Gregg's Blog

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY!

Gregg Holman (REALTY WORLD MID ATLANTIC) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:42:19 -0500

All the media 'gloom and doom' hype overlooks the obvious. While the market is not the strong seller's market that we have experienced over the past 5 years, it is a GREAT MARKET FOR BUYERS! Consider the following:

Interest Rates are about where they were in 2000 when the boom began - 30 year lows at that point
Builders have excess inventory locally and in most other markets which leads to their offering tremendous incentives
Excess inventory in New Construction means existing sales are taking longer, making sellers more open to negotiation
The Flippers are gone
Flippers who got caught with inventory are extremely motivated.

Then there is the so-called mortgage meltdown in subprime that has earned its own logo on CNN. Consider the following for buyer with less than perfect credit:

More inventory means more rentals. A good REALTOR(R) can negotiate a Lease/Option in many cases
Banks, such as Bank of America with its Community Lending program are stepping up to the plate with loans for first- times that have relaxed underwriting standards
FHA is moving to fill the sub prime void
Sellers will be more willing to carry a second trust to get their home sold

The bottom line is that buyers need a highly skilled professional now, more than ever. REALTORS(r) who have been 'order takers' for the past few years are going to have to sharpen their negotiation skills or find another line of work. Buyers could end up leaving money on the table without strong representation who can think outside the financial box.

Download the Herndon Observer's 2007 Community Guide Here

Gregg Holman (REALTY WORLD MID ATLANTIC) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:56:35 -0500

http://www.observernews.com/images/news_images/lccg_2007.pdf

Designations

Gregg Holman (REALTY WORLD MID ATLANTIC) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:25:30 -0500

Do you encourage your team members or agents to earn professional designations? If so, which ones?

What designations do you hold? Are they directly related to your practice?

STAR POWER?

Gregg Holman (REALTY WORLD MID ATLANTIC) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:42:25 -0500

Has anyone had any experience with Howard Britton's STAR POWER systems? They focus on the team.

Realty World in the Nation's Capital

Gregg Holman (REALTY WORLD MID ATLANTIC) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:39:02 -0500

REALTY WORLD MID ATLANTIC is a full service regional brokerage serving Washington, DC, surburban Maryland and Virginia. We welcome your referrals and pay fees promptly. Keep us in mind for Military and other relocations to our area.

As for the politicians, don't blame us! After all you sent them here! :-)

Hanging out with the homebuilders

Gregg Holman (REALTY WORLD MID ATLANTIC) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:00:29 -0500

As a member of the Northern Virginia Building Industries Association, I have had the privilege to participate in their seminars and classes. I should finish my CSP (certified NEW HOMES sales Professional) certification this week.

Things I have learned about our market in recent weeks:

we have a 54 month supply of condos!

The market may be on the way back up. One market consultant for a national firm confided that they think that Loudoun county "bottomed out" last October and is on the way back up.

Fairfax is too early to tell. March numbers will indicate its status. Typically, in March, the market surges with additional resale listings. If that does not happen or if the market absorbs them, the Fairfax is on the way back.

Winchester and Frederick County (VA) are the new Loudoun! Their market indicators are about where Loudoun was 10 years ago. BTW have you heard that Winchester has an NEW TV station? Channel 3, an ABC affiliate opened earlier this month!

http://www.tv3winchester.com/