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Crystal Balls and Real Estate: Most of the Balls are Dusty!!!!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Labrum Real Estate

wildomar house When it comes to Real Estate it seems everyone has an opinion or question. In today's market almost every day on TV, the Internet or in the newspaper you will get the opinion of a so called expert as to what's going on with the market and what the future holds. The experts hold their opinion as the Gospel Truth but in the scheme of things it's only an Opinion.

 With so many different talking heads people throwing their so called expertise into the mix it's no wonder the consumers are confused. Last week on TV I so a reporter in a neighborhood with some foreclosures, REO, make a totally unfounded statement. She stated that one street in particular was going down by 6% every time a property sold. There were no statistics provided to prove the statement but she concluded that the area would go down another 18% real quick as there were three foreclosure properties on the market. Must be new math because in the Murrieta, Temecula and Menifee areas the market is stabilizing.

 This past Saturday I held an open house on one of my Real Estate Owned, REO, listings in Wildomar. There was a total of 22 people come through the home, as it's very clean inside and out, and what I heard from the majority of them was total confusion as to the future of the market. Three folks in particular asked me what I saw in My Crystal Ball, as to when the market would turn around. Each of them are homeowners and they wanted to know when the values would go up again. All real estate markets are skewed in the sellers favor as it's only a good market when the values are rising according to the so called experts of the media.

 Personally I disagree that this is not a Good market. If you are a buyer it is a Good Market. Prices have come down dramatically and interest rates are low. When I bought my first home in 1978, OK I'm getting old, my interest rate was 10% FHA and today it's around 6%. That's still a good rate and now many first time buyers are able to purchase a home and with the $8000 dollar tax credit it may be one of the best times in history to buy a home.

 Since my crystal ball is dusty because of the changes that are taking place with the economy and the real estate market plus the bail outs I only know one thing for sure. If the government keeps printing money we will see interest rates rise due to inflation as the dollar loses value. It happened in the early 1980s and it may do the same in the near future. The result will be the home prices may fall but with higher interest rates the home buyers will be knocked out of the market.

 If you are considering buying a home please consult with local Professionals, Realtor, loan officers and your accountant to see if this is a good time fot you.

Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

The media as you know is irresponsible and wreckless with their opinions at times. I bank on this widespread and growing problem that consumers quite simply  - know better.

Jun 23, 2009 03:27 PM
Tom Boos
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

It cracks me up when a buyer asks, "what will this home be worth in five years?".  I'm not a Swamy who has the ability to "see" the future.  And, I don't know anyone who has the ability to accurately predict.

Jun 24, 2009 01:18 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

GREG, I am finding many of the consumers are confused with all the different opinions they are hearing. Some are totally ignoring the media as you stated.

TOM, I'm with you on your comment.

Jun 24, 2009 03:35 AM
JL Boney, III
Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC Real Estate

People always ask me when the market will turn around and I tell them all the same thing. It will turn around in the Spring time, I just don't know what year.

Jun 24, 2009 03:51 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

JL, I like that answer.

Jun 24, 2009 09:55 AM