Terry 's Blog

New Homes at Foreclosed Prices in Atlanta!!! - Talk to Terry

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:01:46 -0800

New Edition of Talk to Terry Now Available!

DR Horton and other Home Builders are building brand new homes at prices Atlanta has not seen in a long time! This interview is with Tom Hill (Atlanta Division President) with DR Horton, and represents the new phase of new construction...DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY!!!

See Interview Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzXc9SLo7pY

Foreclosure/Wholesale Wave...we will help you ride it!

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:55:36 -0800

The real estate market is changing on the north side of Atlanta...and will continue to change! In this edition, we are beginning to watch the "wholesale" category of sales. The more wholesale is introduced to an area, the more sales will result...and this will help all other sales, so it is a good thing! We will study the trends, so you don't have to! Visit www.TalkToTerry.com for a complete video and blog list!

View my October video at www.TalkToTerry.com!

Football and Foreclosures: You don't have to buy, but you should look.

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:56:46 -0700

Atlanta, remember this...beginning to take a look does not mean you have to buy something...If you begin to look, you may be surprised as to what is out there! Remember, Teddy should not try to become a pro athlete, but should you purchase a deal today? You will only know if you get out and look!

I've just released a video on this topic on my website: www.TalkToTerry.com. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Foreclosures and Football: You don't have to buy, but you should look.

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:55:10 -0700

I just released a new video on this topic at www.talktoterry.com. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Football and Foreclosures! You don't have to buy, but you should look.

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:51:23 -0700

I've published a video on this topic at www.TalktoTerry.com. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Foreclosures and Football! People should look even if they don't intend to buy.

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:49:21 -0700

Check out my latest edition of Talk to Terry at: www.TalkToTerry.com

Let me know what you think!

North Atlanta Market - Jumbo Lending = Jumbo Problems?

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:19:27 -0700

North Atlanta shows good signs below the price of $500k, but what will happen if the Jumbo Lending thwarts the potential buyers above $500k? See my thoughts at www.TalktoTerry.com. What are yours?

North Atlanta Update - Bottom on the way? - June Edition of Talk to Terry

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:47 -0700

Demand is rising, and Supply is shrinking! Lending practices and Jumbo Loans will hold the key. Check out my educational videos on whats happening in our market! www.TalktoTerry.com

Worried About Foreclosure? There are Options!

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:18:22 -0700

Behind in your mortgage? Worried about FORECLOSURE? Wait! Make sure you have thought through some simple things...there are options! I have just released a video that covers some of the steps you can take to help get you (or your clients) through this difficult time.

To see more videos and information visit my site at www.TalkToTerry.com.

Is the Atlanta housing market re-setting?

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:45:51 -0700

You may be surprised as to the value of a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home over the last 2 years and what it has re-set to! As the market re-sets, what are you doing to understand how it is shifting? I have been pushing my agents to learn the trends that are happening in the market today so they are better equipped to handle the tough questions that are being asked out there today.

I have posted a video with my thoughts on this re-setting trend at www.TalktoTerry.com if you would like more information and specifics!

North Atlanta Trends for May - Talk to Terry!

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:24:02 -0700

Atlanta (North) Trends for May...You may be surprised as to the value of a 4 bdrm, 2.5 bath home over the last 2 years and what it has re-set to! As the market re-sets, what are you doing to understand how it is shifting?

Check out my video this month at www.TalkToTerry.com!

April Edition of Talk to Terry Released!

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:52:26 -0700

The April Edition of TalkToTerry focuses on the changing environment around the North Atlanta Real Estate Market. Is the bottom forming? Is now the time to buy? Only time will tell, but watch for the clues!

Visit www.TalkToTerry.com to see this months (and any previous months) video!

Scared Stiff to Intrigued and Interested

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:05:19 -0700

Scared Stiff to Intrigued and Interested

I began my career in Real Estate in 1992. The Country was just coming out of the last big housing downturn from the Savings and Loan debacle.

