Highest Foreclosure Rates Nationwide - 07/29/11 09:35 AM
Recent reports from RealtyTrac indicate the following cities as having the highest foreclosure rates in the country:
Las Vegas-Paradise: 1 in every 19 households received a foreclosure filing during the first half of 2011 (5.36%), nearly six times the national average. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz: 1 in every 28 households (3.51%) Modesto, Calif.: 1 in every 30 households (3.32%) Stockton, Calif.: 1 in every 31 households (3.24%) Riverside-San Bernadino-Ontario, Calif.: 1 in every 31 households (3.21%) Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.: 1 in every 32 households (3.09%) Reno-Sparks, Nev.: 1 in every 34 households (2.96%) Bakersfield, Calif.: 1 in every 36 households (2.78%) Merced, Calif.: 1 … (4 comments)

Why Home Prices In Wake County North Carolina Look Like They're Increasing - 07/26/11 11:58 PM
I recent News and Observer article stated that average home prices in Wake County North Carolina are higher this year than the same time last year.  Given the tax credit from last year and the number of lower priced buyers last year, that would make sense.  I wouldn't mistake that for a general, broad brush comment that home prices are increasing.  We're just not selling as many lower priced home this year, comparatively speaking.
They also went on to predict the following:
"Many economists think prices nationally will drop at least 5 percent more by year's end. They aren't likely to … (2 comments)

Is Government Broken? - 07/24/11 12:21 PM
I was watching a news show this morning and the debate was heated.  The panelists were discussing the Republican agenda vs. the Democrat agenda.  Who is right?  Who is wrong?  Fingers were pointing in every direction and each side was sure that they were "winning".
Then one young man (I can't recall his name, but I know he was 33) made a great point.  "In the last three elections" he said, "the American people have spoken."  he went on to talk about how Tea Party movements and election results have recently proven that we are sick and tired of the same … (5 comments)

Where Were You At Midnight Last Night? - 07/23/11 04:01 PM
I had just finished dinner and was having my usual drink (root beer!) in the bar of the restaurant with a few friends.  The bartender, knowing me and knowing what I do for a living, asked me if I had a business card.  Of course, I obliged.
He introduced me to a couple from California who had recently been relocated to NC and were currently in a rental.  I discovered that they had a home in CA that they were going to rent and that they really wanted to become homeowners here in NC within the next year.
One thing led … (6 comments)

Are Sellers Overpricing Homes? - 07/22/11 11:39 AM
A recent Zillow study of one million homes currently on the market for sale, shows that, on average, homes purchased before 2002 were overpriced by an average of 11.6%, homes purchased between 2002 and 2006 were overpriced by an average of 9.3% and home purchased since 2007 were overpriced by an average of 14%.
Putting all of the numbers aside, the reason I wrote this today was to express a thought about something that seemed to be left out of the article.  The sellers did not overprice their homes at all.  The Realtors overpriced the homes. 
It is time to put … (1 comments)

Where To Find Buyers - 07/21/11 10:54 AM
It's a question we ask ourselves every day.  Maybe this is one of the answers.  It certainly makes sense.  Since I'm building my business with a long range frame of mind, I am thinking it would make sense to break Gen Y into four categories: (1) the 15-18 year old high school group, (2) the 19-22 year old college age group, (3) the post college age first time home buyer group, (4) and the post college age moving up to a larger home buyer group.  I'll probably attack it from that perspective and try to capture prospects and plant a lot … (5 comments)

Why Did I Become A Realtor? - 07/20/11 10:26 AM
It's moments like this that we have to embrace.  I just came from a closing that went off about as smoothly as any one I've ever experienced.  It was satisfying to sit back and hear the listing agent thank me for making the negotiation process so fair and easy and the lender express their appreciation for the time and effort I put into preparing the buyer for the loan process.  Most of all, it was touching to see the smile on the face of my client when we walked out of the door after the closing.  "I never imagined I would … (2 comments)

First Time Home Buyers: No Downpayment, No Problem - 07/19/11 12:29 PM
There are two primary factors that potential buyers generally concern themselves with when contemplating a home purchase, creditworthiness and downpayment. 
If credit issues are hampering a buyers ability to purchase, with the assistance of an educated and aggressive Realtor, buyers can utilize the resources presented to them and exercise the discipline necessary to repair their credit and position themselves to become viable, qualified buyers in less time than they think.
If lack of downpayment money is a concern, then listen to this.  Most buyers are unaware of the downpayment assistance programs that are available to them in this market.  This is … (0 comments)

Dear Renters ....... - 07/17/11 09:48 PM
I had the pleasure of meeting a very nice woman and her two children this weekend and the opportunity to show them several houses to rent.  They were passed on to me by another agent in my office and I wanted to help these people.
When we met at my office, the first thing I did was qualify them as potential buyers.  They recently suffered through a foreclosure, so I knew that the "buy side" potential here was very long term and slim at best.  Nonetheless, off we went.  After three hours and many miles, we parted ways with no clear … (3 comments)

America's Best Cities For Young Professionals - 07/16/11 09:45 AM
According to a recent Forbes magazine article, the following is a list of the best cities for young professionals.  The criteria for determining this list was a blending of several factors: (1) local unemployment rates, (2) 2010 to 2012 job growth projections provided by Moody's Economy.com; (3) Census Bureau data on the number of small businesses (defined as less than 500 employees) per capita, as well as the number of large businesses; (4) the median salaries for 24- to 34-year-old employed college graduates, provided by PayScale.com; (5) Moody's cost-of living index, to gauge how far those paychecks will go; and (6) the … (3 comments)

