Proven Techniques to Sell Homes in Slow Markets - 02/28/11 07:28 PM
Recently I wrote a POST asking the AR experts to help me define some proven techniques to sell homes in slow markets, and I promised to report back after tabulating the responses.  I received several quality responses both here on Active Rain as well as from several successful agents I interviewed.  Rather than elaborate on each suggestion—which would make for an unnecessarily long post—I’ve provided several “bullet points” which are all self-explanatory. 
 
As you might expect, many of the ideas submitted focused upon providing great service—the basics—with emphasis upon separating yourself from and rising above those who are satisfied … (13 comments)

Foreclosed Homes Will Offer Even Greater Bargains in 2011 - 02/24/11 05:00 PM
With the average foreclosed home in 2010 selling at a 28% discount from traditional sales, and with banks preparing to increase their sales of distressed properties, foreclosed homes will offer even greater bargains in 2011.  Continuing sluggishness in the housing market, combined with high levels of inventory, should provide great buying opportunities for those looking to purchase a home.
 
Last year’s moratoriums and delays caused by the “robo-signing” crisis caused banks to slow the processing of foreclosures, resulting in a glut of REO inventory that lenders are now ready to move.  And now that many of those foreclosure issues have … (10 comments)

Let’s Stop Whining About the Mortgage Interest Deduction - 02/15/11 05:05 PM
Let’s Stop Whining About the Mortgage Interest Deduction
 
As congress and the Administration begin considering the new budget, there have been loud cries in opposition to cutting what some consider “sacred cow” programs, such as the mortgage interest deduction, social security, and subsidies to farmers and business.  The whining has already begun. 
 
During the past few months there have been calls to slash government spending, but it seems no one wants cuts made to programs from which they benefit.  However, unless we are collectively willing to “bite the bullet,” and take some pain now, the potential pain we … (83 comments)

Will The New Fannie/Freddie Rules Affect Home Ownership? - 02/11/11 03:20 PM
 
Today I received an email from a subscriber to The Housing Guru, asking: “How will the new Fannie/Freddie rules affect home ownership?”  The writer planned to purchase a home in the next 3 to 5 years and wanted to know if the mortgage process would get easier or more difficult because of the changes being discussed. 
 
My response was based both upon recent news stories as well as statements from Treasury, which lead me to believe that the government has no plans to make the mortgage process easier for homebuyers.  I believe the opposite is true.  As the … (12 comments)

One-Stop Shopping: An Idea Worthy of Expanding? - 02/07/11 04:48 PM
A recent survey from NAR and Harris Interactive and reported in RISMedia seems to indicate that homebuyers prefer to receive as much service as possible from one source—the office of their real estate agent.  And while the recent housing crisis and recession seemed to have left the majority with negative impressions of those in the real estate business, the survey indicates otherwise.  In fact, since the beginning of the recession, the number of homebuyers preferring to receive services from companies affiliated with their agent’s office has increased.
 
With the housing market expected to remain somewhat chaotic for several more years, … (5 comments)

Confused by the Employment Numbers? - 02/04/11 07:14 PM
Don’t be embarrassed if you are confused by the January employment numbers; even the Labor Department admitted that this week’s report, on the surface, didn’t make sense.  And that’s really the key—looking at the numbers on a weekly or even monthly basis provides little understanding of where we’re headed.
 
While the Administration and some pundits seemed elated that unemployment dropped from 9.4% to 9%, a quick study of the trends and overall numbers reveals that we’ve made no progress towards providing employment for the millions who lost their jobs during the recession.  On average—and there’s some disagreement on the exact … (15 comments)

Banks May Be Dangerous But We’ve Been the Enablers - 02/03/11 09:43 PM
Banks May Be Dangerous But We’ve Been the Enablers
 
In 2008 the government spent billions saving the banks and Wall Street firms “too big to fail,” and the American taxpayer received little but the bill.  The recent release of the FCIC report pointed out what we already knew: We live in a plutocracy, where crony capitalism is king.  Thomas Jefferson may have envisioned some of the dangers of banking institutions, but I doubt he could have imagined the power wielded by the big banks of today.  Since the beginning of the recession, the banks we deemed “too big to fail,” … (14 comments)

How Aging Baby Boomers Will Impact the Housing Market - 02/02/11 09:49 PM
Recent articles have described how aging baby boomers will impact the housing market; and with numbers that may reach as high as 77 million, the results could be significant.  Boomers made their presence felt during the past decade as “adult communities” spread across the country, and many builders profited as thousands of active adults sought environments that matched their lifestyles.
 
Now, however, and partly as a result of the recession, those needs and desires are changing.  Retiring boomers are looking for places that are affordable, low maintenance, and with amenities that will assist those with age-related health issues.  A presentation … (8 comments)

California Court Says Foreclosed Homeowner Can Sue Bank for Fraud - 02/01/11 06:29 PM
 
California Court Says Foreclosed Homeowner Can Sue Bank for Fraud
 
Many of the recent news stories about bankers have been less than sympathetic; and a new ruling from a California court provides yet one more illustration of why public opinion of the banking industry has fallen so low.  In what could be a major setback for big banks, often accused of sabotaging loan modification efforts, the court, in a scathing 15 page ruling, found sufficient evidence that U.S. Bank had defrauded a borrower by reneging on a promised loan modification. 
 
According to the ruling, the lender … (7 comments)

 

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