I did not know anything about the realities of where we were with the economy or housing situation...I was fresh out of College and Bartending, so I thought I had hit the jackpot of a job!

Seventeen years have passed, and looking back, I realize I did not hit the jackpot of a job...I hit the jackpot of a CAREER! I have had ups, and downs. I have made more money, at times, than I ever dreamed possible, and lost more than that in the same breath. In every situation, I enjoyed the experiences of being in the Real Estate business. I have never been as Intrigued and Interested in Real Estate as I am today.

If you don't feel passionate about Real Estate, you should go and get passionate about something else...I suggest you get passionate about Real Estate!

Today, I look around and see three types of people in the business:
1. The Scared Stiff
2. The Scared Silly
3. The Intrigued and Interested

The Scared Stiff are simply shell shocked by how challenging the environment has become and have not made one single adjustment to their games. At the sales meetings, they have glazed looks in their eyes.

They have become walking Zombies.

Money is going out the door to stay in the business, but nothing is coming in, and they are doing nothing to improve their opportunities. They do not realize that by doing nothing, they are going to receive the same monetary measure in their bank account.

The Scared Stiff sit back and think that nobody is buying, so why try to do anything that would require effort when the result is going to yield nothing.

The Scared Stiff will view everything as the "market's fault", and simply see themselves waiting for when the market returns, and their business will do the same. They also believe that those that are making money are simply lucky, or have found the magic pill and are the exception, not the possibility.

Give them an educational article about what is going on, and they are not able to understand anything. This is okay, but they will not feel compelled to ask questions to try and understand...and that is not okay.

The problem with this group is that they are part of the problem with the time frame of the correction. We all know the market is going to change for the better, but nobody truly knows when. Part of when the change happens is going to be the educational process that Realtors take with the general public. In this, only the most talented, and professional Realtors will be able to truly see the signs, and relay them in a professional matter to those on the fence...

This group has two options:
1. Make changes to your game; stop being scared; start moving forward with passion
2. Make changes to your choice of careers

The Scared Silly are going about their game thinking that the only way to make it is to manipulate people and truths...twice as much as they did before the downturn started.

The problem with this group is that they are manipulating things to try and get people to use them in either buying or selling. They will eventually turn off the people they are trying to work with as this type of rhetoric always shines through; and someone that could have been a great prospect decides to do nothing because of the experience they just had with the Realtor.

They believe that nobody really wants to buy or sell today, so their job is to pressure people into doing the action they really don't want to do.

What this group forgets is that we don't sell homes, we sell a service, and that is an unspoken sale.

If this group goes to a sales meeting, they believe they know more than the others do, and are not willing to listen for a better way. Their way is the best way, and they will go down trying to prove it.

The Scared Silly are willing to work...they usually work too hard doing things the way they have always done it...only twice as hard! That begins to wear them down, and eventually being broke and burned out will have them leaving the business of real estate.

This group has two options:
1. Relax; change your approach; educate the public once you have educated yourself...STOP trying to think of sales as manipulating someone into doing something they don't want to do...try it with passion vs. fear based
2. Make changes to your choice of careers

The Intrigued and Interested have distanced themselves further and further from the rest of the pack. They realize it is a game...and the only way you win in a game is to get into it and play with intensity and passion!

This group is amazed at what we are going through as an industry and Country, but are enjoying the game vs. fighting against it.

This group will study the trends of the marketplace and know more about the financing world than they ever knew before. They will read articles. They will look for improvements. They will look for new techniques to add to their performance.

They do not blame things on the market; they study what they need to do, or what new niches to fill...and fill them!

They are willing to participate and help others. They greet each challenge with a view of opportunity.

They educate the clients they work with, and allow the clients to make their mind up after a careful presentation of facts. The clients feel more secure in making a decision today, because they know they are in the right hands. There is no pressure...things just make more sense for the clients.