Foreclosures Delayed ... Recovery Delayed? - 07/15/11 11:47 AM
Recent RealtyTrac news reports that 1 million foreclosures will be delayed until 2012 due to the massive backlog currently being experienced throughout the country.  It is being reported that this will result in a delayed market recovery of an additional year, and thet "normal levels" of foreclosures will not be experienced until 2015. 
The general observation made is that "lenders taking longer to take action against delinquent borrowers is stalling the housing recovery."  On the other hand, lenders, with the support of our current administration, have self-imposed delayes in an effort to allow homeowners to restructure or modify their loans, or … (0 comments)

The Primary Reason For Listing With A Realtor Is .... - 07/14/11 02:10 PM
A recent article suggests that the primary reason for listing ahome with a Realtor is the fact that the Realtor is going to put the property in the MLS.  I vehemently disagree.
I have never gone into a listing appointment with the feeling that the ace up my sleeve in proving my value was in the fact that I can list the seller's property in the MLS.  I believe that my greatest asset, and the factor that sets me apart from the competition, is four fold.
First, I am extremely knowledgeable about the real estate industry as a whole, as it … (3 comments)

Another Reason To Be Optimistic - 07/12/11 09:03 AM
I just read an article about an analysis of the real estate market for the first half of 2011 made by Clear Capital.  A couple of thoughts came to mind. 
I am always cautious to qualify these studies by evaluating their criteria.  There isn't much detail in this article and the author simply states that market performances were based upon "first half data".  Specifically what data, we are not told. 
Assuming the data is reliable, I am encouraged to see Washington DC and New York at the top of the list.  One of the primary contributing factors to the lack of … (45 comments)

Diary of A Dedicated Realtor #6 - 07/10/11 09:50 AM
OK, so I gave up on trying to write daily installments into my diary.  Instead, I am writing random passages which will summarize my activities since my last installment.
So, since June 25 I have sent out 10 hand written notes, made 8 phone calls to people in my database, conducted 10 one-on-one meetings, and added 98 people to my database.
In addition, the following activities have resulted from "shaking branches and turning over rocks":
Met a couple that are relocating to Rochester and need to put their home on the market in Apex; provided them with a "sight unseen" CMA … (1 comments)

Why The Market Is Turning Around - An Optimists View - 07/09/11 11:26 AM
I just got through reading another article regarding the rising rental rates and falling vacanicies.  Reis Inc. reports that, in the second quarter, rents rose in 80 of 82 markets surveyed and average effective rent was up 2.3%. 
I believe that there are three major contributing factors that can prominently affect a positive movement in the real estate market in the near future.  The first factor is the rental market.  When rental rates rise far enough to compete with mortgage payments, qualified buyers start to contemplate buying vs. renting. 
The second factor that will aid the cause to recovery comes in … (0 comments)

Facebook Video Chat Feature Coming Soon - 07/08/11 11:26 AM
In an effort to reach out to new clients and the younger generation of real estate buyers and sellers, I am going to get on board with the new Facebook video chat feature (coming soon).  Facebook, through a deal with Skype, will be rolling out this enhancement some time in the next month.  This will be a handy tool for interviewing, as well as video conferencing.  For more information, it can currently be accessed at facebook.com/videocalling.  You have to keep up with technology to stay competitive.  Remember the days when we used to look at listings in a printed "telephone book"? … (2 comments)

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - 07/06/11 09:22 AM
 
I just read two articles this morning that grabbed my attention.  One has to do with the expectation of home prices and the other with the idea of a minimum downpayment plan.
The good, is that the poll suggests that home prices are "bottoming out" and should remain stable for the next several years:
"More than half of economists, real estate experts and investment strategists polled by MacroMarkets LLC in June said they now expect national home prices to hit a bottom sometime in 2011 and remain stable through 2015"
The bad, is the article that talks about the proposed Dodd-Frank … (0 comments)

An Unexpected Referral Source - 07/05/11 02:39 PM
Today was a prime example of why you have to remain consistent in your approach and true to your systems in the real estate business. 
Today I received an unexpected phone call and a hot lead from someone I used to work with and put into my database two months ago.  In the interim, she has corresponded with a buyer client of mine and a mutual friend to us both.  With the reticular activator on high alert, the buyer client mentioned my name and how much she valued the work I am doing for her.  In turn, the referral source, a … (1 comments)

New Mortgage ARM's Up 33%! - 07/03/11 03:29 PM
Now that I got your attention by completely manipulating the statistics, I want to put up the caution flag before we revisit a sore subject.  The following quote was obtained from a recent article regarding the growing popularity of ARM's.
"In the first quarter of this year, about 12 percent of the $325 billion in new mortgages made were ARMs. In the fourth quarter last year, ARMs made up 9 percent of new mortgages, reports the newsletter Inside Mortgage Finance. During the housing boom, ARMs made up 45 percent of mortgages issued in 2006"
While 3, 5 and 7 year ARM's … (4 comments)

 
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John Davison (Raleigh-Cary-Triangle NC)

Cary, NC

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Coldwell Banker

Address: 301 S.E. Maynard Road, Cary, NC, 27511

Office Phone: (919) 449-7721

Cell Phone: (919) 449-7721

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