now is the time.
If you would like to know how much your homes selling value in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Housing Market, send for your free analysis. Send me an email, we will do a "Free Computer Analysis" for you and send it back, for homes in Grand Rapids and surrounding cities. We can do a much better job if we can see your home, that is up to you. Our home selling experts live and work every day within the Grand Rapids housing markets. They know the local neighborhoods and which homes have sold. Flexit Realty agents can share home selling tips with you as well.
We have buyer agents representing home buyers only. Our residential real estate specialists offer you a buyers checklist, so you don't miss finding the right home at the right price.
Thanks for Stopping By and Leaving a comment.
Gary L. White, Associate Broker CRS, GRI, ABR, ePRO, AHS, SFR
Grand Rapids Real Estate & West Michigan real estate markets, trends and issues discussed. Technical and personal thoughts pertaining to buying and selling real estate.
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call 616-784-2360 or email:GaryWhite@FlexitRealty.com
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another real estate broker to work with and that is that. The problem is, I like being a real estate broker in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have lived in Grand Rapids for the better part of 35 years, since 1972, minus the 5 years in Florida and a couple years traveling.
lower cost agent may offer less or more marketing activity than the higher commissioned agent.
Brokers and real estate agents that have been in the industry for awhile know one month does not make a trend!
BUT you sell lower and you buy lower. You also finance lower, so selling and moving up costs less now than it will if you wait for prices to go up. Then you will sell for more and pay more for your next home along with higher financing costs.
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