This group has two options:
1. Keep doing what they are doing, and make a nice living while others are struggling
2. Keep improving every day and crush the competition that is Scared

Someone told me the other day "Change does not cause stress...Resistance to change causes stress!"

In Atlanta, we sold as many homes in 2008 as we did in 2001...not bad! The problem is that we have 40% more agents than we did at that time...the correction of number of agents is happening...only the strongest shall survive!

The great news is that no matter what category you may fall under, you can make the decision to change! It is a market that is going to re-vamp the Real Estate Arena...for the better!

March Edition of Talk to Terry Released!

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:11:20 -0700

Hello!

I just wanted to post a quick note and let you know that I have just released my monthly video on what's happening in the real estate market in both the North Atlanta Market and National Market. There is some new updates to my about me page including a new video.

Check it out! www.TalktoTerry.com

Sincerely with PASSION,
Terry Swanson

Results Report - March Edition

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:05:51 -0700

Hello Everyone!

We just published the March Edition of the Results Report and I wanted to share it with you! The Results Report is a monthly report that we generate here at Results Realty Services. It has up-to-date information on both the National and Local real estate markets. Let me know what you think!

http://www.homesaresellingatlanta.com/materials/mar_09_results_report/

TalktoTerry.com Released!

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:21:23 -0800

Hello!

Please be sure to visit my new website www.TalktoTerry.com. Here you will find the first of many monthly videos that break down the local North Atlanta Market as well as the National market.

If you would like to see the video directly, its hosted on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6iYFfF21X4

Check it out! I will be updating this video monthly with the lastest news and information!

Wholesale vs. Retail

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:28:46 -0700

There are several different types of buyers in the pool today for the North part of Atlanta. There are true investors, and there are people that are trying to take advantage of the market conditions...and trying to act like investors.

There are two different types of sellers as well. We will call them Wholesale or Retail.

The problem is that many of them are colliding, and only causing frustration for each other vs. the ultimate goal of creating a sale.

The true investor will stick to the fundamentals that allowed them to earn the title of "true investor". They will typically only look at opportunities that would fall under the Wholesale Seller. In this type of arena, the true investor knows there will be inherent risk, and usually the homes will be in less than acceptable condition. They will need improvements, and also need to be brought up to today's standards of specifications. They will also be priced for the "deal" to be made.

The buyer trying to think like an investor, but intending on buying a home for their family at an investor's price, is the one that is causing frustration. The reason they tend to be causing frustration is that their expectations are typically off-base.

This person has heard about all of the foreclosures, and the deals that are out there. They begin the search, at first, out of curiosity...then with a sense of passion. A passion for "giving someone a blood-bath".

Now, there is no harm with someone wanting to get a deal, but the homes they are falling in like with do not measure up to the ability of getting "the deal". They tend to be attracted to the Retail Sellers home that has been updated some, and is in great condition.

These Retail Sellers have taken better care of their home (because they knew they were not behind in payments, and needed to get what they could out of the home), and in many cases, have updated the interiors unlike most of the Wholesale situation homes.

So this presents a big gap...and tends to lead to angst, and a lot of emotions...on both sides!

The Retail Sellers expect to get close to what they are asking for their home. After all, they would not have kept it in the condition and added things if they would accept Wholesale Pricing.

The buyer trying to think like an investor gets frustrated because he/she has heard of all the deals that are 40% below market value.

The best question to ask a buyer: "Mr./Mrs. Buyer, are you interested in buying a Retail Home, or a Wholesale Home?"

They will probably ask what you mean, and then you can use the examples listed above to educate the buyers as to the reality of buying today:
The best POTENTIAL deals usually require the highest level of risk, and work to get them to where you would want to live in them. They are typically owned by a Bank, Company, or Institution that wants to dump them off their books.
The Retail Homes are usually in move-in condition, and have much of today's decor and features...they are still extremely attractive VALUES, but may not have you feeling like you gave someone a "blood-bath".

It may help you educate them and have a much more fulfilling process...for everyone involved!

