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We've Got To Hold On!

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Harris & Taylor

We've Got To Hold On!

Is the fear of loss prompting short-sales and foreclosures?

I hear some homeowners say that they could probably hang on to their homes, and make the payments, but realizing that the homes' value is so much less than what they owe; why bother?

People are motivated by two main factors; a hope for gain, and a fear of loss.

In the current mortgage situation, the hope for gain that normally is so critical in home ownership is not presently there.  Kind of like paying the remaining balance on a dead horse.

Has a lot of the housing crisis been due to the fact that the homeowner feels they were "conned" into too high a rate by unscrupulous lenders?

We've Got To Hold OnIt's easy to sit back and judge these people who are considering dumping their current home just because they are "upside down," but one cannot walk in their boots.

Most everyone who finances an automobile owes more than the vehicle is worth, but they can't let it go back, because it's harder to buy a car than it has always been to buy a house.

Difference being, the housing market will come back, and I feel it will rebound more quickly because of one big factor; Location!

They're not making any more land, so when we start back on the road to recovery, the choice locations in most areas have already been built on.

Sheer logic says those existing homes have to be more valuable than new homes going up on less desirable land.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I hope that if homeowners can hold on, that eventually they will again be sitting on a great asset!

Even if you are upside down in your home, hold on, it will get better!

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Mike Carlier
Lakeville, MN
More opinions than you want to hear about.

Gary, I agree with you, 98%.  One of the most important pieces of advice all my buyers hear from me is to buy as if you are going to live there forever, and buy as you plan on moving in 3-5 years.  Perhaps the 3-5 year portion has been miscalculated by many folks in today's market.  However, the buy as if you are going to live there forever just becomes more important. 

Families who have physically outgrown their home have a harder time holding on.  If the market recovers soon, it will still be a few years before they get back to even, and a few more before they have enough equity to transfer to another home.  Unfortunately, there is no easy answer for folks like that.  They may have to tough it out until the kids grow up and move out.  Then their home will no longer be outgrown.  My guess is that few will be that patient.

Jan 26, 2010 03:11 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Gary..I hope you are right..I would hate to see all these good people lose their homes...Hold tight..

HELPFULHANNAH

Jan 27, 2010 05:58 AM
Gary Swanson
Century 21 Harris & Taylor - Grants Pass, OR

Thanks for your great input Mike.  I'm with you Hannah, I hate seeing anyone lose their home.

Jan 27, 2010 01:51 PM