Psychologically Speaking...Get Excited about Real Estate!

Terry Swanson (Results Realty Services) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:26:01 -0700

Psychologically speaking, you could find your best opportunities to invest in Real Estate right now! We have been through a long 2 year barrage of negative news regarding different aspects of Real Estate. Now, everyone agrees that if they can not get a grip on the housing market, and foreclosure scenario, the financial impact will be far greater than you could imagine.

If you are looking in the North part of Atlanta, such as Forsyth, or Gwinnett, there are numerous new home opportunities to be taken advantage of.

Cycles happen. Consider the changes going on today that will change the psychological patterns around the real estate arena in a short time period to follow. The cycle has been down a long time, and changes are taking place to begin the healing process right now...with this, the real estate market will have a chance to improve before long!

1. The Government has taken over the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae organizations...the Government is doing this to allow these organizations the ability to re-group, and the money guaranteed through 2009 to hold in the money, and not have a mass exodus of investors. The other reason is to get the lending to be able to be obtained by more people, so we can begin to have a positive side to our current housing scenario. They are doing this through the end of 2009, which would indicate that the Government believes the housing market will have corrected enough to have this channel moving positively enough to hang on it's own.

2. Interest rates are very low for the overall trend of the mortgage rate life...30 year rates have been around 6% or lower for some time, and will probably stay in this ballpark for a while. While the Government does not reach out and physically control the mortgage rates, they can act around areas that will most likely keep this in check, and they will.

3. The credit crisis and financial crisis we are currently facing does not have a good chance of correcting unless the housing scenario is corrected...this is good for our industry as the Government must act as they are, or the problem will mushroom like a nuclear bomb. It may feel as though it has to you, but the reality is that it is small at this time and could leak into global matters if not corrected here.

4. Oil has come down from an all-time high of around $147/barrel...This will have an effect on gas and energy costs.

5. Gas has come down from it's all time high, and has only been trudging higher because of the recent hurricane scenario. The reality is that the oil refineries were not affected as much as feared, and once this is all in place, you should see gas continue it's fall in price to more acceptable levels. Let's be real, if the price of gas stays at $4/gallon, it will be difficult for any of the housing/credit world to correct.

6. Supply of homes is declining...The highest number of homes that was on the billboard around Atlanta was 110,000...this number has dropped to the high 90's...a TEN PERCENT drop! One of the indicators of where we are going is the supply of homes available. The number is dropping which would indicate the worst is where we are, or slightly behind us.

7. The ELECTION! It does not matter who ultimately gets in the White House (it does depending on which side you are on). The reality is that once it is done, it is done. We will face the future knowing what the facts and realities are, and a more positive psychological process will form vs. wondering what/who is going to be running the Country.

8. The Prime rate is incredibly low! Although the lending requirements are more stringent than ever, those that are in a position to buy with good credit are poised to buy more than if the rate were higher with the rest of the conditions we face!

9. Builders not building inventory...Banks are not lending to builders, or have tightened the reigns on those they are lending to, and that has limited the inventory levels which is good. This needed to happen. The supply will partially by default come in line...It really does not matter if it comes in line by default or purpose...Supply and Demand are going to meet at an acceptable level as long as Supply keeps coming down.

Number 9 leads me into CYCLES!

I am going to ask you to research the Savings and Loan debacle of the '80's. Why would I want to do this?

If you go back and look at history, you can usually predict the future by virtue of Cycles. History does have a way of repeating itself, and with the big companies that have fallen recently, along with the smaller institutions being regulated, I wanted to dig and learn more about the Savings and Loan issues. This had an impact on the housing industry, and financial industry too.

The Government did a big bailout very similarly to what they are doing now...this helped dig out of where they were at the time, and the coincidences are phenomenally close...it is actually a little eerie.

Don't worry...change is happening...yes, it will cost us money for the bailouts one way or the other, but the much more affordable option appears to be what they are doing now, vs waiting to see how much worse it can get on it's own...